The Citroen Visa Forum

I thought it was about time that i introduce myself after tuning into this forum a couple of weeks after it was first set up
My name is Lawrence and i live in auckland ,new zealand. I currently own 5 citroens,being 2 Visas (1982 2cyl and 1986 Gti) 2 BXs (mark 1 1985 16trs & mark 2 1992 16tgs)and a 1992 AX GT.
The Visa in this country is indeed another rare commodity, while i have asked around i still am not too sure on how many visa were brought into this country privately,I do know that only 8 examples (2 of each of the four colour choices)of the GTI were officially imported by Citroën New Zealand and they arrived here in January 1986, Collectively these 8 took a year to sell as they were hopelessly expensive( $42,000,A BX19 GT at the time was $44,000)they were reduced mid year to $37000, they were introduced to undercut and stir interest in the yet to arrive Pug 205GTI,but this experiment did not work, and no more were brought in.However 2 or 3 cabriolets were privately imported and the only one i know lives in taranaki and has just had an extensive restoration(hopefully it will turn up at next years Citroën car club rallye)several 2 cylinders made it here,again privately imported and i believe only 3 or 4 are about now (including mine).A couple of 11re examples have been spotted over the years by me and 1 GT arrived here in 1987 but sadly 2 or so years ago it was written off(there was a picture of it on the visavision site). I have also heard that 3 visa Gti have been written off over the years(due to being rolled)
So i feel quite lucky that i own 2 visas and have the intention to resore them both to there former glory,While the 1982 2cyl is a complete car i do need some spares for the Gti as in 1997 it popped a cam belt and was promply de registered and taken to the wreckers,where phil jones heard about it & saved it from the crusher, a 1.9L was put into it and Whoa it is a wild beast.It did sit in his shed unused for a few years and i bought it in 2009 not going at all. The parts i would like are Headlamps(they are all different and the 2 originals have corroded) a rear spoiler, a digital clock and maybe a parcel shelf.Can anyone help? i realise getting these parts to nz will not be cheap but i would like to make it complete before i repaint it.it is also missing the trim off the front wings but the guy who restored the convertable made a mould since his was also missing that trim, so will be able to obtain them from him.
Hope you enjoyed reading this.
PS also met Nathan From OZ earlier this year who owns the 3 visas, its amazing what friends you make by the car you own!
cheers

Welcome to the forum Lawrence.

I'm pretty sure I've got a clock lying around somewhere. I certainly remember taking one out - it's just a question of finding it !!

Can't help with lights (they're pretty hard to come by over here too) but if you're not too concerned about complete originality, it is possible to fit other units - I've got some generic Cibies in my GTI - they look identical but the mountings need modifying. My project thread has some details.

Welcome to the forum Lawrence, it's good to have you on board.

If you could post some photos of your two Visas up that'd be great!

Phew! took a while but finally got the pictures on, as you can see the Gti was far too good to wreck even in 1997 apart from a bit of rust in each door there is nothing structual(except a small patch in the fire wall and under the windscreen),all the seams are great even now that its about to be 26 years old.since this photo was taken the tail light lenses have been replaced.
The 2 cylinder is essentially a Special but is badged a VISA ,it never had a parcel shelf and has vinyl upholstery ,it arrived in nz in late 1985 and has always lived in auckland, it had always been well looked after until the last time i saw it in 1997(after first viewing it in 1988 i still have a photo of it taken that year),i was able to buy it 2005 but rust had well and truly got a hold of it by then,i have had much rust removal work done to it with just a little to go when it gets repainted.

...welcome Lawrence and thanks for the excellent photos. To think all those years of trying to get a photo from the late Phil Jones of his GTi when he was a CCC member, with no success apart from the sale photos, and now I have good ones from the new owner - funny how life goes. I hear your Special was the only Visa at the NZ National this year - well done, keep persevering, don't give up, other Visas will join you in the end. On the subject of NZ GTi's, I corresponded with a NZ Club member this year and he sent me these car park photos from this year's Ellerslie Intermarque Concours in Auckland - you may know the car

welcome to the forum.
Nice collection you got there