148 Citroën CXs in a barn

Yes, really, 148!

Ever wondered what nearly 150 classic Citroën CXs would look like gathered together? Well wonder no more.

Back in 2018, Dutch garage Van Soest Klassiekers had 148 of the things up for grabs – and we were more than a bit fascinated by it all.

The collection included a near-complete cross section of the CX family, from 2.0 to GTI Turbo, petrol and diesel, saloon, estate and Prestige. With such oddities as a rally CX and an early ambulance conversion among the cars, there really was something for everyone.

Here we look back at some of the most interesting examples.

CX2400 Prestige

The earliest example in this 2018 sale was a 1976 Citroën CX2400 Prestige. Finished in Gris Vulcain, it was believed to have covered a mere 43,000km.

From 1977, the Prestige gained a raised roof, which makes original low-roof Prestiges, like this example, rare indeed.

CX25TRD Turbo Break

The youngest example in that 2018 sale was this TRD Turbo Break from the final year of estate production; CX estate models, called ‘Break’ on the Continent, were known as Safari here in the UK.

While saloon production ceased in 1989 to make way for the XM, estate production continued to 1991.

CX Croisette

Based on the TRS, the Croisette was the only CX special edition to be sold on the UK market.

All were finished in Gris Perle, with engines varying between 2.2- and 2.5-litre petrol, or 2.5 diesel.

A total of eight CX Croisettes featured in this collection, this one, which had a €750 price-tag, was our favourite.

CX ambulance conversion

This ambulance conversion was the second-earliest example in the collection – it was based on a 1977 2400 Super Break.

We still don’t know who was responsible for the conversion work, though.

Series 2 CX22 TRS

While a Series 2 CX22 TRS is a fairly common spec as CXs go, this car is notable by dint of its interior.

We were told this car was fitted with a Cassis interior – one of two dark red/purple shades available, and the rarer of the two. All of which means this is one for collectors.

CX25D Limousine

Many of the cars in this tired-looking collection wear Morette twin-headlamp conversions.

These were available in period as a way to convert the weak original CX lights to twin halogen units, and they’re seen here on a CX25D Limousine.

CX 25 Limousine Turbo 2

The CX Limousine was a special, intended for the commercial market.

Effectively, it was a Prestige body fitted with a 2.5-litre diesel engine in place of the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit. This is one of four that were in this collection, this being a rare Turbo 2.

CX Prestige C-Matic

This Brun Scarabee Series 1 is a rare survivor with C-Matic, Citroën’s alternative to a conventional automatic gearbox.

It featured a three-speed manual shift pattern and gearbox derived from the standard four-speed, but with a torque converter and an electrically driven clutch.

CX22 TRS

A number of the CXs for sale in this collection, including this CX22 TRS, run on LPG.

Handily, the Citroën CX’s large boot means it’s well-equipped to handle a second tank.

CX 25 Limousine Turbo 2

Many cars in the collection had damaged bonnets, including this Limousine.

Why? Well the CX’s bonnet support has a manual catch – and failure to release it will result in the metal twisting at the edge. 

CX 25 TGI Break

Following the launch of the XM, the CX’s RS and TRi specifications were dropped, replaced by TGE and TGI – a new specification unique to estates, which combined aspects of both earlier trim levels.

TGE and TGi were produced from 1989 until 1991.

CX 20RE Series 2

The UK market didn’t get 2.0 Series 2 CXs after 1987, making cars such as this 20RE interesting to UK collectors.

Rouge Delage is a nice colour, too, we think.

CX 25 GTI Turbo 2

The GTI Turbo 2 is for many people the ultimate Citroën CX, and a definite automotive icon of the 1980s.

This Blanc Meije example certainly evokes its era – if it was restored, it could be an investment for the future.

CX 25 TGE Break

Not all the cars in this collection appeared to be in the best shape, back in 2018.

Nonetheless, this accident-damaged TGE Break was, at the time, priced as if it were one of the better cars here – which implied that barring the obvious external flaws, it was in good condition.

CX GTI Turbo 2

A total of 1.2 million CXs were built – yet numbers in the UK are scarce.

If this CX GTI Turbo 2 was in the UK, it would most certainly be a rarity, and one we’d love to get our hands on.

CX Athena

The CX Reflex and Athena were models introduced alongside the new Douvrin four-cylinder engine shared with Renault.

Athena models such as this one featured a five-speed gearbox; Reflex models used a four-speed unit.

CX 2400 Pallas

C-Matic was replaced in 1980 by a conventional ZF automatic gearbox, as fitted to this Pallas.

Pallas models were more luxuriously appointed than standard CXs. Most were 2400 or 2.5, though Douvrin-engine Pallases do exist.

CX 25 GTI Turbo Series 1

The GTI Turbo was launched in 1985, meaning that Series 1 GTI Turbo models such as this one were built for just one production year.

The plastic-bumpered Series 2 replaced it in 1986.

CX 25 RD Break

A trio of Gris Perle CX diesel estates was, we thought, one of the more striking aspects of the collection, not least because they were shown from similar angles and in a row.

All were Series 2s, and the diesel engine is proven for reliability, as these demonstrate: the odometers on these three read between 243,000 and 367,000km.

CX 25 GTI Series 2

A number of the cars in this massive haul appeared to be stored indoors, rather than in the barn with the rest. Cars such as this Beige Sphinx Series 2 GTI automatic.

As Pallas was discontinued for Series 2, this is the most prestigious standard-length Series 2.

CX Familiale

UK-market Safaris are known for rusting tailgates – however as can be seen from this Series 1 Diesel Familiale, the majority of Breaks in this collection were in good condition, tailgate-wise.

All of which means that even if a car here was beyond salvation, its buyer could use it as a source of parts and panels, to save other cars.

GTI Turbo

Some CXs were better specced than others – and this Double Chevron seems to have it all.

Headlamp washers, leather trim and even heated seats make this a special GTI Turbo.

CX 20RE

While the CX 20RE was the base specification for a Series 2 CX, this car appears to have benefited from its indoor storage.

If it was sound underneath and mechanically fine, it looked like a relatively easy project.

CX 20 Pallas

…whereas this one, realistically, appeared to be beyond saving.

It may be that only the bonnet has had it, but we suspect the chassis legs and much of the trim will be shot, too – although this was just speculation on our part, of course.

CX 25 TRD Turbo

Last but not least, we have this.

As far as we could tell, at the time of the sale in 2018, this TRD Turbo had done 907,548km – or 563,924 miles. Wow!

We wonder, has anyone owned or experienced a higher-mileage Citroën CX?