by "Jonee" (Jonee)
Published 11/05/2017 at 12:30
by "Jonee" (Jonee)
Published 11/05/2017 at 12:30
Tags: Citroen
; importing
; Citroën LNA
STARS: 35
A few months ago I was engaged in a long comment thread with our Dutch friend Jobjoris when I made some kind of joke about forgotten cars. I can’t remember what it was in reference to, but the joke involved buying a Citroën LNA since that was a car I never think about and is pretty forgotten and unloved. Or, so I thought. It’s maybe Citroën’s least interesting car. Or, so I thought. So, Jobjoris replied with a link to an ad for this one for sale in Belgium and, obviously, I was instantly smitten.
I was familiar with the LNA, but never gave it much thought. Which is weird since I love shitty little cute cars. It’s Citroën’s badge engineered version of the Peugeot 104 which was a handsome and capable little economy car with a small Peugeot 4 cylinder.
In the late 70’s, Citroën was in much better shape than at the beginning of the decade thanks to a merger with Peugeot. However, their economy fleet was badly aging. Both the 2CV and 2CV-based Ami8 were ancient designs. The Visa, a 4 door compact, was still several years away. So, in 1976, Peugeot came up with a quick and dirty solution by having Citroën build its own version of the 104Z, the 2-door “supermini” version of the 104.
Citroën put in the 30 horsepower 602cc flat-twin out of the 2CV and Ami, changed the grille and headlights, and voilà. Of course, when Peugeot took over Citroën, they promised that Citroën would remain independent and wouldn’t just build Peugeots with Citroën badges on them and that’s almost exactly what this car was. But, they explained that they had to rush to give dealers the economy car they had been clamoring for, and it wouldn’t happen again. Which held true for about 20 years.
Sales for the original LN, which was only available in France, were slow at first, but picked up because it was practical, a good value, and didn’t look like it was designed in the 1940’s. It was a little cheaper than the Peugeot version, and the small two cylinder, while being underpowered and designed in the 40’s itself, was extremely thrifty. In 1978, Citroën gave the car an upgrade with the more modern (electronic ignition!) 652cc, 36 horsepower version of the flat twin that also powered the finally on sale Visa.
It was now called the “LNA” with the “A” for “
athletique
” because why not, it’s got 6 more horses. The new LNA was also now being exported around Europe, but couldn’t really compete with non-French superminis outside France, so got a reputation as something of a flop.
But, it remained in production until 1986 and finally got 4 cylinder variants, the 11E and 11RE, in 1982. It turned out to be a decent success in its home country and actually does have a cult of fans today. It also wasn’t the only 104 clone. The Talbot Samba is the same car as well just with a few more body modifications. Unlike the humble LNA, it got Rallye and Cabrio versions.
Well, laying eyes on pictures of that blue one in Belgium made me want one. I had never really looked at it with any kind of attention before and had forgotten how adorably stubby the thing is. It really looks like they just chopped off half of a bigger car. And, it’s the most basic of basic transportation. No radio, no air conditioning, no nothing. I also love cars with two cylinder engines and the fact that all-new cars were still being introduced with the venerable old flat twin in the late 70’s is pretty incredible when you think about it. So, there is something intriguing about this boring little car. I had been planning a trip with my father to visit WWI battlefields in France and Belgium for this summer, so the timing was perfect. Since I was going to be in Europe, I knew I had to head over to The Netherlands to visit Jobjoris since we’d been talking about a get together forever. And, how cool would it be to drive there in an LNA?
I began scouring Leboncoin , France’s version of Craigslist. I figured my budget for buying and shipping the car to be between $4,000 and $4,500, which actually isn’t very much for importing an old car. When you take into account shipping, taxes, customs fees, transporting to and/or from the port, etc.; things add up. Roll on, roll off transport is a little cheaper than using a container, so I knew I had to get a runner. Plus, I wanted to drive it several hundred kilometers. Fortunately, LNA’s are about the cheapest “classic” Citroën you can find. I kept getting distracted by 2CV’s and Ami8’s and Renaults 4 and 5, but decent ones of those would have pushed the budget which I decided I could deal with, but then I’d come across another LNA and make an inner squee and knew that’s the car my heart and my bank account really wanted. For a cheap, almost disposable car that a lot of people don’t know or remember exists, I was surprised at how many always seemed to be for sale.
