This 1991 model-year Citroën BX 1.6 Berline hatchback is the special Millésime edition, which is equivalent to the Pallas version of other Citroën models. It features the 1,580cc XU52C PSA engine used in several PSA vehicles and a 5-speed manual transmission. The odometer reads just under 116,000 Kms (72,000 miles), which lines up with previous owners’ records.
It is finished in Citroën Gris Falco gray metallic with dark blue cloth upholstery, black carpets, tinted windshield, hatchback and windows. The front and rear seats have headrests and the rear parcel shelf features a standard, retractable sunshield.
The car was manufactured in October 1990 and sold in France early in 1991. In 2016 it was imported into the Netherlands by a Citroën specialist and sold at 63,000 Kms to a local collector, who drove the car until October 2020. It was then re-purchased by the Dutch Citroën specialist – from whom I bought it.
I imported the car from Holland following its reconditioning in Holland at 110,000 Kms – and had it shipped to Ontario, Canada in January 2021. An Ontario Ministry of Finance appraisal was required for its registration, which appraised the car’s value for insurance at $17,600 USD/$24,000 CAD
A planned move to a smaller property in 2025 requires parting with the car. The car is located in Kingsville, Ontario, which is 50 Kms (30 miles) from Detroit, MI and 360 Kms (225 miles) from Toronto, ON.
The asking price is $15,000 USD/$20,500 CAD.
Equipment:
The Millésime was one of the special editions of the BX, featuring:
- Power steering
- Tinted glass
- Front and rear spoilers
- Alloy wheels
- Rear washer/wiper
- Central locking w/remote
- Power windows on front doors
- Electrically operated passenger’s door mirror
- Digital clock
- Map lights
- Rear sunscreen roller-blind
- Adjustable height for front seats
- Rear seat center arm rest
- Upgraded cloth trim with seat-back map pockets
The car also has a SONY after-market Bluetooth audio system w/remote and amplifier (MEX-BT3600U)
Condition:
The body and mechanicals of the car are in very good to excellent condition, having been rust-proofed very early in the car’s life, and Krown rust-protection was applied to all panels, internal sections and undersides when the BX was imported into Canada in 2021. No rust is visible, and the car drives and rides very well.
The car passed its required government inspections for mechanical safety, etc. in Holland (2020) and Ontario (2021), since which time it has been serviced locally at Kingsville Automotive Services Inc. Gas consumption on a recent drive to and from Toronto was 7.5 L/100 Kms/31 mpg (US). The 4 Michelin X Energy Saver tires have between 6mm and 8mm tread depth and are in good condition; the non-Michelin spare is carried under the car, which saves interior space.
The original paint finish is in very good shape despite some stone inevitable chips. The driver’s-side front fender and front bumper were refinished by a Toronto restoration company after being damaged at the Halifax docks during transit, and they match the adjacent panels.
The interior is in excellent condition, with no holes or tears in seats or carpets and little apparent wear. All plastics and glass are in good condition and all electric controls function perfectly. The passenger side door mirror’s housing has minor scratches, and a small scratch adjacent to the hatchback’s washer nozzle has been touched in.
The car has always been garaged since arriving in Canada, and driven only from April to September.
Overall, the car is in remarkable shape for its 34 years.
Service work:
Since being purchased in December 2020, the following work has been carried out:
- New timing and accessory belts, tensioner and water pump
- New front spheres
- New battery
- New fuel pump
- Carburetor rebuild and gasket set replaced
- Ignitor module, new NGK plugs, plug leads and speedo cable replaced
- Headlight replaced – passenger side
- Oil and filter changes
- Battery quick-disconnect installed
- Rear wiper motor rebuilt
- Complete LHM flush
- Front hydropneumatics struts flushed and lubricated
- Oil filler/breather tube replaced
Spare parts etc., included:
- Haynes manual and BX Owner’s handbook (English, Dutch)
- Various technical documentation, catalogues and list of parts sources
- New rear spheres and new accumulator sphere
- Oil filters
- Spare (used but good) timing belt, fuel pump and water pump
- 4 liters LHM fluid
- Complete dust cover for winter storage
The BX was one of the most successful Citroën models, with 2,315,739 produced between 1992 and 1994. Its blend of Citroën hydropneumatics and comfort, and PSA group’s power trains enabled the car to be sold economically and maintained with relative ease.
The car’s ride quality is slightly firmer than previous Citroën hydro-pneumatic models, but is still far superior to most modern cars.
The transverse XU5 engine is known for reliability and the car is considered straightforward to work on. Most parts are readily available, being shared across several Citroën and Peugeot models.
Contact: Geoff FitzGibbon Geoff_FitzGibbon@outlook.com
Good luck with the sale, Geoff! Maybe one day I can own this car. Hopefully the next owner takes as good of care as you did!