- A Citroen ZX Rallye Raid classic Dakar racer from 1990 will go under the hammer this May.
- The model has been restored with the original yellow livery and comes with two racing suits.
- Other examples of this mid-engined monster won four Dakar Rallies between 1990-1997.
The Citroen ZX may not be familiar to most people in North America, but if you’re a fan of ’90s compact hatchbacks, you’ll recognize it as the precursor to the Xsara and C4. However, there’s one version of the ZX that stands apart from your average commuter car—the ZX Rallye Raid.
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This Dakar-winning beast has little in common with its road-going counterpart, drawing heavily on Citroën-Peugeot’s motorsport expertise. In fact, the ZX Rallye Raid is essentially an evolved version of the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 Grand Raid, which itself traces its roots back to the 205 T16 Group B.
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As expected from a Dakar competitor, the ZX Rallye Raid is a completely different beast from its humble origins. The car’s three-door ZX shell is mounted on a custom chassis, with bolt-on fender extensions to accommodate its much wider tracks. And when it comes to ground clearance, well, it’ll put most Jeep Wranglers to shame.
Features like the roof-mounted scoop, extra lights and vents, oversized rear wing, and massive mudflaps make it clear—this is rally monster. Inside, the car continues its no-nonsense approach with two Sparco racing bucket seats and a dashboard cluttered with a dizzying array of switches.
More importantly, the mid-mounted 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivers between 300-330 hp (227-250 kW), depending on the configuration. Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed manual gearbox, supported by self-locking differentials on both axles and a central limited-slip differential. To top it off, the dune-conquering beast boasts independent suspension with dual springs on each wheel, ensuring it can handle just about anything the terrain throws at it.
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A Very Successful Career
The Citroen ZX Rallye Raid was introduced in 1990 and remained active until 1997. During this time it won four Dakar titles (1991, 1994, 1995, 1996) and five FIA World Cup titles for Cross-Country Rallies (1993-1997). In total, the French rally car won 36 out of the 42 races it entered, proving its superiority against rivals. Drivers who sat behind its wheel include Ari Vatanen, Pierre Lartigue, and Jacky Ickx.
This particular example of the ZX Rallye Raid (chassis C05) took part in three Paris-Dakar Rallies, finishing in the sixth and seventh spots. After its motorsport career, it became part of the Citroen Heritage collection, until 2011 when it got sold to a private owner.
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The model underwent a two-year restoration, bringing it back to the specifications of the 1990 Pharaohs Rally. Like the early versions of the ZX Rallye Raid, it features the iconic yellow livery with Camel graphics, before eventually switching to the red livery adorned with Total branding.
The 1990 ZX Rallye Raid is being sold with a comprehensive history file, along with two Citroen Sport racing suits from the 1991 season, so you can feel like a pro. The model will be auctioned at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on May 23-25. According to the Broad Arrow listing, the ZX Rallye Raid is expected to fetch between $512,000 and $566,000, making it one of the most expensive Citroen models in the world.
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#MidEngine #Beast #Regular #Citroen #Hatch