A lot get scavenged for their motors which then get put in more valuable and collectible 2CV’s, but I looked at dozens of ads. It seemed like top price for a nice one was 2500-3000 Euros, or around $2900+, which would keep me in my budget, but those really nice ones were, unsurprisingly, few and far between. The bulk of cars I’d find, were rusty and tired and in the sub-1000 Euro range. I wanted something in between which is always the toughest target to hit. I didn’t care about paint, and bumps and bruises as long as the car was mechanically sound and had as little rust as possible. I also didn’t want to drive across the entire country of France, so I was only looking in the north, hopefully not far from Paris which was where my dad and I ended up after the battlefields. A couple weeks before the trip, I came across this guy who seemed just right.
It was located in Lille, near the border with Belgium which was actually where my father and I were staying our first week. It’s also only 200 kilometers from Jobjoris’s house in Holland which would make for a fun drive that wouldn’t kill me or a 35+ year old car. The ad said the car, an ’81, had recently had a 1400 Euro service that included new brakes and tires, and had an up to date registration and inspection which sounded good. It was listed at 1500 Euros, or a little over $1700 (firm since it had apparently been appraised at 1550, so this was a deal) which was a nice price. The body didn’t look to be in bad shape in the pictures and they said no rust. It had some stripes that weren’t supposed to be there, but that added to the charm. I also could just make out some kind of pattern on the seats in one of the photos in the ad (no inside shots, but “perfect interior” was promised). Intrigued, I Googled LNA interiors and came up with this.
Is that a rattan pattern? Holy shit, I had to have this car. I emailed the seller. But, the Leboncoin site apparently warns you when you’re getting an inquiry from outside France, so the guy ignored me since French Craigslist works the same as American Craigslist. So, I tried calling, but they didn’t want to answer a random foreign phone number. Jobjoris was vacationing in France, so he volunteered to call and even go look at it, but they weren’t answering Dutch cell phone numbers, either. Finally I used a proxy to fool Leboncoin that I was in France, and Google Translate to fool the seller into thinking I was a French person with poor grammar and got through. He told me right away that he worked a couple hours from Lille and people had made appointments to look at the car and not shown up which annoyed him, so I held off telling him I was American so as not to spook him. Google Translate you sly devil.
I told him I was going to be in town in a couple weeks and made arrangements to call him then. I had a couple other ads saved as backups, but the white Lille car had struck my fancy right away. So, after the first week of looking at WWI battlefields and cemeteries (which was a lot more awesome than it may sound), I got our tour guide to call the LNA guy for me so as not to use my U.S. cell phone. Also, my French sucks. He explained I was American and arranged for me to go look at the car the next day. LNA guy apparently wasn’t as cranky as his email made him sound. I was psyched. I had always wanted a Citroën. I actually did own a U.S. spec Ami6 once that I rescued from the desert, but I didn’t end up keeping it long and, with a cracked frame and a body that looked like it had lost a battle with a rhinoceros, it wasn’t really a daily driver. So, now I was possibly on the verge of owning a Citroën I could really use and drive the wheels off of. If it was how it was described. And, if I could get a guy who only answers local calls on the phone. I had his address, but not his apartment number. I wouldn’t trust me, either, honestly.
The next day it was raining. My father and I had just picked up our rental car, a Dacia Duster. I was just getting used to driving in France when we set off to find the LNA. First of all, the navigation voice only spoke French. I know my gauche from my droite , but everything else sounded like gobbledygook. And, of course the street name he gave me was slightly different than the one the navigation computer spit up. So, needless to say, we drove around in circles for a while. The road he lived on was a small side street, so the lady at the gas station had never heard of it. My Sprint international service sucked at connecting to the internet, so Google Maps didn’t work. I finally spotted the street sign through the downpour behind a Midas of all places. Then I had to get a random dude who was walking down the street to call because LNA Guy still wouldn’t answer when I used my phone. What the hell? He knew I was coming. Five minutes later a skinny Frenchman in his late 20’s came down to take soaking wet me and my 84 year old father down to the garage underneath the building where the LNA was parked. Florian, that was LNA Guy’s name, turned out to be really nice fellow. He recently graduated from grad school, and had owned the car a couple years. He seemed dumbfounded that an American was interested in his little Citroën. “Why do you want my car?” he kept asking me.
