As I prowled the pavement of my native country recently, I figured my posts, which had been all very JDM-focused of late, might benefit from a bit of CPR – by which I mean Citroën, Peugeot, Renault. For instance, I knew there had never been a CC post dedicated to the unlamented Citroën AX (1986-1998), so perhaps it was time to remedy that situation. The trouble was finding one that was worth the effort – something a bit more flavourful than the common-or-garden AX Diesels still abundant on French roads today. This 4WD version would do nicely…
Citroën tried killing the 2CV several times over the years, but never quite managed. The timid Dyane, launched in 1967, failed miserably. The Peugeot-cloned LN (1976-1986) never had a prayer. The Axel, built in Romania, was an ever more disastrous effort. No, the only way to do it was to nick a Talbot project and pension off the old air-cooled twin in favour of a water-cooled 4-cyl. When it was launched in 1986, the AX was a pure PSA product. Peugeot engine, Talbot styling and Citroën interior melded together to form this rather dreary econobox. Still, the 2CV was now truly outclassed and could retire in peace.
Early Citroën AXs were renowned for their flimsy build quality – especially the interior, which literally came apart under UV light – but were mechanically decent enough. A restyled version arrived in 1991, with a less biodegradable interior, as well as a few new versions. This included the 100 hp GTI and the 4×4, which also had the GTI’s 1.4, but detuned to 74 hp. Production of the 4×4 version lasted until 1996, just two years before the AX was nixed altogether and replaced by the Saxo (an even more depressingly forgettable small Citroën, if that were possible).
The 4×4 became a fixture of French mountain paths for a while. Along with the Fiat Panda 4×4 and the Lada Niva, the AX 4×4 was the cheap Alpine transport of choice in the ‘90s. But unlike its Italian and Russian rivals, the AX is seldom seen nowadays. A life of labour in salty and wintery conditions is always a short one. Plus, the Panda and the Niva seem to have a higher survival rate (and were made for much longer), so that explains that. The size of the AX, when compared to a recent Suzuki, is quite diminutive and explains why these might be worth saving: extremely light, rugged and simple with a relatively big and reliable engine, the AX 4×4 is not likely to be made again anytime soon.
I actually talked to the owner of this car, who was planning to tend to the rust (good luck with that) so his son could continue using the car over the next few winters. Said son was a pisteur in a French ski resort – one of the guys who rises before dawn and gets in a snowcat to prepare the slopes. The AX 4×4 is how fellows like him get to work. Light 4WD cars with a FWD bias are alleged to be perfect for climbing snowy mountains – though I’m sure someone in the CCommentariat will argue different, that’s the consensus in the Alps.
So that’s my teaser for the Citroën AX. A full CC is not beyond the scope of the imagination, but it’ll have to be someone else’s turn. I’ve done my share. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, whereas writing one post about the AX could be seen as a misfortune, writing two would look like carelessness…
I wasn’t aware Suzuki rebadged the Suburban and sold it in France as that picture makes it appear!
What was the main competition of this, the Fiat Panda 4×4? Was the Subaru Justy sold in France, if so likely in minuscule numbers. Or were there others that I can’t recall, I imagine the Colf Country was much larger.
A very interesting find though and while starting to rust around the edges will probably last for quite some time longer, unless the kid puts it through a hedge or two backwards (or over a ledge, I’m getting visions of Col de Turini and the Monte Carlo Rally which starts in a couple of weeks now).
I could endure the carelessness. Go on.
These were doubtlessly street furniture to you, fitting in somewhere amongst the stylish and the croissants and the striped umbrellas on every single footpath everywhere in France, but for the rest of us, they’re exotic. Also, they’re amongst a few of the dullard ’80’s crop to have a sense casual delight in the styling, surely? A CX, non, but decently stylish in an ’80’s architectural way.
Rather ridiculously, some Don Quixote imagined a small batch of the GT’s would be an ideal fit amongst a land of conservative 6 and V8 drivers of Oz in about ’91, and, possibly on a floating windmill, delivered same. They were briefly popular as toys for the kids of the V8 boys, until they realized it was an actual car and the price had the decimal point in the right place. Incidentally, I came within a bee’s dick of buying a saddened one about 7 years ago. Luckily, some V8 driver bought as a hood ornament first.
I didn’t know there was a 4×4 version, but then, everything that wasn’t a pushbike offered a 4wd version in that brief late ’80’s mania. I like the idea of it. The lightness you deride, and which the cognoscenti recognize as minimalist brilliance – they haven’t crashed one – makes it an intriguing proposition.
