‘in theory the best car’

Every year, the government seizes cars for many reasons. These and old service cars are then sold by the Ministry of Finance. Although many cars are not really worth seeing, pearls sometimes appear in the Domeinen Roeringer Zaken’s showroom.

This time there is a beautiful French car for sale: a Citroën BX. You can bid on the car via the government website. If you bid the highest amount, you can pick up the car. This amount is not what you will ultimately have to pay for your fresh car. On top of your bid, there is an additional 15 percent ‘premium’.

Test with Citroën BX in 1982

Even before the success of the Citroën BX, which eventually sold 2.3 million units, Autovisie drove the car that Carl Hahn – Volkswagen’s then CEO – described as “the best car in theory.”

“BX will be launched with three engines. Twice a 1360 cm2 engine borrowed from the Peugeot 104 with 44.6 and 51.8 kW (62 and 72 hp, respectively) and a self-developed new 1.6 liter that provides 65 kW or 90 hp. The first engine comes with a four-speed gearbox, the other two have a five-speed gearbox. ”

Hydropneumatic suspension

“In terms of bodywork, there are also a few variants, which ultimately result in five models: BX with the weakest engine, BX 14 E and BX 14 RE with 72 hp engine, and BX 16 RS and TRS with the engine. 1, 6 liters – the latter model is the most luxurious. ”

Although the chassis also contains some “borrowed” parts from the rich PSA bearing, Citroen has also been able to steer its unmistakable course and has used hydropneumatic suspension to its heart. The front wheels sit on McPherson legs with the well-known gas ball mounted completely on top, the entire installation also has an anti-dive construction, which seems to work excellently in practice. ”

Peters Test Drive # 38: Citroën BX Sport (1985)

The rear wheels are mounted on so-called ‘pulled arms’, also here sprung with the well-known hydropneumatic elements, which in this case are mounted horizontally. The wheels spring completely independently: Citroen does not use the “semi-independent” rear suspension, which is gradually becoming fashionable among many other manufacturers, consisting of a slack shaft that can twist and actually acts as a kind of auxiliary spring that dampens movements of one rear wheel at the back, the other is communicated. In short.”

Fast and economical (ahead of time)

“The cars reach decent top speeds, which we were not able to measure under our driving impressions in France: the factory states that they are 155, 163 and 176 kilometers per hour, respectively, for the three engine variants.”

“The acceleration (again not measured) is a bit slow: from zero to one hundred, according to the manufacturer, 15.6, 13.5 and 11.5 seconds, respectively. Consumption is low: The car we drove in consumed 1 out of 11.4 over about two hundred kilometers – mainly driven with powerful style on winding country roads. Of course, everything looks a little more sunny on the highway. ”

Citroën BX as an apartment with the government

The Dutch government offers a 1991 Citroën BX. The Frenchman is with Domains Movable Affairs.

The car has driven more than 200,000 kilometers in 31 years. Aside from the bulge, the BX still looks nice. Please note that the car key and immobilizer code are not present.

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