There are a lot of negative “most” factors a car from any given year might be labeled with. The model may be plagued with the most recalls, or maybe the most depreciation over a 12-month period. In the case of a mid-eighties car I once owned, it could be said the body left the factory with the most awful paint quality I’ve ever seen when new. But the Citroen CX chose a positive twist on the old adverb when it introduced the extended-wheelbase Prestige model in 1976, as its “most” was the car’s amount of rear legroom, with more of it than any other standard-size sedan in the world for that year. If you like French vehicles with plenty of comfort for your passengers, this 1979 Citroen CX Prestige may be worth a look. The car is located just south of Nashville in Brentwood, Tennessee, and can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $22,975.
The following year, the company seemed intent on negotiating with themselves and took the concept a step further by making the roof taller to add more headroom to go with the spacious legroom, so if you’re tall and liked to be driven around it was a win-win situation back in ’77. The cars had a unique and easy-to-distinguish look, with the rear side glass and back window extending almost all the way to the tail end of the car. This particular Prestige wears a respray of blue paint, with the glass removed before the process was begun, and the resulting finish is said to be of good driver quality although not quite show material. There is said to be no rust, no scratches, no dings, and no dents on the body.
We don’t get a whole lot of specific details about the Citroen’s past history, but the seller does mention that his understanding is the car was once used by the French Embassy, with most of its years spent in the United Kingdom, which could account for the right-side steering. The interior is stated to be in extremely nice shape, and it definitely presents well from just about every angle we can see in the photos. I always liked that minimalist steering wheel these cars came with! Everything is said to be functioning as it should, including the A/C which is blowing cold air at present.
Not much information is given about the 2.4-liter fuel-injected engine either, other than it is said to provide brisk acceleration with the mileage listed as 80,000, but we don’t know if it’s ever had a rebuild or not. Things do look nice and neat under the hood, spare tire included, with another cool feature being the clutchless manual transmission. I’ve never been behind the wheel of one of these cars, but it seems like that tranny would add to the fun factor of the driving experience. While a Citroen hasn’t yet made my bucket list of cars to own at least once, I’m certainly appreciating this one and can understand its appeal and desirability. How about you?
Can’t imagine why these beautiful cars set never popular:-)
I keep trying to start work on my 88 CX GTI Turbo 2. First order of business is to remove and overhaul the engine. Pictures will be posted on BarnFinds hopefully soon.
These are really cool cars my first passion was to own a DS or a SM but now I would happily own a BX or a GS. A early Ami 6 would also be fun. Chiropractor business in my home town would be booming from whiplash seeing a Ami 6 drive by.
French always delivered some quirky automobile products. The Citroen was no exception. They had some great design ideas, not always loved by the consumer outside their country. This is a nice example though.
Nice car, but too bad about the wrong-hand drive.
It’s not wrong hand drive, it’s “right” hand drive.
We, dive on the wrong side here !
I have an ’86 LHDrive automatic of this version, and find it’s a real pleasure to own and drive. I also have a parts car, auto w/cloth interior. I have a DS, an Ami-6 , HY van and a passle of 2CV’s. Can’t seem to get enough of their quirkiness and mechanical freedom. This RHD 5-speed is intriguing …
Picture of your Ami 6 please:)
I never cared for the styling of any Citroen for a long time, but recently I saw a C5X, and that is a nice looking car. I would pass on this one though, and it’s not because the steering wheel is on the right hand side.
You may go the rest of your life and never come across another!
Lovely car! RHD Citroën probably redefines “hard to sell” in Nashville, Tennessee. Very unrealistically high price doesn´t help either.
Parlez vous francais?
Ce sont des voitures très exceptionnelles. Ce sont de
toutes les voitures ordinaires, et même le président de
la République française les avait et les autres personnes,
ce sont des d’autres personnes qui voulaient quelque
choise de mieux que la moyenne des gens.
Vive Citroën ! Vive la France.
I’m in progress working on a GTI 2.3 This are very fine
cars, way forward to the most junk others made back in
time.
I’ve imported multiple RHD cars from the UK, mostly Rolls-Royce & Bentley examples, where buyers are willing to accept RHD for the ‘prestige’ of having one of those marques. I’ve found even lesser UK brands with RHD don’t sell well in America.
A RHD vehicle is a seriously difficult item to sell in north America, and most buyers of older European or American cars want LHD, even in the UK. At the asking price I suspect this car will be for sale for quite a long time. There are other outlets for RHD European cars, but most are 5,000 or more miles away, and the shipping costs are steep today.
This car would be futuristic looking enuf to use in some old sci fi movies. Has it been?
I’m assuming this has a collapsible steering column for safety, but with just 1 steering wheel spoke!!, that might defeat the purpose of the safety column, if say in an accident you impact with the top of the steering wheel where there is no spoke support – & bend the wheel!
hot hatch? Not quite but very ‘sporty’ 4 a citroen. As usual this company makes the space age come alive. Mechanically? some1 used ‘quirky’ and I’d agree. Love all the green balls around. I understand these cars (all citroen) can shoot down the rd w/only 3 wheels?
RHD not hard to pick up – just not the vehicle 4 here as the others (road way, everything else) ‘go the other way’. Toughest in urban, exurban, suburban, some what dangerous in rural. Stretch a lill & import correctly, stop the RHD! This co deserves better ! So do we~
If U dont like em, drive 1 – U will B converted !