From the pen of a UK BX Owner
To many of you this is a model you will never have seen or heard of. Like all the best things the French kept these for themselves with only left hand drive versions being made - they said they could not make it in right hand drive form as they could not make enough clearance around the manifold for the steering linkage. Perhaps in France they do not have the saying "Where there is a will, there is a way!".
Two of these have previously been U.K registered but none now (this is to the best of our knowledge and belief).
When introduced in 1985, 2,500 were planned to be made - the demand was so great 7,500 were made between 1985 and 1987 and this is a June 1987 car so one of the last. It is of course the more aesthetically pleasing Series 1.
So what were the differences? Obviously a tremendously stylish car but a vast mechanical improvement too with 126BHP obtained with a pair of side draught Solex carbs, the cylinder head has modified combustion chambers, larger diameter valves and a camshaft with higher valve lift. The result was 126BHP which was some 21BHP more than the GT model we had here. The Sport was also capable of 120MPH and had improved torque as well - add this to the already low drag co-efficient of the BX which is a very light car too then you know you have something that bit special. In fact the Sport has a drag of just 0.325 which is the lowest of any BX.
Cosmetically wise it has the deeper front bumper spoiler with air intake, sill extensions, unique rear bumper, rear spoiler and those beautiful wheel arch extensions. The wheels were first used on this car - you will have seen them on later BX GTi models here.
Being a devout CX fan the inside pleases me hugely with so much akin to the CX GTi Turbo - the dials, seat trim etc.
Whilst touching on the CX GTi Turbo it is full credit to the
Sport that it's 0-62 time is 8.9 seconds just 0.7 secs behind the Series 1 CX
GTi Turbo.
I must say I am very tempted to put this in my very private
collection.
