This is what 148 Citroën CXs in a barn looks like

And they're all on sale in the Netherlands right now

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

Dutch garage Van Soest Klassiekers currently has 148 of the things up for grabs – and we're a bit fascinated by it all.

The Citroën CX was a lovely car in its time, and a worthy member of a family tree that included the DS, GS and SM. Many of the vehicles here need a bit of cleaning up, but with prices varying from €500 up to €2500 and above, you could easily bag yourself a bargain.

The collection includes 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, the sale should attract CX fans from across the globe.

Here's our pick of a few of the most interesting examples.

CX2400 Prestige

The earliest example to be auctioned is a 1976 CX2400 Prestige. Finished in Gris Vulcain, it’s believed to have covered a mere 43,000km.

This one is likely to be of big interest to collectors – from 1977 the Prestige gained a raised roof, which makes original low-roof Prestiges rare indeed.

CX25TRD Turbo Break

The newest example to be sold is this TRD Turbo Break from the final year of estate production; CX estate models, called Break on the continent, were known as Safari 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 feature in the collection, and this one, which has a €750 price tag, is our favourite.

CX ambulance conversion

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

We don’t know who was responsible for the conversion work, but what we know is that with no price listed this is likely to sell to the highest bidder. Anyone out there fancy it?

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.

The advert suggests this car is fitted with a Cassis interior – one of 2 dark red/purple shades available and the rarer of the two. All of which makes this one for collectors.

CX25D Limousine

Many of the cars on sale 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. Four are included 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 electrically driven clutch.

CX22 TRS

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

LPG is popular on the continent, with several cars converted to run on the fuel. Handily, the CX's large boot means it's well-equipped to handle a second tank.

CX 25 Limousine Turbo 2

Many cars in the collection have 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, to be replaced by TGE and TGI – a new specification unique to estates combining aspects of both earlier trim levels.

TGE and TGi were produced from 1989-1991.

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, and it appears to be complete; €2250 would secure it.

CX 25 GTi Turbo 2

The GTi Turbo 2 is for many people the ultimate CX, and a definite icon of the 1980s. This Blanc Meije example certainly evokes its era, and restored could be an investment for the future.

CX 25 TGE Break

Not all the cars here appear to be in the best shape. Nonetheless, this accident-damaged TGE Break is priced as if it were one of the better cars here – which implies that barring the obvious external flaws, it's in excellent condition.

CX GTi Turbo 2

A total of 1.2million CXs were built – yet numbers in the UK are scarce. If you buy this CX GTi Turbo 2, you’ll increase numbers of the UK’s best surviving specification… to 24.

At €3500, this is one of the pricier examples.

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 is one of the more striking aspects of the collection, not least as they are shown on the website from similar angles and in a row.

All are Series 2s, and the diesel engine is proven for reliability. Odometers are reading 243,000-367,000km.

CX 25 GTi Series 2

A number of the cars appear to be stored indoors, rather than in the barn with the rest. Cars such as this Beige Sphinx Series 2 GTi automatic are in better condition than the majority.

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 are in good condition, tailgate-wise.

All of which means that even if a car here is beyond salvation, it could prove to be excellent sources of parts and panels.

GTi Turbo

Some CXs were better specced than others – and this one seems to have it all. Headlamp washers, leather trim and even heated seats make this a special GTI Turbo – as you'd expect for €8500.

CX 20RE

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

Provided it’s sound underneath and mechanically fine, this one appears to be a relatively easy project.

CX 20 Pallas

…whereas this one realistically looks 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 is just speculation on our part, and could change if we saw the car in person. 

CX 25 TRD Turbo

While we haven’t managed to corroborate any figures with the owners yet, the website appears to suggest that this TRD Turbo has done 907,548km – or 563,924 miles.

Has anyone owned or experienced a higher mileage Citroën CX?