The basement garage was pitch black and it took Florian waving his arms for the lights to come on. As the fluorescents flickered to life, I saw the distinctive petite nose of the LNA peeking out from its parking spot, those round sealed beams looking bright and eager.
Sometimes when you go look at a car, it takes some real inspecting to make sure it’s the one you want. And, sometimes it’s love at first sight and you know that car will be yours no matter what. This was one of those times. The paint was a tad tired and had some minor dents, but it looked good. A real French car shouldn’t be perfectly straight. They drive by touch on occasion. It has these black stripes that were clearly painted on using the most rudimentary technique that give it excellent character. I especially like the ones on the top of the fenders that kind of frame the hood. An unusual, but cool choice. They don’t add fake sportiness, just a little flair. There was no visible rust anywhere which was a relief. France is wet and cheap cars especially turn to dust. It started right up exuding the scent of exhaust and unburned gas as only an old carbureted car can. And the flat twin purred steadily just like it should. Florian, whose English was only slightly better than my French, got out, pointed at his wrist and said, “perfect.” I nodded. “Yeah. Runs like a watch.” I then opened the door and looked inside. Those perfect, mock rattan seats looked back.
They were even more amazing in person. The way the pattern is printed on the material is kind of janky in a charming way. Like this was the cheapest way to keep the interior from being too boring. Any other car maker might have picked something lame like plaid, or some stripes. But, Citroën knows its clientele. They went for rattan because the rest of the car lacked their signature weirdness. And, sitting in them is like sitting on a cloud. They’re squishy and welcoming. A real contrast from most cheap car seats which usually feel like you’re sitting on a shovel. No headrests because you have bigger things to worry about than whiplash.
With my father squeezed in the back seat and Florian next to me, we set off on a test drive. The first thing you notice after the nutty interior is that single spoke steering wheel.
It’s pretty rad and you realize it lets you have a clear view of the gauges even when you’re turning. How clever. Not that you really need to spend much time staring at the speedo in a 36 horsepower car. The shifter gave me that familiar sensation of stirring soup. Still, first gear was easy to find and we set off. One of my first thoughts was, did I leave the hand brake on? I’m used to driving underpowered, little cars. I have a Renault Le Car that I use all the time, but it has 20 whole horsepower more than the LNA which somehow makes it feel like a rocket ship in comparison. But, that’s the deal with the old Citroën flat twin. It’s simple, durable, and it sips gas like a teetotaler. And, once you get it going, it will keep up with traffic. In town, anyway. The LNA weighs around 1500 lbs. so there isn’t a lot of car for that motor to move.
Anyway, this one really did run like a top. The motor ticked away making all the sounds it was supposed to. The brakes felt firm and fresh as did the clutch. Aside from the sloppy shifter which probably was never all that precise to begin with, it was a well sorted little car. And it was a joy to drive right from the start. I certainly knew I wasn’t getting a performance machine. My automobile interests lie with small oddballs. I like old cars with lots of quirks. I want a little bit of comedy in my rides. A weirdly placed turn signal stalk, or an exhaust pipe route that doesn’t quite make sense gives me pleasure. And this car tickled me right from the start. It has a horn stalk on the column that you pull towards you. One speed wipers with a knob that you turn that’s so inset into the dash you can barely get your fingers around it. The suspension is gloriously soft like any good French car. And it understeers with its front wheel drive so much that it really just leans more than change direction. It’s a hoot as long as you don’t want to go fast. And slow car fast is faster than fast car slow anyway.
My father didn’t have much to say because I think my love of cars like this confuses him. His one comment was, “it’s not as nice a design as the Le Car.” He’s right. The Renault 5 was designed as a 3 door, and this is a chopped off 5 door. But, I like the awkward proportions. The stubbiness is what struck me initially because it’s amusing. And, during the drive, the only thing dad said was, “you’re pretty good at driving stick,” which is a nice thing for your father to say only he’s terrible at driving a manual.
I didn’t want to stop driving the thing, but we had a long drive ahead of us that evening to get to our next hotel in Reims, so I headed back to the dark parking lot. After some more arm waving after we parked, I told Florian I’d take it. He again looked dumbfounded. “Really?”
“Yeah, the car’s great. It’s exactly what I was looking for.”
“Really?”
