Story and History

1981 Citroen CX Prestige 2400 Automatic - ONLY 62.500 miles

A most unusual car for sale on behalf of a friend, and excellent value for money when compared to the equivalent DS model in similar condition

Launched in 1975 the CX was the direct replacement for the legendary DS range, the iconic design which in many ways is associated with French Chique of the 50' & 60's

In many ways Citroen needed to capture the spirit of the 70's and the CX was the natural progression

Citroen had traditionally offered the Premier of the French Republique with Official transport and a CX was naturally built and given the title Prestige - as previously on the DS chassis versions

Typically the then President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing suggested there was insufficient headroom - he was very tall - so a re-engineered vehicle was produced. Built on the longer Safari chassis the new version also benefitted from a raised roof line, which sat well on the longer wheelbase. Now there was drawing room space within the car and a far more imposing vehicle for the high profile usage intended

Received so well was this new design that Citroen introduced it as an Official model in its' own right - their new Top of the Range model

Supported by many French Diplomats and Industrialists she was much rarer in the UK with only a trickle coming through to UK corporations or wealthy clients making the car we have here exceedingly unusual

Originally ordered to full UK specification in the summer of 1981 and finished in Pearl Grey Metallic and the obligatory Everflex Roof in Black with incredibly luxurious buttoned back Chamois Cloth upholstery and factory fitted Air Conditioning

The original owner, and it has had only 2 since new, arranged to collect the new car from the Citroen Export Division in Paris. After only 1 year on French Plates, as permitted by Customs, it was first registered in the UK in August 1982

Regularly used until 1989, when she had covered 52.500 miles, and always serviced by Official Citroen Dealers (11 services in this period) she was then correctly de-commissioned and spent the next 14 years carefully stored in the owners own garage

Upon his retirement in 2003 the Citroen was properly re-commissioned by the Main Citroen Dealers again and fully serviced and prepared for use again

Enjoying careful use the mileage only went up to 57.600 before she was subsequently sold to her second owner who has taken the mileage total to 62.500

Complete with her original radio and blanking plate, a full set of the original instruction manuals and service booklets, within their original wallet she is in simply wonderful condition

The cloth seats often suffer from cigarette (or cigar in the Prestige!!!) burns as the individual ash trays and lighters are perilously free from protection being positioned on door cards and seat backs - this example has no such marking or burn marks whatsoever and the original owner must have been a non-smoker

All other aspects of the interior are in a similarly mint condition with all instruments working correctly as do all 4 electric windows

Enourmously capable motorway cruising cars and so very chique and stylish the values of these cars are climbing and although not in the very high DS bracket were far fewer in number and this for an enthusiast of the marque represents a remarkable opportunity