Citroën BX found after 38 years

A Citroën BX 16RS, bought new in 1983, was discovered in a barn in Lincolnshire after being stored for 38 years. The car was owned by a Royal Air Force engineer who died at the end of 2024. His daughter opened the barn for the first time in over 30 years and found the vehicle covered in dust.

Car’s history and usage

The Citroën BX was purchased in the year the land speed record was set by Thrust 2. It was used daily for about five years before being parked in 1988. The odometer showed 47,450 miles, and the owner had intended to give it to his daughter when she got her license, but it never left the barn again.

Riding without seatbelts

The car’s owner’s daughter recalls traveling in the back without seatbelts, holding her younger sister in her arms. At the time, the BX did not have seatbelts in the back, and child seats were still rare. She says she often felt nauseous, possibly due to the self-leveling hydraulic suspension, a feature common in Citroën cars.

Hydraulic suspension system

This system uses spheres filled with nitrogen and hydraulic fluid to maintain the car’s body height. The effect can be very comfortable for some, but it can be difficult to tolerate in the back, causing discomfort for passengers.

Engineer’s work on Thrust 2

The engineer who owned the BX was also involved in Thrust 2, a reaction car that set a land speed record on October 4, 1983, in Nevada. It reached 650.88 mph using a Rolls-Royce Avon jet engine.

BX’s engine and performance

Under the hood of the BX, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 92 hp and 137 Nm for a mass of about 940 kg. It takes 13.5 seconds to reach 60 mph and has a top speed of 109 mph.

BX’s production and rarity

Designed by Marcello Gandini, the BX was produced in 2,315,739 units between 1982 and 1994. Today, it is estimated that only about 200 remain in the United Kingdom. The Lincolnshire example has been off the road for 38 years.

Condition and restoration efforts

Rust has severely damaged the car’s bodywork, and humidity and mice have affected the interior. The car now rests on blocks with one wheel missing. Jonny Smith from the YouTube channel The Late Brake Show and a Citroën specialist have inflated the tires, but the engine refused to start.

Hope for the future

A decal in the back of the car reads “BX likes driving, hates garages.” The owner’s daughter and her daughter hope that an enthusiast will save the car and bring it back to life.