Description
Welcome to this advert for my 1987 Citroen AX GT, which I must stress from the outset of this description, must not be confused with any other examples of the AX GT that may be currently advertised for sale. That said, seldom do you see AX GTs come to the market as they are becoming increasingly rare. With the ‘How Many Left’ website reporting less than 250 examples left in existence, the AX GT is becoming even more desired and sought after as a sure-fire 80s Hot Hatch.
This particular example is on an E-Registration, which is rare to see for any AX, let alone an AX GT. First Registered on 1st January 1988, the ORGA Build Number equates to a Build Date of 19th October 1987, making it an incredibly early example of the mark, and likely one of the very earliest survivors left. Arguably the most important point to note is that this particular example has also only covered a minimal 41, 000 Miles, which undoubtedly makes this particular car even more unique and desired.
Exterior
The AX is a very aesthetically pleasing car and being finished in Venetian Red, is also arguably the most sought-after colour as per the original brochure car. The AX importantly retains the original exterior features which make the AX GT the 80s Hot Hatch that it is remembered for, including bodykit, arch extensions, rear spoiler and original alloys wheels. Fellow enthusiasts will note that being an earlier example of the GT, this car features 13” alloy wheels as opposed to the more common 14” alloy wheels on the later cars. All four alloy wheel centre caps are also present and correct, which are often missing and difficult to locate nowadays.
I am pleased to report that the paintwork has an impressive shine and lustre, resulting in a very aesthetically pleasing car. More importantly, the structure of the car is also solid, with the bodywork being free of the usual rust and rot which is all too commonplace on AXs nowadays. As per the photographs, you can see that the doors, front wings, rear wings and bonnet are rust free and no doubt testament to the low mileage covered. There are a few points to note where improvements could be made to the bodywork, and I would like to reaffirm that you should be realistic in your expectations for what is now a 36 year old Citroen AX. With this in mind, I can confirm that the paintwork on the roof has started to fade and some dents are present, some paintwork has flaked off on the rear spoiler, there is some localised minor bubbling of paintwork on the roof rails, and there are some areas of paint 'reaction' to the bonnet too. Being super critical, the only discernible area to note is a rust spot the size of a 5 Pence Piece on the sill step where you open the drivers door. The common area of the inner wings under the headlights are in good order - the O/ S with no issues to note, the N/ S a very minor surface rusting on top but no holes to report. For the age this AX GT stands very proud of itself but please expect minor marks and blemishes commensurate with it’s age.
Interior
As you can see from the photographs, the AX GT interior features the original black and red carpets with contrasting striped seats, both of which are in very good condition with no visible wear - again, testament to the low mileage covered. In a similar vein to the exterior condition detailed above, please do just be realistic for the age of the vehicle. A couple of points to note are that as per 99% of MK1 Citroen AXs left, the dashboard has the obligatory dashboard cracks where the plastic has gone brittle through age, and a non-original headlining appears to be fitted. I am hopeful that the photographs will show you the interior condition, and the only other point to note is that an in-period OMP bolt-in roll cage has been fitted in the past, no doubt to accentuate the already impressive handling and roadholding. Being bolt-in, this would take minimal effort to remove, however I have decided to leave this in place for the new owner to decide what they prefer. I am pleased to confirm the full rear seat uprights are also included with the car should you wish to refit these, and are just not shown in the photographs. With these being removed, you can also nicely see that the boot corners (a prone AX rust spot), are rust free. Mechanical
From a mechanical perspective, the AX was taken off of the road a number of years ago and has been subject to a period of long term storage. Upon acquiring the car circa 3 years ago, in readiness for returning it to the road, as a matter of course the Timing Belt and Water Pump were replaced. Following this work, routine maintenance was carried out including Oil, Oil Filter, Spark Plugs, Ignition Leads, Fuel Filter, Thermostat, Battery etc. I am pleased to report that the renowned 1360cc TU3S engine starts readily and eagerly, with the engine most certainly sounding akin to the 41, 000 Miles covered, with no knocks or untoward noises. Looking forwards, I would recommend that a customary service and set-up of the carburettor would be beneficial to rectify some cold-start idle fluffy’ness - however, I am led to believe that the engine has been upgraded with a high-lift camshaft which would also contribute to this, as the idle does improve when warmed up. I can confirm that all gears select and operate, as well as the clutch and brakes also appearing to operate as expected. An in-period exhaust system has been fitted, and would arguably benefit from some slight adjustment to angle it correctly if you so wished.
Conclusion
To conclude, this AX GT is not only an incredibly rare to see early example, but it has also covered a very low mileage too. However, more importantly this AX has survived it’s 36 years very well, and testament to the low mileage and it’s long term storage off road. I am reluctantly selling the AX due to a recent house purchase and subsequent renovations which are requiring my attention for the foreseeable future, and I am realistically not going to be able to enjoy or have use of the AX whilst my attention is now diverted to house renovations.
I personally feel that with some further routine recommissioning this car will not take a great deal of effort to return to the road and be enjoyed to it’s full potential. Whilst the AX does start and run, with minimal mileage having been covered in a number of years, I would encourage any interested parties to ensure they carry out a customary check-over and/ or routine recommissioning before venturing onto the road as there is no current MOT.
As per the photographs and description, over the past 36 years the AX has remained largely standard asides from a couple of minor additions which can all be easily removed and put back to original. Following returning the car to the road, this was my plan however I have decided to leave these in place for the new owner to decide, as a weekend tinkering in the garage would have these removed and back to standard order.
Due to the rarity of these cars, values are incredibly difficult to pinpoint, especially considering the rarity of being an E-Registration, and the low mileage too. As such, I have decided to let the market decide it’s value and this is therefore a 99p start, no reserve auction.
My final point to note is that I hope you can gather from the length and detail of this description that this is a genuine sale, and I am therefore looking for a genuine buyer who is sensible in their expectations. This AX GT is now 36 years old, and whilst it is a very good looking car, is not brand new and has it’s foibles and eccentricities which are commensurate with age. I have purposefully listed this over the Christmas period to allow you the opportunity to come and view to satisfy yourself of the condition.
Collection is from March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 and I am more than happy to liaise with a transport company of your choice to aid collection of the vehicle if you do not have a trailer / transporter.
If you have any questions about the car, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thanks & Kind Regards.
