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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 by far the most technologically advanced car in its class when launched, with class leading comfort, safety and aerodynamics.

Contents

Purpose

The project

Style

Critics

Mechanics

GS Birotor

GSA in German Democratic Republic

In film

External links

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.

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.

Style

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 / Ford Sierra eyes, it bore little resemblance to any other car on the market, until the development of the Citroën CX in 1974. The 'teardrop' 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 trunk was exceptionally large in part due to the positioning of the spare wheel on top of the engine. It was offered in two trims; GS Club as the entry model and GS Pallas (only sedans)with full wheel covers, tinted glasses and upgraded upholstery. The GS was also available as a station wagon/break and a similar 2 door service van, for commercial buyers.
It may also interest some readers to note that the Spada, Giugiaro and later Marcello Gandini from Bertone, offering for Project G inspired by Fioravanti, Pininfarina's rejected B.M.C design, later inspired Project L, the CX.
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 single spoked 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.

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 and a poor heater due to its air cooled engine.

Mechanics

The vehicle had a front-wheel drive layout and was powered by a flat-4 air-cooled engine. A series of small engines were available, displacing 1015, 1129, 1222 and 1299 cc. Power ranged from 55 to 65 hp. mated to a four speed gearbox, were able to pull this car up to steady 94 MPH ( 1222 cc. engine), due to the very aerodynamic body shape. The GS and GSA were always underpowered and needed full use of the free revving engines to maintain progress, except when cruising, in the tradition of the Citroen 2cv.
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, even on its narrow tires (Factory mounted Michelins XZX 145sr15).
Its central hydraulic system, powering the four disc brakes (inboard in front to help lower unsprung weight) and the advanced hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension, derived from the Citroën DS. It also has a feature that increased or decreased braking pressure in accordance with cargo load, without any noticeable difference in brake pedal response . This car had excellent stopping power without diving, even equal (or superior in some cases) to many of today's larger production cars. The powered system was different from the typical assisted systems in that there was virtually no travel on the brake pedal even when braking hard. The hydraulic suspension allowed the car to be raised for rough terrain at low speeds (a feature taking account of the country lanes of its native France) and to full height for easy access to the partially enclosed rear wheels.

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.

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.

In film

★ Production of the GS is described in the Louis Malle documentary film, ''Humain, trop humain''.

External links

★ Citroën GS and GSA website Lots of information and pictures about GSs and GSAs around the world, detailed production figures, technical information, history of the car and Car club information.

★ la page de la GS

★ Citroën World - GS & GSA links

★ GS at Citroënët

★ GSA at Citroënët