Citroën GS

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Citroën GS/GSA
1985 Citroën GSA
Manufacturer Citroën
Parent company PSA Peugeot Citroën
Production 1970—1986
Predecessor None
Successor Citroën BX
Class small family car
Layout FF layout
1970s GS Service Van
1970s GS Service Van

The Citroën GS/GSA is a small family car produced by the French automaker Citroën between 1970 and 1986. Citroën sold 1.9 million GS during its nine years of production, and an additional 600,000 GSA during its five years of production. The GS was voted European Car of the Year for 1971, and was an advanced car, with class leading comfort and safety.

Contents

[edit] Purpose

The GS filled the enormous gap in Citroën's range, between the 2CV and Ami economy cars and the luxurious DS. Leaving this market gap open for fifteen years was considered a poor strategy. This allowed other manufacturers entry into the most profitable market segment in France. Citroën declared bankruptcy in 1974.

The GS met with instant market acceptance and was the largest selling Citroën model for many years. 1,896,742 GS models and 576,757 GSA models were produced in total.

[edit] The project

Work began on the concept of a large family car as early as 1960, with the C60, to slot between the 1961 Citroën Ami and DS. This project continued in various forms for a decade, with a Wankel engine and hydropneumatic suspension suggested as possibilities, with a new body to match. In 1963, development had moved to Project F, which was close to being production ready. Citroën decided the car was too similar to the 1965 Renault 16 and in 1967 Project F was suspended, but many of the the mechanical components continued to Project G - which became the GS.

[edit] Style

1977 GS berline
1977 GS berline

On the 24th August 1970, Citroën launched an entirely new model to plug the large gap in its range between the minimalist 2CV and the most luxurious French car - the DS. The GS was born.

The GS's car body style was a 'berline' (three lateral windows), with a sharp Kamm tail. The aerodynamics were the best of any vehicle at the time.

While not appearing unusual to modern post Ford Taurus eyes, it bore little resemblance to any other car on the market, until the development of the Citroën CX in 1974. The GS is similar in both size and shape to the 2004 Toyota Prius.

The GS was designed inhouse by Robert Opron as a four-door fastback sedan, a controversial layout where the trunk is separate from the passenger compartment - a hatchback layout was considered too utilitarian by CEO Pierre Bercot. The GS was also available as a station wagon/break and a similar 2 door service van, for commercial buyers.

The GSA replaced the GS in 1979 and added a hatchback to the sedan model. It also had plastic rather than steel bumpers and a revised dashboard with the auxiliary controls on columns so they could be reached without moving the hands from the steering wheel, similar to the CX layout. Both the early GS (until 1974) and the GSA have the unusual rotating drum speedometer (similar in construction to bathroom scales), rather than the dials found in a conventional automobile. The later GS (from 1974 until the introduction of the GSA) had a conventional speedometer.

[edit] Critics

Contemporary journalists remarked at the smooth ride quality — unlike anything in its class — the hydropneumatic suspension absorbs bumps and ripples that would be uncomfortable in a conventionally-sprung car with just a slight body movement.

Though it won praise for the ingenuity of the design, shortcomings included manufacturing quality and corrosion resistance.

It may also interest some readers to note that the Giugiaro offering for Project G inspired by Pininfarina's rejected British Motor Corporation design, later inspired Project L, the CX.

[edit] Mechanics

The vehicle had a front-wheel drive layout and was powered by a flat-4 air-cooled engine. A series of very small engines were available, displacing 1015, 1129, 1220 and 1299 cc. Power ranged from 55 to 65 hp.

The four-wheel independent suspension featured a double wish-bone layout at the front and trailing arms at the rear. Both axles comprised rigid sub frames that gave the car unmatched road holding for the time.

Its central hydraulic system, powering the four disc brakes and the advanced hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, derived from the Citroën DS.

[edit] GS Birotor

Citroën GS Birotor
Citroën GS Birotor

A two rotor GS was launched in 1973. Dubbed the Citroën GS Birotor (also called Citroën GZ), it featured a 107 hp Wankel birotor produced by Comotor. This style of motor is noted for its smooth power delivery that complements the luxurious ride quality automatically achieved with hydropneumatic suspension.

The Birotor version achieved poor sales and was quickly pulled from the market after 847 units sold. It was not economical for its size and was launched during the 1973 oil crisis.

The sales were so disappointing that Citroën attempted to buy back and scrap each Birotor, as it did not want to support the model with spare parts. A few of these remarkable vehicles have nonetheless survived in the hands of collectors.

[edit] GSA in German Democratic Republic

Between 1979 and 1983 around 5500 were exported to the German Democratic Republic making it one of the few western cars in the country. The leader of that country maintained a fleet of the larger CX model.

[edit] External links


Citroën car timeline, 1950s-1980s  v • d • e  Next ->
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Economy car 2CV
City car LN / LNA AX
Supermini Dyane
Ami Visa
Small family car GS GSA
Large family car 11 CV ID / DSpécial / DSuper BX
Executive car 15 CV DS CX
Grand tourer SM
Off-roader Méhari
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