He explained he didn’t want someone who was just going to take the engine. I patted the car and said, “no way. Poor LNA. I’m going to ship it home to America and drive it all over.”
“Really???”
I know it’s not the kind of car that usually gets exported. I’m pretty sure I’m the first one to bother bringing an LNA over. But, I didn’t hunt for his place in the rain just for shits and giggles. I told him I had cash and was ready to take it and he seemed to finally accept that I was going to buy his car. We still had a week of WWI stuff to see, so I asked if I could pick it up the next weekend. He still needed to take it to get a new inspection since that’s the law when you sell a car in France, so the 7 day gap worked out perfect. He wouldn’t take a deposit, which was a little worrying, but we made arrangements for me to come get it the next Saturday morning after my father went back home.
So, after another week of seeing all the spots where General Pershing put the kibosh on the Kaiser, I took a train from Paris back up to Lille to pick up the LNA. It was raining again because France, and this time I was lugging luggage. I had to go through the process of calling Florian again and of course he didn’t answer. My heart sank. This time he definitely should know to expect a call from a California number. Since it was early and there were no random people walking down the street, I tried again. Still no answer. “Aw, fuck.” I immediately redialed and he picked right up. Phew. “I wasn’t sure you were coming,” he said. I had already emailed him to ask for a copy of the title so I could get the shipping process started, so I don’t know what he was talking about. I asked about the inspection and he told me it passed fine. The only thing they pointed out was that the brake lights come on a split second after pressing the pedal instead of right away. That didn’t sound like a problem to me. Probably some kind of safety precaution. This gives you a moment to decide if you really want to brake before letting the whole world know.
After working out the confusing French paperwork, I was ready to be on my way to Holland. Our friend Flavien told me about a place in France that does temporary insurance. All I had to do was call them up, email them pictures of the title and my driver’s license, and, for 65 Euros, I was insured for a week. After that was done, I stuffed my suitcases in the little car. She fired right up, I’m sure knowing it was headed to a new forever home where it wouldn’t be living in a dank basement garage. Florian definitely seemed sad to see it go, which was nice. It was his car during his time in school and he was pretty attached to it. I assured him it was going to a good home and then we headed out into the rain and the crazy streets of Europe. Since my Google maps situation was spotty, I had to write down turn by turn directions all the way to Jobjoris’s house. And, somehow, I did a good job because I managed to find the highway north.
I was a little nervous, both about driving the thing on an expressway and taking a 36 year old French car I wasn’t very familiar with yet on a two and a half hour drive. And, I have to say, after all that, the trip was fairly uneventful. That car was a champ the whole way, cruising at 105 kph (65 mph) like it was born to do it. Which I guess it was. We were passing trucks like nobody’s business. Which was quite hairy at first. The LNA accelerates so leisurely that you have to plan way way ahead when you’re going to make the move into the left lane to go around somebody. If there’s anyone within half a mile coming up in the fast lane, you can forget it. In my early paranoia, I kept thinking it was making weird noises. But, no. It hummed along just fine barely batting an eye.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I had trouble restarting it once at a pitstop because I flooded it, so the only hiccup was my fault. We rolled through Belgium like we owned it. Right on schedule, after two and a half hours, we cruised into the cozy confines of Breda, The Netherlands.
My scrawled directions were suddenly completely useless. Roads didn’t match up with anything I had written down. Where I was supposed to go left, the road only went right. The names of the streets were 75 letters long. The LNA didn’t seem to mind, but I had to urinate like a horse and was getting antsy. Finally after driving around aimlessly, through one of those miracles that defy explanation, when I checked to see what street I had just turned onto randomly, it was Jobjoris’s. We were there.
The next three days were a blur of car museums and pizza. Jobjoris had made the shipping arrangements for me through a guy he knows named Michel who has a forwarding company. Shipping was 1100 Euros, or a little under $1300. That was a couple hundred less than I was expecting. It helps to ship small, light cars. We also took the LNA to a Citroën specialist to check it out.
He pointed out a couple areas of minor rust to keep an eye on, but otherwise gave it a thumbs up. He also had the coolest cars parked around his place.
The port was in Zeebrugge, another 150 kilometers back across Belgium. This time, I knew what the car could handle, and it was 110 kph (68!) the whole way.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Which was like the speed of sound to me, but I know Jobjoris was bored to death in the mighty Volvo wagon (diesel 5 pot).
