Did We Really Do That?

About 20 years ago, my Father bought an ex-company car from his then Employer. It was a large Citroen CX estate car.(it looked like the car from Ghost-busters!)

This Citroen was amazing, and built like a tank! We had the car for a good 8 - 10 years in daily use, including using it as a tow car for our Caravan. The car was a real work horse, but as such it did, unfortunately, get a little neglected!.

The Car just kept on going! One day, however, it just stopped. This particular morning it just REFUSED to start. We checked everything, but couldn't find anything wrong. We ended up completely rebuilding the engine, and then it worked like new! (Ironically after a total rebuild it turned out to be only the injectors which were faulty!).

In the mean time, we had obtained a new car, and so the Citroen was surplus to requirements and sat on the driveway unused for some time.

One day, Matt needed a big vehicle to move something, and asked my dad if he could use the Citroen. The only problem was that the Citroen had sat un-run for about 6 months, and the Battery was totally dead.

We decided we could get round this, and the plan came together:

Matt would drive my 1.3 Metro, I would steer and bump start the Citroen.

We attached the metro to the citroen using a nice thick tow rope. Unfortunately the longest we had was only about 5 metres, but no problem!

Off we went! Matt got into the Metro, started it up and I gave him the thumbs - up. Loads of revs, and gently he took up the slack, then pulled me along.

One thing we forgot. Citroens of this era have everything driven by hydraulics. Like without engine, you get virtually NO steering, absolutely NO brakes, and NO suspension!.

Bouncing down our street now at about 25 MPH I decided to give it a go....
Turned on the ignition to bring up the dash lights, dip the clutch, second gear, DROP the clutch! BRRRRRRRRRRRUMMMMMMMM it roars into life!!

Matt Hears the engine start on the Citroen, so stops the Metro. UH OH!!!

Unfortunately the Citroen still hasn't had time to build up any hydraulic pressure, so I have little steering, and NO BRAKES! I had no choice, and hit the metro up the back side, shooting him down the road, and breaking the tow rope!

Luckily hardly any damage was done to either car, and we were fine!

The Citroen went on for another few months fine, before we sadly sold it to a collector for next to nothing. A truly great car though!

Tim

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