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It is rather dispiriting to read how few examples of the BX survive in the UK, and Philip Greaves’ 1984 16TRS is one of the earliest on the road. His first experience of this very desirable Citroën was travelling in the model once owned by his mother – ‘Some of my earliest memories were in that car and of its unique dashboard - a glowing spinning drum speedo with LED rev bar and lots of switches’.

Citroën introduced the BX in June 1982 as the heir to the GSA. British sales commenced in 1983 under the slogan ‘Loves Driving, Hates Garages’. Motor thought the flagship 16TRS had a lot to offer ‘anyone shopping in the Sierra/Cavalier class’ although its combination of character and idiosyncrasies ‘could possibly deter as many buyers as it attracts’. Motor Sport praised the BX’s ride, road holding, comfort and high equipment levels but disliked the fascia. ‘Citroën should perhaps consider dumping the whole binnacle into the Bay of Biscay’.

The range was facelifted as the Mk. 2 (which featured a more conventional facia) in 1986. The hatchback ceased production in 1993, the estate in 1994 and twenty-seven years later, you would be hard-pressed to see any BX Mk. 1. The Greaves family Citroën eventually fell victim to rust and hydraulic failure but when Philip passed his driving test, he craved a 16 TRS of his own. ‘My parents eventually bought me my BX on the third occasion it was advertised for sale in 2011. When cars are this rare, it’s quite easy to track their owners and any sales adverts!’.

This Citroën has the unusual option of factory fitted power steering, and Mr. Greaves ‘paid for the car to be fully restored using as many original parts as possible for authenticity’. Philip showcased the TRS at the 2012 International Citroen Car Club Rally in Harrogate, where he found ‘a guy examining my car. He introduced himself as having worked in transportation and explained that he’d driven my BX off the car transporter in Cornwall and put it on the transporter to the dealership back in 1984’.

Today, Philip mainly uses the Citroën ‘for rallies but also for day trips in the summer. It is SORN’d in winter to keep it away from the pesky salt. I rely heavily on a specialist garage NFC Autocare at Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire to keep the car in good order and carry out any other restoration work. There are few people now who really know these cars’.

As far as road manners are concerned, ‘the power steering (after a new rack was fitted a few years ago!) is lovely and makes the car very manoeuvrable and easy to drive. The carburettor makes a lovely “Woosh” sound when both chambers open up, and it is happy to cruise even fully laden down the A1 at 60mph. You do sit low down compared to modern cars, and therefore the car feels more stable in corners or when serving to avoid objects. I’m yet to find a modern car which can match it on ride quality.’

The public response to the red Citroën varies – ‘lately there have been fewer people trying to overtake me in dangerous positions or pull out last minute, which is nice’. And, inevitably, there are ‘lots of conversations with people everywhere I go, usually because they remember the BX from the 80s. These are often at fuel stations but also garages, the supermarket and on ferries or occasionally with members of the AA…’. And no doubt all of them are mesmerised by that splendid dashboard.

With Thanks To: Philip Greaves and the BX Club UK

Pictures courtesy of Adam Delaney

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