As we arrived at the port, the skies darkened reflecting my mood. I was going to miss the little Citroën. It had conquered Belgium twice like it was the German army. It was going to my parents’ house in Connecticut to get registered there before coming out to ultra strict California where I live. So, I wasn’t going to see it again for a while.
I had really only driven it for four hours or so, but that was enough to get attached. Everyone who loves an old car knows how that bond feels. The clouds opened as we left Zeebrugge. Europe was going to miss that car, too.
Sixteen days later, it landed in Newark, New Jersey. I was back in L.A., so I hired a customs broker to handle the paperwork. I had imported a few cars before and always found it to be worth the money since there always seems to be some piece of paperwork I wasn’t aware of. Which happened this time. There’s something called an Import Security Filing form that has to be filled out before it leaves the port of origin that didn’t exist the last time I did this. So, that cost me an extra $160 because I did it after the ship had left. And then our friend Michel somehow never sent me the original Bill of Lading which I had to sign and mail to the company that owned the ship so they could release it at the port. He thought he sent it to Jobjoris, but that couldn’t have happened unless Jobjoris ate it in a bitterball. So, Michel had to call the boat people to get it verbally released, or some shit, and then they would tell the customs broker that it was ready to be picked up. Which would happen and then I’d call the customs broker and he’d say they’re waiting for the Bill of Lading and we’d start all over again. After, like, three cycles of this, something finally broke through and my car was out of port jail. I hired a truck to bring it to Connecticut and now it’s there!
My mother sent me pictures of it. It looks just like when I last saw it, no worse for wear from the trip. She said it started right up after coming off the truck, so the change in climate doesn’t seem to have had an effect. Europeans sometimes don’t adjust well to the Land of the Free. I’m going back east for Christmas when I’ll take care of registering it. I can’t wait. And then hopefully after the new year, it’ll be here in sunny California where it’ll spread mirth and frivolity in the Home of the Stars. The first Citroën LNA in the U.S.A. The thing is historic.
So, the car was 1500 Euros.
Shipping: 1100 Euros.
Insurance: 65 Euros.
I got it here for 2665 Euros, or $3095.00
Customs + fees + broker’s fees: $698.00 (The broker charged $335 to do all the paperwork and handle things at the port in Jersey.)
That’s 3,793 bucks, right where I wanted to be. It’s twice what the car is actually worth, but that doesn’t bother me at all.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
11/05/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 2
I am so looking forward to the story of the CT to LA run.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/05/2017 at 13:23, STARS: 0
I haven’t worked that part out, yet, but that would be an epic drive.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
11/05/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 3
It had conquered Belgium twice like it was the German army.
Ouch. Doubly so because you’re not wrong.
Great story, I look forward to the inevitable size comparison pictures!
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/05/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 2
This has been my favorite article in awhile! PSYCHED to hear more about the little guy! Hmmm....$4097 US works out to about $5200 or something Canadian....not bad! Hoping that is about what a decent FIAT 126p will cost me when I finally have the chance to import one! :)
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/05/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
Glad you liked it, RD. I bet you could get the Fiat here, or there, for around the same. I came across some needing a little TLC in the same price range. That’s another car that kept tempting me, but I thought to myself, I didn’t want to steal your thunder.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/05/2017 at 20:11, STARS: 1
Borsuq and some other research has told me that I should be able to get a good one here to Canada for around $5500-6000 CAD. :)
I wouldn’t mind one that wasn’t perfect as long as there was no rust and it was mechanically sound! I wouldn’t have minded if you’d got a 126...after all, the more the merrier! :D
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/05/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 0
I don’t know how your customs fees compare to ours, but that does sound about right. And there’s enough of them over there that you’ll find the perfect one.
Oppo needs a 126 division.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
11/06/2017 at 02:33, STARS: 0
I bet it fits on the bed of a larger pickup truck.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/06/2017 at 04:14, STARS: 3
Hahaha, GREAT story! And thanks for plugging the CPMFactory in that lead picture! ;-)
What an incredible story, I couldn’t stop reading. Also, “basic of basic transportation”? What are you talking about? It has rattan seats! And the rear seats are foldable separately: I think the first car my mum had with that was in the ‘90's! And...
Probably some kind of safety precaution. This gives you a moment to decide if you really want to brake before letting the whole world know.
