A little history
In 1986, the Citroën AX was given the task of succeeding both the two-door LNA and the four-door Visa. Traditional engines were totally abandoned as all air-cooled flat twins were now discarded, the AX receiving only orthodox inline fours. On the outside, the new Citroën was quite an attractive car and, back then, a modern-looking one. The combination of a light weight, thanks to the extensive use of plastics, and of very good aerodynamics allowed the AX to be an excellent performer, as well as a rather economical vehicle: in 1989, a thousand-mile trip on open roads by a diesel-powered AX was achieved with a still exceptional fuel consumption of 2.7 litres per 100 kilometres, making Citroën's little car the world's most fuel-efficient production automobile of its time.
The Citroën AX remained competitive on the market throughout most of its career. When its replacement, the Saxo, was finally launched in 1996, the AX didn’t even bow out and was maintained for two more years in Citroën’s catalogue.
(This car’s history will be expanded in due time, please be patient.)
About the model
Model: Citroën AX 11 TRE
Year: 1987
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.91 of its Nos Chères Voitures d'Antan press series
Acquired: brand new, in October 2007, in Souillac, France
This is one of the last models to appear in Altaya’s Voitures d’Antan series and although it is outside the time frame initially set when this collection was launched, at least it is not a foreign automobile seldom seen on French roads, if ever. These last models are often characterized by a higher level of detailing – Ixo has made a particular effort about the lights, and most notably the rear ones which were over-simplified in the early die-casts provided to Altaya, unfortunately compromising their level of realism. This AX benefited from such a welcomed evolution, and as a result is probably one of best models of the series, though the choice of a very dark blue paint has the regrettable effect of making much harder the perception of some of the body’s details. I’d give 13/20 to this car.
In 1986, the Citroën AX was given the task of succeeding both the two-door LNA and the four-door Visa. Traditional engines were totally abandoned as all air-cooled flat twins were now discarded, the AX receiving only orthodox inline fours. On the outside, the new Citroën was quite an attractive car and, back then, a modern-looking one. The combination of a light weight, thanks to the extensive use of plastics, and of very good aerodynamics allowed the AX to be an excellent performer, as well as a rather economical vehicle: in 1989, a thousand-mile trip on open roads by a diesel-powered AX was achieved with a still exceptional fuel consumption of 2.7 litres per 100 kilometres, making Citroën's little car the world's most fuel-efficient production automobile of its time.
The Citroën AX remained competitive on the market throughout most of its career. When its replacement, the Saxo, was finally launched in 1996, the AX didn’t even bow out and was maintained for two more years in Citroën’s catalogue.
(This car’s history will be expanded in due time, please be patient.)
About the model
Model: Citroën AX 11 TRE
Year: 1987
Maker: Ixo
Scale: 1/43
Distributed by: Altaya as no.91 of its Nos Chères Voitures d'Antan press series
Acquired: brand new, in October 2007, in Souillac, France
This is one of the last models to appear in Altaya’s Voitures d’Antan series and although it is outside the time frame initially set when this collection was launched, at least it is not a foreign automobile seldom seen on French roads, if ever. These last models are often characterized by a higher level of detailing – Ixo has made a particular effort about the lights, and most notably the rear ones which were over-simplified in the early die-casts provided to Altaya, unfortunately compromising their level of realism. This AX benefited from such a welcomed evolution, and as a result is probably one of best models of the series, though the choice of a very dark blue paint has the regrettable effect of making much harder the perception of some of the body’s details. I’d give 13/20 to this car.
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