The 1980s represent a hugely significant chapter in the story of rallying. Audi, of course, revolutionised the sport at the beginning of the decade with the Quattro, showcasing the benefits of four-wheel drive on the special stages. But even more was to come as Group B regulations came into effect shortly afterwards.
Dubbed by enthusiasts as the golden age of rallying, this upper-tier motorsport class was also a fixture of the track-based World Sportscar Championship. Rules permitted manufacturers to produce 200 road-going homologation versions of their entrants, and in Group B rallying, there was a great number of extraordinary powerful, technically sophisticated and strikingly styled machines which would become legends in their own lifetime.
Such was the relative lack of spec restrictions, these rally-bred nutters would often bear little to no resemblance to regular production models, although the ‘shapes’ of well-known cars often sat atop unique space-frame chassis, the latter evidenced by the Peugeot 205 T16 and Lancia Delta S4.
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’ll be a car enthusiast, and thus you’ll already know all the big names of Group B rallying - 6R4, RS200, 5 Turbo etc. What I want to talk about is a Group B machine whose reputation is rather less salubrious, not helped by somewhat challenging styling and a relative lack of success.
Welcome to the mad world of the Citroen BX 4TC. Oh, where on earth to start? Debuting in 1986 - the very year that would see Group B banned as a result of high-profile accidents and fatalities - the powerhouse Citroen’s career was so short it would make Alan Partridge’s '90s chat show look like Parkinson. A sixth-place finish in the 1986 Swedish rally would be the 4TC’s best result.
Now, in standard form, the BX was a surprising success and melded mainstream appeal with some refreshing Citroen quirkiness. It took on the likes of the Escort and the Golf with aplomb, ultimately racking up more than 2 million sales. So why was the rally version so unsuccessful?
For a kick-off, the car was too large to be truly competitive on the more tight and twisting stages where the inherent agility and poise of the mid-engined stuff shone through. The engine was mounted north-south in the engine bay, hence the lengthy front overhang. Problems existed, too, with the mechanicals themselves, and the typically, ahem, French build quality and reliability were significant obstacles where durability was so pivotal.
The BX 4TC’s lack of motorsport success held it back compared with its peers, and this affected the sales of road-going models too. Nobody really wanted one. Well, not in the day, but the model’s rarity and intriguing back story make for a genuinely sought-after and collectable classic today. Oh, and six headlamps and boxed arches will always be cool.
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