1978 Citroen GS | Classic Car | Driving.ca

Cars used to be weird, man. We take for granted that for the most part, we can hop into anything in, say, an airport rental fleet, and no matter what badge graces the front, the basic controls and driving characteristics will be the same. If you know how to drive a Hyundai, you know how to drive a Nissan. But back in ye olde days, some cars were truly weird.

And nobody was weirder than Citroën. I mean, these were people who literally reinvented the (steering) wheel. I’m not kidding; theirs had but one spoke, and that spoke juts out at the 8 o’clock position when driving straight. Why? The spoke-less top of the wheel bends if you hit it in a crash, and the single angled spoke points your body towards the centre of a car in a collision.

#1978CitroenGS #CitroenGS #ClassicCar

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[jacobzimmermann]

Once upon a time Citroen made truly extraordinary cars: the Traction, the DS, the SM, this GS(A) and its spiritual successor, the BX... and let's not forget the XM, a criminally overlooked car in my opinion! It's so sad to see what this legendary company became today.

[Mgoblagulkablong]

50 years ago this had much better aerodynamics, much lower air drag, better handling, much better ride comfort and at the same time more ground clearance than current SUV garbage...

[victoriapruitt]

My dad had this car when I was a kid in the 1970's, great car.
I miss you dad.

[reconforsales]

Most beautiful car ever made. Absolutely breathtaking

[Kollia]

our family car in 1970❤❤❤ we had wonderful trips all over the Greece every weekend ....we climbed mountains, we visit inlands....i love it❤❤❤❤ it reminds me my happy child period.... in 1970 we bought it for 110.000 drachmas.... the same price with an excellent house in Thessaloniki ❤

[michailgeorgiou]

I learned to drive with a GS Special 1130cc, 53HP, Weber carburetor ... !! Drived it with snow, in roads flooded by heavy rain, "climbed" mountains that only 4x4 could be seen ...Just an amazing car!!

[r.g.]

I worked on these cars during my apprenticeship: 2CV, GS(A), LN(A), AX, BX, CX, DS - we even restored an 11CV! Amazing cars! I owned an LNA in gold metallic and really good shape - maybe they are all gone now...

[TheGramophoneGirl]

WOW it's in amazing condition. Not very many like that around any more. I bet it's a rare sight in Canada.

[lznicu]

Had one for a short time 20 years ago, I love it! Low consumption, very smooth and quick for a 1.3L engine with four gears.

[brucepiekunexpectedbutexpected]

The best car I ever owned, All in all over the years I have had about 200 of them as i used to rebuild them and put them back on the road. Wish I could find another one to work with.

[ajhl]

My dad had about 6 of these in the late 70's, early 80's...really good cars.

[Indy_at_the_beach]

Citroen was a brilliant brand. Sad that they are but a generic vehicle today.

[joki]

I just finished the revision of my 1978 GS 1220 Club in papyrus green metallic. Unfortunately our 50th Anniversary Meeting in the north of Germany has been cancelled, especially we all hoped to get more than around 25 cars together, we have in "normal" years. This car was built nearly 2 million times and sadly most of them are rotten and forgotten. So it is always very pleasing to see, that the ones, which have survived are still be driven, for many spare parts are available. That makes it a lot easier, to keep them alive.

[TheSoundsnake]

Great example. Love these cars, my dad had 3: that is, 1 GS special, GSA club and and a GSA special, in ‘break’ disguise. We travelled a lot in them, some 140k+ Mi. Too bad I’ve never driven one myself, but I do have an Xm, which has the hydropneumatic suspension and brakes, they’re absolutely wonderful.

[camilleancona]

I'm French, and when I was a child my father bought a new one (GS1220, manual gearbox). My father has almost always owned Citroëns (even today, at 90!) The GS is a great memory, especially when we went on family vacations. He drove it for almost 10 years, and it was an excellent car, reliable but different technically and aesthetically from other manufacturers' models. It was still running well when he sold it. Today, I think I would have taken it back and restored it, but I don't know what its fate was 🤔

[pierre]

OMG! this takes me back to my childhood (I was living in France back then). I LOVE Citroën! I owned a few myself (Saxo, BX, Xsara) and my parents did too (Tub, Ami 8, XM)...

[newtonwhatevs]

"I've owned 2CVs since I was 17" : OK I love you already!

[redfordreplica]

I grew up in a GS. My dad owned a GS Confort (1015), GS Club 1220, both sky blue with blue interior. A silver colored GS Pallas with dark blue interior, a GS Pallas in a dark brown color in and out. Finally a GSA Pallas (1300) in light green in and out. All our Pallases had sun roof. The ones with vinyl covered roof like yours, where most common in the Netherlands, I think. I would love to own one, particularly in the same condition as yours. Congratulations on owning such a beautiful car.

[acptelford]

Loved my GS almost as much as my Ami Super

[stephenberry]

Great example of maybe the best small car ever made...
Add a few other unique features of the GS that have still never been equalled.

* Superbly comfortable seats to go with suspension
* Cavernous rear trunk with bumper lifting to open it
* Ride and handling and braking were still fabulous with 4 adults and a huge boot full of stuff with the self levelling hydropneumatic suspension
* Even more incredible was the GS wagon
* A GS was the best Citroen to show off driving on 3 wheels
* Even came with an engine crank handle a la 2CV & DS
* Happy to tour at 130-140 kph effortlessly all day without fatigue

I owned a 1971 1015 GS Cmatic, a 1972 1220 GS manual, a 1974 GS 1220 wagon Cmatic
My parents had a 1974 GS 1220 Cmatic
Citroens are fairly rare in Australia