Citroen GS shenanigans

[mrcitroen]

Not a bad motah at all. It is a genuine 24k miles. It has done no more than 2k miles in the last 30 years. The bodywork is rust free apart from a blob of surface rust on the bonnet. Underneath is the same. Every panel has some mark / dent on it due to past storage. It looks like the front tyres were changed at some point as they are Michelin XZX, but the rears are Deffo the original ZX's and badly cracked.I need to decipher the date codes on the front to determine if I need 2 or 4 overpriced Michelin XZX's

[Asimo]

Even the xzx must be 10 years past their explode-by date!

 

Amazing to consider that for a time the Citroen GS and the Morris Minor were both available new in the UK.

[mrcitroen]

Even the xzx must be 10 years past their explode-by date!

Amazing to consider that for a time the Citroen GS and the Morris Minor were both available new in the UK.

Indeed. The GS was a design way ahead of its time. The only thing to let them down really was the underpowered nature of the engines. That matters not one jot to me as that is not what this car is about now.

 

I'm just hoping and waiting for the weather to pick up a bit so I can go and enjoy it. Saying that I am more than enjoying the tinkering I have been doing over the holiday.

[myglaren]

That's the same years as mine, looks to be in excellent condition.

Loved mine but there was much tinkering to be done on it.  One of the first jobs was to replace the rear disks that led to replacing practically every pipe on the car - cost more than I paid for it in the first place.

[mrcitroen]

That's the same years as mine, looks to be in excellent condition.

Loved mine but there was much tinkering to be done on it.  One of the first jobs was to replace the rear disks that led to replacing practically every pipe on the car - cost more than I paid for it in the first place.

Repipes can work out pricey. Hope mine does not turn out a money pit.

 

Yesterday it had a bit of a paddy and I lost some of the electrics. It looks like the ignition switch has headed for pastures new.

 

It now also has an aroma of fuel when I open the garage doors.

[mrcitroen]

New ignition switch ordered. Apparently it is a bit of a mare to fit the ignition switch as a whole on these, but easier to just fit the electrical part. If you fit the lock bit also you need to do some major dismantling.

 

Anyone done this? Apparently it's a really common fault on these.

 

I'm really enjoying the whole GS experience, and as I love tinkering with cars, all of this is just up my street. Best fun I have had in years.

[dollywobbler]

Don't know how similar they are to 2CV ones, but on those, the contact drum on the bottom is held on by a circlip. With a bit of swearing and a small screwdriver, you can prise it off and then pull the contact drum off and change it. Removing the lock assembly is a much bigger job, even on a snail.

[mrcitroen]

Don't know how similar they are to 2CV ones, but on those, the contact drum on the bottom is held on by a circlip. With a bit of swearing and a small screwdriver, you can prise it off and then pull the contact drum off and change it. Removing the lock assembly is a much bigger job, even on a snail.

That sounds about right. I'll give it a go at the weekend, but looks as fiddly as hell.

[Bren]

And to think at one time they were a fairly common car.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

My GS had the second smallest engine, 1150cc or something, and I didnt find it underpowered. it loped along a treat, I used to love hopping in it and going for a blezz, a proper interesting driving experience. A splendid car, I quite fancy another one I must say.

[mrcitroen]

They love revs, so as long as you keep it buzzing they can make good progress. Mine is the 1222cc.

Driving technique is the key here. I don't think mine is underpowered and I think it was the early 1015cc ones that got that rep.

 

The 1015 cc was dropped and the surplus engines put in the Ami to create the Ami super. That is another on my want list.

[DSdriver]

Mmmm that looks nice.

I had one as a hire car once, you will probably laugh when I tell you I couldn't work out how to open the boot. What is it with Citroen and their penchant for fixing the back bumper to the tailgate - got the same thing on the XM estate and it makes for a very heavy tailgate you have to heave into the sky.

Edited because I forgot to mention that reddy brown shit in the bottom of the float chamber is indicative that a previous owner used to regularly use Esso petrol which was pumped out the ground from a country where the oil was full of red clay. This may be bollocks but I was told it many years ago and have believed it ever since.

[HillmanImp]

Does GS mean G Special or is a G Special a lower spec GS?

 

My Visa was bought with a traded in G Special:

 

 

Never been sure what one is (although I know it looks like a GS). If a GS is a G Special, that's fine. If a G Special is a different car to a GS I need to make a post in the cars I never knew existed thread.