Hahaha. Only luxury cars come with this!
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
11/06/2017 at 07:04, STARS: 1
well done!
more posts when registered plz!
;)
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 2
Thank you. You obviously played a prominent role. And, I had to show support for my future business partner. Gerard got a plug, too.
Those rear seats are pretty clever. I should have said it’s the least basic of basic transportation. I didn’t put it in the piece, but did you know there was a commercial version, too?
The most versatile car ever.
I think luxury cars also have that feature on their indicators.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/06/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 1
I was going to shoot you an overly glib reply about doing some mods and doubling the horsepower...to 60. Turns out I wasn’t very far off!
That’s a cute car and ought to be fun to tool around in.
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
11/06/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 1
What a sweet car. Envy, envy!
"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4)
11/06/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 1
This is best Oppo! Congrats on such a neat buy and story to go with it!
I need a French car in my life.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 1
Thanks!
We all need a French car in our lives. To remind us that life doesn’t have to be dull.
"Spridget" (dustbustervans)
11/06/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 1
This is great Oppo. Now you need to find a Visa to go with it.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 17:23, STARS: 1
Thanks. I wouldn’t mind a Visa as a stable mate. Preferably a Chrono.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/06/2017 at 17:34, STARS: 1
Haha, and I just saw footage of me driving the Mighty V60 for the first time. Awesome. God I love the sound of that flat twin. No idea what they were thinking when they came up with la Petit Fourgonette ?Transport a (one!) box of strawberries?
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
11/06/2017 at 18:44, STARS: 1
Awesome. I want to do something like this, but come back with an E28
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
11/06/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 1
That’s a great story.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 19:11, STARS: 0
That’s sounds like fun, too. Do it. It’s not that hard.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 0
Thanks, Steve!
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
11/06/2017 at 20:32, STARS: 1
Once I have the spare cash, and time, and a passport, I intend to
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/06/2017 at 23:16, STARS: 2
Now you know how the Volvo looks when you’re behind the wheel. You drive closer to the lane divider than the median. Is that on purpose, or now that you see it, are you going to work on staying in the center of the lane?
I like how the passenger seat is reinforced so you can fold it down for more storage. So, that might be a second box. Or, one billiard stick.
"Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen" (distraxi)
11/07/2017 at 02:07, STARS: 0
Great story!
I had a 104 (ZS model: 66 whole hp!) for about 6 months when I was on my gap year back in the late 80s. Rusty as all hell, but it was a great little car: trod the line between conventional and characterful really well. I’m glad they’re still about (in Citroen flavour at least).
Unlike your description of the LN, I remember the 104's handling being pretty balanced and the suspension pretty stiff (for a French car). Admittedly, I was coming from a Renault 4, so my perspective may have been skewed...
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/07/2017 at 04:02, STARS: 1
Certainly not gonna work on that! It is on purpose. The more centered you are, the better your view on the road and in front of cars ahead of you is. It even allows you to look through the gap that the headrests in the car in front of you provide one with. It’s not as if I’m crossing the divider. Unless we’re getting in a traffic congestion. Then all the way up to the left it is to provide motorbikes a clean pass.
Modern sticks come in pieces.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
11/07/2017 at 05:12, STARS: 1
But a Chrono doesn’t have the 2 cylinder! It does have the glorious X-engine though, which has a very nice whine to it. Engine and transmission share oil. I currently own one in an early (‘86) Peugeot 205.
The second car I remember my parents owning when I grew up was a 2-cylinder Visa. It replaced a Lada (VAZ-2105). Before those two there were a VAZ-2101 and the Citroën Dyane that brought me home after I was born, but I was too young to remember those. My point being: I support your choice of cars.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/07/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
I’m allowed to have a little fun sometimes! Yeah, that X engine is very cool and really interesting. Plus, those red and blue stripes are spectacular.
Wow, you and your parents are my kind of people. That’s an excellent roster of great, cheap cars.
"RT" (rt-p)
11/07/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 2
Fantastic read!
Back in the UK, we never got the LNAs with the 2-cylinder, so this car went under pretty much everyone’s radar. I’m surprised how many were for sale in France. I wonder if they have any Peugeot 604s (or 605s) around these days...
Also to give the Visa credit where it was due, it may have looked ugly at first, but the later GTi versions were pretty fantastic.