And you must concede, it is the first case of the French doing lightweight by design, instead of Alopecia of the Parts, and Rust Performance Enhancement.
In the mid-nineties we bought a cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, about 10 miles down from a smallish ski area. Most locals drove 4wd pickups or SUV’s, or Subaru wagons, but there was a small contingent of Justy’s, AMC Eagles and at least one AWD Tempo which I’d sometimes see commuting up the hill before the plows had been out. Our equivalent of this CX, and of course I’m kicking myself for never taking any pictures. I assumed this was an American phenomenon and was surprised to see aging, well-used Panda 4×4’s everywhere in Northern Italy’s mountains on a trip there 20 years ago.
I didnt know about the 4×4 version either there are a few of these here not many now and I do remember them from Aussie, an English friend told me he had a GTI version after getting out of a Lancia Integrale and the lightweight AX wasnt much slower measured against mates hot hatches, he could still out run them. I guess a 4×4 version isnt a surprise everything from Japan in this era had one and lots of other cars from Europe as well, I’m still kicking myself for not buying the 4×4 Pug 405 that was selling locally very cheap due to needing minor repairs.
Count me as an unexpected fan. I have always had a soft spot for tiny cars, and when they go quickly and in all weather, I like them even better. I miss cars like this.
These were looked soon very fondly in the UK, and very cleverly designed for weight saving.
Met the designer several times, he lived in West Wales when I was at university in swansea
Nathan was the designer you spoke to called Geoff Matthews. If it was he was also one of the fathers of the Renault Espace when he worked for Chrysler UK at Whitley which is now JLR’s Engineering centre.
Yes, unfortunately he passed away a couple of years ago
The 4X4 never got to Uruguay, at least not by the regular distributor. But we got several versions, from a 1.1 to the 1.4 GT as well as 3 and 5 door Diesels. They were really flimsy and noisy, though the GT and the GTI sold very well in the very well off 20 to 30 something age group (it cost about 20K in 1990).
The Diesel was recognized as one of the lowest consumption cars in the market, though they were superseded by the Peugeot 205 1.9 diesel arpund 1996, which had a much larger engine with quite a lot of power for the very light car it had to move.
OK, as a former owner of an AX, in the UK, I take Tatra’s point that there wasn’t much Citroen DNA in their engineering. And yes they were flimsily built, but, if you have a taste for minimalist little cars, they could have an appeal of their own.
Under the bonnet sang the TU 4 cylinder engine, fitted in various sizes and specs to many millions of Peugeots and Citroens – in fact still available today, in certain models. A little gem, smooth, rev happy, long lasting, all alloy, 5 main bearing, with single OHC Hemi head and wet liners.
Mine was just a 1.1 litre, but with the light weight ( base models started around 640 kg, yes, really ) and reportedly good aerodynamics of the AX, performance was lively, for the time and for this category of car, and without using much fuel.
Coupled with the French knack for combining an absorbent ride with good steering, handling and roadholding, my AX made a good companion for a brisk daily cross country run, commuting to work.
We’ve had other cars which rate more highly among petrolheads, but like many AX owners, I remember ours with affection.
If fuel economy was your over riding concern, the AX diesel was the miser’s car of choice. The tiny 1.4 n/a diesel while not particularly swift could be persuaded to return north of 70mpg in the hands of a careful driver
Thats true about the diesels fuel economy. I got over 70MPG on a trip from London to Devon. It would have made a great car for James Bond as when you gave it full throttle the cars behind disappeared in a thick cxloud of grey smoke !!!!!
The car was designed by Citroen not Talbot although a Talbot version was designed but not built as they put Talbot to rest
I drove an AX once. Fragile feeling, noisy, comfortable are the strongest impressions.
In terms of a 2CV replacement, don’t forget the 1977 Citroen Visa, which dared to be more different than the AX and Saxo ever were . (Drove a Saxo several times as a hire car – can’t remember it all.)
Winter beater 4×4’s are common around here, you tend to see old s10 based blazers and the disposable Jeep Compass more often though.
My personal knowledge about front biased awd cars – for years i was always told that rwd based 4×4 were better, and fwd was completely out going up hills. I know with my Subaru, with it’s front biased awd , does very well. With it’s much lower center of gravity, I actually feel safer than in any “true” 4×4’s in slippery conditions.
If small FWD-biased 4x4s are ideal mountain cars, I may have just found the ideal use case for the all wheel drive subcompact crossover. Something like a Ford EcoSport, Chevy Trax, Jeep Renegade, or Hyundai Kona would be the closest thing to a modern North American-market analogue to this car.