[mat_the_cat]

Did not come with a muff. I have fitted new NGK plugs and Bougicord leads. Does need a good run, but it's on SORN so I'm being cautious.

 

I have a few GS spares, including a muff...drop me a PM if it would be of use to you?

[carlo]

I think these cars look absolutely fabulous, the GS especially.  I had a blue '77 GS Pallas when I was about twenty, and bought my girlfriend a red GSA special ten years later.  I remember the wonderfully smooth engine, the low gearing whereby it was doing about 4000 revs at 60 mph (!), light floppy gear change and the rust, mainly on the GSA but the car was that much older.  Wonder if NBB 120X is still around?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Mine had a very floppy gearchange though it never seemed 'unpleasant' like a Maxi gearchange or something, it always snicked in and out of gear very happily. In fact the whole thing had an interesting feel, a bit like it was made out of string or something, all very loose and floaty but it was somehow quite possible to get from A to B very quickly in it as long as A and B were on some French backroads. I would say driving it home all the way across France from Nantes to Epinal was probably one of my best-ever driving memories. Wish i still had a pic of it, I must have one somewhere

[dollywobbler]

The G Special would be a base GS. The D Special replaced the ID - a povo spec DS, so it was an extension of naming convention. 2CV Special is also the base model. 

[HillmanImp]

Ah, so it is 'special'.

[dollywobbler]

Indeed so, though for some reason, Citroen lobbed an accent in, so it's actually Spécial. Maybe to try and confuse people into thinking it wasn't povo. 

[mrcitroen]

I have a few GS spares, including a muff...drop me a PM if it would be of use to you?

PM sent.

 

I always thought it was funny the base was called Special when it was anything but. Someone had a sense of humour.

 

My gear change is not floppy. No real free play in the gearstick. When I got the car the gear change was a bit too notchy. I cured that by changing the gearbox oil. It now changes very smoothly. Still the original oil I guess as the change interval is 24k miles.

[myglaren]

IMO the GS gearchange is the best I have experienced, was very light, slick and positive.

Loved everything about that car despite it needing constant attention.

[xtriple]

That, it beautiful!!!!!!!!!

 

Can I have it?

 

Please?????

[Asimo]

The 1015 cc was dropped and the surplus engines put in the Ami to create the Ami super. That is another on my want list.

 

 You are correct, you definitely do want one. My Ami Super was great, I have never driven a car more suited to the narrow, bumpy, hilly, lanes around here.

[mrcitroen]

That, it beautiful!!!!!!!!!

 

Can I have it?

 

Please?????

Let me think about that..........NO! Get your own

[purplebargeken]

That is bloody lovely! Yes please!

 

How is it all going? Sounds like a bloody good run would do it wonders after the somewhat gentle accumulation of miles that it has had. 

[Six-cylinder]

My GS is a G Special and on the V5 it says against Model G Special. The car is now fitted with a 1299cc engine and 5 speed gearbox which suits it very well, original looks and more powerful engine. 

[mrcitroen]

That is bloody lovely! Yes please!

 

How is it all going? Sounds like a bloody good run would do it wonders after the somewhat gentle accumulation of miles that it has had. 

Its going really well. I am delighted with the car in every way. Just the ignition switch to sort. It has an MOT until May. So far I have:-

Changed plugs & leads

oil & filter

LHM as it was black

Bled brakes

Changed accumulator sphere as it was flat, but suspension ones are OK

changed gearbox oil

cleaned carb.

All pads & disks are OK. Front pads have virtually no wear

 

I plan to convert from points to electronic ignition, but not a lot of info out there. Also all fuel lines will be replaced.

 

I agree it needs a good run, but it is on sorn

 

My GS is a G Special and on the V5 it says against Model G Special. The car is now fitted with a 1299cc engine and 5 speed gearbox which suits it very well, original looks and more powerful engine. 

 

Does the bulkhead non need to be modified for the 5 speeder to fit? That is what I have been told anyway.

[Six-cylinder]

 

 

Does the bulkhead non need to be modified for the 5 speeder to fit? That is what I have been told anyway.

 

My car had already been converted when I first owned it in 2007, I have never looked but next time I get it out of storage I will try and take some pictures.

[mrcitroen]

It is something to do with the 5 speed box being too long. As this box was only fitted to the GSA's they had a modified bulkhead to accommodate. The 1299cc can be fitted to any car without mod.

There are a few vids on YouTube with turbochargers fitted to G's. I bet that would be fun.

[HillmanImp]

Mrs Imp spotted this GSA in Bingley the other week