Either way, have fun with that LNA, oddball choice for sure.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
11/07/2017 at 15:28, STARS: 1
Yup, definitely hoping I can find the perfect one. :)
Hoping I can get one in a bright yellow or orange....those are my preference and are rarer factory colors. Red would be fine too....I’d really go with ANY factory color, but a brighter one would be better considering how small the cars are compared to the RAMs and F150s I live amongst here in Nova Scotia!
And yes, let us start a FIAT 126 division :D
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/07/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 2
Thanks!
Outside France, the LNA was off pretty much everyone’s radar. But, they are definitely still around. As are 604's. I see almost 40 on Leboncoin. I like that car, too, but too big for me.
I’m a huge fan of the Visa, even with the homely face. And, that GTI was great. As was the Chrono.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/07/2017 at 15:49, STARS: 1
Yellow and orange are my favorite colors for one of those, too. You may want to add some police lights as well.
"RT" (rt-p)
11/07/2017 at 16:54, STARS: 2
If the early Visas had an ace up their sleeve, it was the bonkers interior.
Gotta love that.
604s are probably too big for me too, coming to think of it, it’s just a very overlooked car to the point where no one even knows its boot volume for sure . Glad to see those are still around.
Also, thank god you didn’t choose an Axel, that thing probably wouldn’t have survived the shipping.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/07/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 2
I know. One of the most wonderfully wacky dashboard-instrument panel combos ever. I like this one with the clock delete.
As if you’d ever forget you were in a Citroën.
That boot volume controversy is hilarious. I hadn’t heard that before. Some Tardis shit going on there, or something.
Yeah, even I know better then to get an Axel. Cute car, though. Like a mini, watered down Visa. And another weird gauge set up. I’d take a chance on one if someone else had gone against reason and done the import work already.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/07/2017 at 23:16, STARS: 1
Interesting. I never took into account the look through the headrests technique. I would think with LHD, you’re better off cheating left. Then you’re not crowding the other lane. Who knows what some nut in the slow lane in some tiny shitbox is liable to do. ;-)
Good point. But, if you’re in a hurry, you might want to bring it already screwed together.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/08/2017 at 05:45, STARS: 1
It’s not just that, it’s the fact looking through the gap of cars in front of you is easier as well, hugely important. Left me, right the regular sheep:
And yes: If the left car is slightly behind the right one it doesn’t matter but the left lane is the more forward going lane!
I’m in planning. No hurries. Ever. Just when you are around!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/08/2017 at 21:50, STARS: 1
What do you need to do all that looking through the gap for when you’re not in a hurry?
It’ll fit your hockey stick then, as I mentioned. I think you need an LNA Enterprise in the fleet.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/09/2017 at 07:12, STARS: 1
Remember: I’m about planning. I like to know what happens in front of the guy in front of me for maximum anticipation. How many times did you need to break intensively following me? One of me mates always laughs about me being all over the road. I tend to go to the right a lot as well. He feels it as being “troublous”, nervy. When we were driving to Sankt Anton and he took over the wheel it took him 5 kms before I could say: “You’ve touched that brake now more than I did the previous 200km”. Nervy... ;-)
As I mentioned: Give me a Samba first!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/09/2017 at 21:22, STARS: 1
Haha. I have to say, it was a pretty smooth ride. I’ll have to try it now. How does it work in bumper to bumper traffic, because that’s what we get here.
I think you need the Samba Cabrio. That’s the droptop you should own. Then you can stick your sticks anywhere. And you can get one dirt cheap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Talbot-Samba-Convertible/263266336999
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/10/2017 at 05:15, STARS: 1
It will stall every single time, run warm on you and will barely run idle. That’s what old fashioned tuning does for you!
I might need one indeed. But the English market ain’t exactly representative right now. That is dead cheap. I’ve already got 2 RHDs and although I’m sure more will follow this one ain’t it!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/10/2017 at 23:50, STARS: 1
I’ve been there. You have to heel-toe it to compensate for the low idle.
I figured you’re so used to RHD now, that’s the only way you can drive. Isn’t it perfect for your highway maneuvering? You’re already on the right.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/11/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 1
Been there too. With the mighty Uno.
