Citroen LNA - the forgotten 80s budget French classic car!

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Citroen LNA

In the Citroen GS video we recently put out, we discussed the Citroen Peugeot merger and building on that, it seemed a great place to slot in the Citroen LNA.

Now the story began in 1976, the LN which preceded the LNA was launched at the Paris Salon and was then available to the buying public in 1977.

However, it wasn’t all Citroen’s work like many of the cars loved by Citroen fanatics - it was the first car since the takeover - and Citroen fans were a little taken aback. This new car, aside from the engine, was Peugeot through and through.

The bodyshell of the 104 was used and teamed up with a 32bhp variant of the Citroen flat twin. It became even more Peugeot with the LNA, which was fitted with the 50bhp 1124cc 4 cylinder Peugeot engine.

If you’re wondering why Citroen die hards were so outraged, it’s worth noting that a lot of this outrage stemmed from a promise which had been made at the merger: despite the two brands sitting under the same roof, they were still separate beasts. It seemed like at the first hurdle, the customers had been lied to.

A flimsy excuse at the time was that the LN and LNA served the purpose of giving the budget buyer a Citroen they’d they’d find attractive, but surely Citroen fans replied, is that not what cars like the 2CV and Ami 8 do well already?

The LN was never available in the UK - we only got the LNA which you see before us today. The LN had done so well in France and other European countries and in the UK, it was just, well, it didn’t hit the mark quite like it should’ve. I talk later about why I think that might be.

Which is a shame because it offered the budget conscious buyer an attractive prospect with an air of simplicity: you got decent mileage of between 49 and 60 miles per gallon depending on your driving, a fairly respectable top speed of 87mph, a decent enough turning circle of 29 feet and even a six year anti-corrosion guarantee.

Citroen describe it in their sales brochures as one of the toughest babies on the market with resin-based paintwork and an anti-corrosion schedule especially designed for the UK weather and the salt on the roads - which when you look at other budget cars of this era - is a special promise indeed.

There are other promises too including seat compliance tuned to the car’s suspension, two speed wipers, electric screen wash, heated rear window and brake fluid light. The rear view mirror was also anti dazzle.

There were two models available for UK market which were the E and the RE - this is an E which can be determined at a quick glance by lack of some of the RE extras such as the electric windows, illuminated heater controls and quartz clock. The RE was fitted with the same engine and gearbox as the E, so there was no speed advantages gained by speccing up.

The car’s 1124cc engine was paired with a 4 speed transmission unit - no automatic Is mentioned in the brochure - and has independent suspension on all 4 wheels with dual circuit brakes with drums to rear. The RE was servo assisted as standard.

All in all, a lot for the money and a missed bargain for the British public, especially in light of what the competition offered as standard.
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The owner of this car is a very good friend of mine and I've been in this car quite a few times, wonderful little car...great video.

russelllewis
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I remember the Talbot Samba more than the Citroen LNA. It's nice to see this survivor being so well kept and it looks really purposeful without the bumpers.

davidhinkson
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Another excellent video, Steph. Interestingly, just a couple of days ago I saw a video on the Big Car channel about the Citroen LNA. I had never heard of either the LNA or its predecessor, the LN. Perhaps Citroen fans should have forgiven Citroen for basing the LN and LNA on the Peugeot 104. Citroen was close to bankruptcy, and the merger of Citroen and Peugeot was mandated by the French government at the time. Maybe that's why both brands still survive.

gaufrid
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All the 104-based cars are so overlooked in classic car circles unless you want something different or are a PSA fan. Even at 6ft 4 I find the 104/LNA/Samba quite comfy, they handle as good as if not better than their contemporary rivals, they make jolly noises through the gears and these days they turn heads more than a Mk1 Fiesta or Nova would. I’m still yet to drive a Visa, the inly 104-based car I’ve yet to drive. Another great review Steph!

glenrea
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My wife says that while I am watching you she finds your voice soothing to listen to. I enjoy watching your videos for the usual reasons but I agree with her on this point 😊

joejojo
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Thanks Steph! Really enjoyed your review and am glad you enjoyed your time with the car.
I know some of my changes won’t be loved by the purists but I have tried to make her as driveable as possible in modern traffic.
It was a pleasure to work with you and I hope to see you at a show again soon!

JamminAston
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I love these small cars, so simple and practical. It was lauched also as Peugeot 104 or Talbot Samba, also with a convertible version

RobinTheMini
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Great video, very informative about a long forgotten Citroen!
Best number plate ever!

robertngreen
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I owned one in gold!! Cheap and cheerful and it had a cool monitor or fuel aid or something!

davidwatkinson
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It’s a pity this wasn’t more popular! What a cracking little car.

RobinPalmerTV
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I never see Citroën one before. But I see Peugeot 104. My dad near buy one in 1980. Cost 900 punts Ireland as second hand car. Excellent video.

michaelkavanagh
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My family got an LNA in 1983 and It ended up being my second car until 2001, it definitely was a great little car.

MassimilianoCaovilla
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Thanks, Steph - I'd quite forgotten about the Citroen LNA, but now that I've seen your vid, the memories have returned.
The LNA replaced the Citroen Visa, which had inherited the classic flat-twin engine from the Ami; and the main thing about the LNA that upset Citroen fans at the time was that Renault-Peugeot collaborative transverse 4-pot power unit. In practice it was a good engine for the job (early examples had lacked reliability and durability, but by the early '80s it was well sorted) - but for some people, a Renault-Peugeot engine was just not Citroen!
In the British market, the main reason for the LNA's poor sales was the Metro, which was disliked for its archaic machinery, but which scored exceptionally well on space efficiency. Why buy the LNA when both cars had nominally objectionable engines, but the Metro offered more interior space in pretty much the same external dimensions?

bobwalsh
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I've always had a soft spot for the LN! well done Steph!

danieleregoli
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Been fab these videos from the Citroen Rally 👍

-DC-
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❤Great video Steph, nice little nimble car❤

anthonytallarida
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The Ln and LNa did really well in Italy, especially in two-cylinder, 652cc form. They were really good money for value.

danieleregoli
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Never seen one of these or their siblings in The Netherlands or abroad. Very interesting and thanks for showing of this rare, lovely, and little weirdo!

bassybossy
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Love your hair & dress Steph!
Your voice & presentation style is lovely too. Have a great week! x

andyf
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Fantastic video!!!! This car was never sold in Australia by Citroen and was a wasted opportunity. I have been waiting years to see a high quality review of one of these.

danieltaylor
welcome to shbcf.ru