Just in case you were wondering what to drive on the Ventura highway to the West Coast Citroën Rendezvous this weekend, we are proud to present this 1979 Citroën CX Tissier as a public service announcement. The stretch versions of the hydropneumatic pride of French modern motoring achievement were used for everything from ambulances to hearses – with countless towing, bread van, and delivery variants in between. This turbodiesel powered beauty appears to be for sale at the bargain price of about 28 thousand clams and change. Our German is a little rusty, but the translator tells us that the engine has been completely overhauled with nearly everything else that can go wrong on an automobile that employs internal combustion, turbocharging, pneumatics, hydraulics, and has six wheels repaired or improved. The interior is of course, brown leather. Enterprising customizers in dire need of a Citroën CX Tessier might save some bucks by duct taping a couple salvage title Ford Transit Connects together and replacing the stock suspension with airbags and hydraulics.
Check out the CXBASIS for more information and images of the 1979 Tissier. Southern California Citroën fans are advised to head to Ventura this weekend for the SoCal Citroen Club West Coast Rendezvous. Thanks to bread-baking beer-brewing near-future Citroën owner Jonny Lieberman for the Tissier tip.
This was a perfectly ordinary service and delivery vehicle in 1970s Europe?!
I think you need a category tag rather stronger than “odd rod” for this one. Maybe “french”.
I’ve been wondering who modified Citroens with taller roofs and extra axles since I stumbled on this example in Germany.
http://www.beaterblog.com/2009/12/beat-on-strasse-6-wheel-citroen-camper.html
Perhaps there was more than one firm, but there are some similarities.
Heuliez has done some of this sort of stuff- most normally ambulances, in addition to long wheelbase mods, but Tissier is the one who did most of these 6-wheel monstrosities, along with DS and CX flat-bed tow cars. I think they’re also the ones responsible (J’accuse!!!) for the so-called transporter cars that were in use by the EU central government for paper and valuables transport. But the “Mille Pattes” car- basically a custom chassis skinned with DS body parts- was strictly a Michelin abomination. At least that one served a purpose.