It is perfect. Just overtaking on B-roads is hazardous.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/12/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 1
True, and I’m sure you’d be doing a lot of passing in the Samba. You’ll need a spotter in the passenger seat.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/12/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 1
That’s what it’s made for. Correction: It’s not made for an extra passenger, all that weight! So I better get a LHD anyway.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/12/2017 at 22:45, STARS: 1
How much does Josje weigh? 30 pounds?
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/13/2017 at 16:10, STARS: 1
You’re not far off I suppose, haven’t weighed her recently!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/14/2017 at 00:40, STARS: 1
I didn’t lift her while I was there, but that sounds about right. So, not much added weight for a navigator.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/14/2017 at 03:30, STARS: 1
She knows how to handle a map.
Well, at least pretends like she knows what she’s doing. Just like her mum.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/15/2017 at 00:27, STARS: 1
Haha. Well, maps will probably be completely obsolete by the time she’s driving.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/15/2017 at 09:02, STARS: 1
If she’d drive an up-to-date car that is. I hope she’ll be driving my 3.2, my Pao or the Be-1 though!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/16/2017 at 02:20, STARS: 1
That’s true. She will be. Weren’t you thinking about getting that retro navigation thing for the Porker?
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/16/2017 at 04:33, STARS: 1
The Porker has it but I’ve NEVER used it. The screen is simply too small.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/16/2017 at 22:16, STARS: 1
It’s so tiny I didn’t even notice it. Or, did I? I can’t remember now.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/17/2017 at 03:01, STARS: 1
Certainly not while you were driving. You were focussed to the max.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/18/2017 at 21:27, STARS: 1
I knew you were watching my every move.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/20/2017 at 03:23, STARS: 1
YOU WERE DRIVING MY 50K LOVE! Of course I was monitoring the entire thing!
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/20/2017 at 23:39, STARS: 1
Well, I wasn’t nervous. It was pretty easy to drive. Nowhere near the level of concentration the LNA takes. ;-)
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/21/2017 at 07:01, STARS: 1
I was! Just kidding, I knew you’d treat it with respect. Once you respect it, the respect goes both ways.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/21/2017 at 21:51, STARS: 1
Of course. I noticed those bottom hinged pedals made me want to drive like I had to in the 360 where I’d get a hitch in my clutch foot so I could heel toe while releasing the clutch. It was a weird, but necessary, habit.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/22/2017 at 03:31, STARS: 1
Yeah, those bottom hinged pedals often confuse people trying it for the first time, didn’t realize the 360 had ‘m as well but I was sure you knew how to handle ‘m. Didn’t you drive a Beetle as well at one moment?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/23/2017 at 03:02, STARS: 1
A Karmann Ghia, but it was one of those semi-automatic clutchless ones, funny enough. But, I have driven Beetles.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/23/2017 at 04:30, STARS: 1
They start to attract to me a lot lately. I want that green one I shot with the Porker.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/24/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 1
I always loved them as a kid. It and the Pacer were my favorites. That semi-auto made it so slow, though. Not that it was ever fast. That would be another good candidate for your droptop. They’re a great looking convertible. Just make sure you get the right color.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/24/2017 at 17:36, STARS: 1
The best auto I ever experienced was the PDK of that 991. Man it was good! I’m doubting I’d get that with a manual now. Really. I love the Beetle but the Beetle convertible doesn’t do it for me. Now a Karmann...
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/24/2017 at 22:46, STARS: 1
Heresy! Turn in your MGPS shirt!
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
11/25/2017 at 12:25, STARS: 1
My Marine Growth Prevention System shirt? What’s that?
"Jonee" (Jonee)
11/26/2017 at 17:58, STARS: 0
"VRFlyer" (vrflyer)
12/29/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 1
How did I miss this article?! Nonetheless, I’m glad I found it referenced via “the best cars you imported...”. This was a fantastic read.
"Jonee" (Jonee)
12/29/2017 at 14:24, STARS: 0
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
"Sandeeland" (sandeeland)
12/31/2017 at 07:47, STARS: 1
So great! Thanks for sound bites, excellent read, I felt like I was in the back seat the whole time! Love the rattan interior!
Great too, that you were able to share the experience with your dad! My father is “confused” by my love of oddball cars, but still takes the time to check the oil and air pressure when I stop by ...
"Jonee" (Jonee)
12/31/2017 at 12:07, STARS: 0
Thanks, Sandee! That picture is awesome.