Our Project...
We acquired this 1985 Citroën Visa GT for the purpose of renovating it and adding it to our classic cars collection.
The vehicle has never been repainted, all external plastic parts are available, the engine is still the original one and all numbers are matching, thus our interest in this vehicle. We will be publishing consecutive tutorials about our renovation works, this very first one being about introducing the vehicle.
The vehicle has never been repainted, all external plastic parts are available, the engine is still the original one and all numbers are matching, thus our interest in this vehicle. We will be publishing consecutive tutorials about our renovation works, this very first one being about introducing the vehicle.
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All pictures and texts in this web page are the property of nomaallim.com. Any use of any part of those contents without the written consent of nomaallim.com shall be subject to legal procedures as per international and local laws in the concerned country. Using the name "nomaallim" or "nomaallim com" or "nomaallim.com" in the text describing the unauthorized copied content shall not constitute an exception and shall be sanctioned in accordance to the effective laws and proceedings.
All pictures and texts in this web page are the property of nomaallim.com. Any use of any part of those contents without the written consent of nomaallim.com shall be subject to legal procedures as per international and local laws in the concerned country. Using the name "nomaallim" or "nomaallim com" or "nomaallim.com" in the text describing the unauthorized copied content shall not constitute an exception and shall be sanctioned in accordance to the effective laws and proceedings.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
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CITROËN VISA
The Citroën Visa was a supermini produced by the French automaker between 1978 and 1988, with very distinctive design.
It used to complete the Citroën range in between the smaller LN/LNA and larger GS/GSA.
It never replaced the unforgettable 2CV which continued to be produced and offered by Citroën till 1990.
It offered plenty of interior space despite an overall length (D) of 3.725m, thanks first to a generous wheelbase (A) of 2.42m, which is 65% of the length, and thanks to its compact engines, initially consisting of the flat 2-cylinder engine of the 2CV and a 1.4L engine used horizontally, and fitted with different carburettors depending on the version.
Still, Citroën was also able to fit in there the 1.6L engine of the legendary Peugeot 205GTi for the sportiest version of the latest generation, not to miss the hot hatch trend of the eighties.
Our project car is the third top-sportiest version after the GTi and the Chrono, fitted with the XY8 Peugeot engine with an output of 80PS and a torque of 108Nm at an RPM of 2800.
The boot was spacious and practical, being free of any spare wheel, the latter being installed within the engine compartment, on top of the horizontal engine.
It used to complete the Citroën range in between the smaller LN/LNA and larger GS/GSA.
It never replaced the unforgettable 2CV which continued to be produced and offered by Citroën till 1990.
It offered plenty of interior space despite an overall length (D) of 3.725m, thanks first to a generous wheelbase (A) of 2.42m, which is 65% of the length, and thanks to its compact engines, initially consisting of the flat 2-cylinder engine of the 2CV and a 1.4L engine used horizontally, and fitted with different carburettors depending on the version.
Still, Citroën was also able to fit in there the 1.6L engine of the legendary Peugeot 205GTi for the sportiest version of the latest generation, not to miss the hot hatch trend of the eighties.
Our project car is the third top-sportiest version after the GTi and the Chrono, fitted with the XY8 Peugeot engine with an output of 80PS and a torque of 108Nm at an RPM of 2800.
The boot was spacious and practical, being free of any spare wheel, the latter being installed within the engine compartment, on top of the horizontal engine.
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Specific Citroën Visa GT Details
The GT version is here clearly shown on the logo above the left tail light...
...and traces of it are left on the engine hood!
2 white lines used to run all along the car sides and the tailgate as well.
2 spoilers were fitted to the top of the tailgate and underneath the rear window to give it a sporty look:
2 spoilers were fitted to the top of the tailgate and underneath the rear window to give it a sporty look:
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Interior
Unfortunately, our acquired 1985 vehicle belongs to the phase 2, when Citroën installed a simple push-button and boring dashboard, not of any match to the crazy ones that used to have cylindrical satellites in which all commands and controls are grouped.
The dashboard is in a disastrous condition as shown in the below pictures.
The instruments outer cover is broken, and the plastic covers around the ignition switch as well.
This is going to be one of the hardest repairs to carry out for sure, unless we replace the whole dash.
Also when driving, the speedometer needle vibrates which is normal when the speedometer cable is worn.
The instruments outer cover is broken, and the plastic covers around the ignition switch as well.
This is going to be one of the hardest repairs to carry out for sure, unless we replace the whole dash.
Also when driving, the speedometer needle vibrates which is normal when the speedometer cable is worn.
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Mechanical condition
The car works fine and the engine is still in good condition (no smoke, good torque).
Still, a few mechanical issues to fix like:
Still, a few mechanical issues to fix like:
- Oil leak from differential seals; motor oil is used to lubricate both engine and gearbox at a time in this car.
- Broken CV joints boots (bellows) projecting grease all over the surrounding areas.
- Very noisy water pump with traces of coolant leaks
- Very rusty and dirty coolant expansion tank denoting the use of water instead of coolant by its previous owner!
- Noises from front suspension due to worn anti-roll bar bushings, possibly from the control arms too:
- Dismantled air intake that doesn't fit to the carburettor and needs to be brought back to its original design:
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We will be publishing soon and in consecutive tutorials the renovation works we will be carrying on this classic...