Description
1982 marked the beginning of the new Group B regulations for rallying, which, in order to attract more manufacturers, had less restrictive regulations but required the manufacture of at least 200 units for homologation.
The Citroën Visa was one of the first cars to undergo the 'shock' treatment of the new rules and this Trophée version, as the name suggests, was created for the Visa trophy which served as a starting point for many eager drivers in the early 80s!
Under the fiberglass hood is a 1219 cc inline four-cylinder engine that, thanks to the use of two Weber 40 carburetors, puts out 100 PS!
The close ratio 5-speed transmission and a featherweight of under 700 kg make the little Visa a very agile and quick tool, ideal for negotiating the twists and turns of a rally stage! Despite being a 'civilian' version, the Trophée was a genuine rally car and, in addition to the fiberglass panels, plexiglass windows, and wider tracks, it also featured dedicated fixed rear seats, a 6-point roll bar, and a very comprehensive instrumentation.
This Citroën Visa Trophée is one of the 200 examples created, it was sold new in Portugal, in March 1982, and has an interesting record in Portuguese rallies, in the hands of the late Francisco Romãozinho and Luís Alegria.
It has been in a private collection dedicated to the golden years of rallying for the past few years and is in excellent condition. It comes with its original registration booklet, certificate of historical interest, FPAK technical passport, and homologation form.
Classic & Sportscar tested this example in detail - - details above
