This Amazing Citroën Auction Features A Group B Homologation Special, A Six-Wheeled Camper, An Eight-Wheeled DS Pickup, And Nearly 100 More Cars

Every so often, a car auction appears that’s nothing short of mesmerizing. Whether barn finds of blue-chip classics or a selection of motorsports-bred greats, these events seem to come along once in a blue moon. Well, now’s your chance to get in on one with a distinctly French flavor. Nearly 100 Citroëns up for auction on French platform Interencheres, some in showroom shape, some far from it, and all outrageous. Reader Florian alerted us to this absolute cornucopia of Citroen weirdness, and my word, is it ever a sight to behold.

Back in the day, Citroen used to be weird, in that it made some of the most technically advanced cars on the road, some of the most basic cars on the road, and little in-between. Hell, for a few years, Citroën just sold the 2CV people’s car, the oleopneumatic DS sedan, and two commercial vehicles. That’s it. Imagine if the Lucid Air and the Mitsubishi Mirage were made by the same people, and that gives you a little bit of perspective.

Unsurprisingly, this arrangement made for questionable longevity as an independent brand, but it produced some truly mesmerizing automobiles. Let’s start with one of the rarer ones up for auction here — the BX 4TC.

Back in 1985, Citroen decided it wanted a slice of Group B rally glory. The Killer Bs were fast, mesmerizing, and too insane to last. The starting point? Well, how about the BX family car? Unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a success, but that didn’t stop Citroen from contracting out production of 200 roadgoing versions to coachbuilder Heuliez before pulling the plug and only letting around 86 out the factory gates. The result was a practical family liftback with a 200-horsepower 2.142-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mounted longitudinally in a car originally meant for a transverse layout, driving all four wheels. This meant that it had the front overhang of a Lincoln Town Car, but it also rode on oleopneumatic suspension, and that’s pretty cool.

This particular BX 4TC sports 125,446 kilometers on the clock, and while it isn’t in perfect condition, it’ll be a tough experience finding another. The auction house estimates a hammer price of €30,000 to €40,000, and while that isn’t cheap, it’s also not bad for a genuine Group B homologation special.

Alright, so let’s say that the BX 4TC doesn’t fit your budget and you’re looking for something cheaper and even weirder. How about a six-wheeled high-roof camper based on a large family sedan? This custom Citroen CX is expected to hammer for between €10,000 and €18,000, and I know what you’re thinking: What?

Yeah, so this CX started as a six-wheeled conversion by coachbuilder Tissier, apparently for press transport, at least according to the listing. However, in 1992, it’s said to have been converted into a camper, and my word, does it ever look like something you drew as a kid. Obviously, it’ll need restoration, but the interior seems shockingly alright, from the pink formica cabinetry to the remarkably clean-looking bedsheets. If you want to confuse the absolute hell out of everyone at the campsite, this is certainly one way to do it.

Alright, maybe that’s too much of a project, so how about something that seems like it’ll require less bodywork, yet is still obscenely rare? This is a Citroen GS Birotor, and man, does this model have a tumultuous history. Originally designed to take advantage of displacement taxes, it featured a 106-horsepower Wankel rotary engine for smooth running and decent power. Unfortunately, it was also launched in 1973, right in time for an oil crisis, and cost as much as an upmarket DS. Only 874 were made, and fewer survive, because instead of continuing support after pulling the plug, Citroen tried to buy-back and scrap the whole lot. This particular example hasn’t been on the road in three years, but with an expected hammer price of €12,000-€18,000, it definitely seems worth recommissioning. Oh, and if you’re looking for a rougher one, this auction can provide that too, a more involved GS Birotor project with an expected hammer price of €4,000 to €6,000.

Oh, and a pair of GS Birotors aren’t the only Wankel-powered Citroëns up for auction. This is an M35, a trial car of sorts with a single-rotor engine, oleopneumatic suspension, and a rakish form that somewhat disguises its roots. See, it was based on the Ami, which was based on the 2CV, and it served as proof of concept for rotary power. The bodywork on this one’s 80-grit rough, but considering only 267 were ever made, where else are you going to find one for an expected auction price of €3,000 to €4,000?

And now for something that’ll make everything else you’ve seen so far appear almost normal. This isn’t just the front half of a Citroen DS, it’s a triple-rear-axle Citroen DS flatbed pickup truck. Unsurprisingly, like the CX, this is another Tissier creation, but man, what the hell? It’s even hard to judge the €8,000 to €12,000 expected hammer price, because although this thing requires complete restoration, where are you going to find another one?

Of course, among all the outrageous oddities in this auction sit a few dozen normal Citroen models, such as this gorgeous restored 1970 SM, one of my favorite cars ever. When I was a child, I used to occasionally see a white SM parked outside of my neighborhood service station, and it just looked like nothing else on the road. With a Maserati V6, oleopneumatic suspension, and bodywork evoking a studious sort of beauty, it’s simply mesmerizing. Sure, €30,000 to €35,000 is a lot of money, but what a car.

So, if you want a ridiculously obscure Citroen, or even a normal one, you might want to book some plane tickets to Fleury-sur-Andelle, France, because where else are you going to find all this stuff in one place? Viewings are scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28, and given the wide variety of vehicle conditions in this auction, it might help to have eyes on them in person.

[Hat-tip to Florian!]

(Photo credits: Interencheres auction)

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