Discover the legendary Citroën ZX Rallye-Raid of Ari Vatanen, now available for sale!

If you thought that rally raid cars were all modern sanitized machines or just dusty collector's items, think again. The Citroën ZX Rallye-Raid of Ari Vatanen serves as a reminder that carbon and kevlar look much better when they tell a worthy story. This supercharged icon, rougher than the Sahara during a sandstorm, is coming up for auction in May 2025, offering a few fortunate daring souls the chance to acquire a piece of legendary automobile history destined for the most extreme terrains.

A legendary competition car and its off-road rally exploits

No need to bring out the mothballs for this ZX Rallye-Raid, as it is not just a simple museum toy lurking in a display case. With chassis number C05, this beast defied the infernal dunes of the legendary Rally of the Pharaohs in 1990 and started the Paris-Dakar three times — enough to give complexes to more than one pretentious SUV. Driven by Ari Vatanen, rally world champion of 1981, this beast is a true high-performance sport machine carved from an explosive cocktail of power and black engineering: a 2.5 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 300 muscular horsepower, and a 7-speed manual gearbox. Enough to propel you over dunes and make the usual Toyota and Mitsubishi at the desert party seethe.

A renaissance for a monument of French automotive history

After having devoured thousands of kilometers on the track and having weathered dust storms like a war veteran, the ZX C05 traded its combat armor for a calmer setting within Citroën Heritage. Preserved from 1994 to 2011, it then underwent meticulous restoration between 2012 and 2013, bringing back the shine that would put any contemporary sports car to shame. More than just a polished collection of parts paired with cheese sandwiches, this icon came back to life in 2021 at Goodwood and appeared just as lively, whether the circuits were historic or the spotlights were on.

A symbol of French excellence against Japanese competition

If Citroën today evokes more of a story than raw power, back in the day, this ZX Rallye-Raid seriously challenged Japanese supremacy in off-road racing. Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota, and their electronic armies had better watch out. This car was a clear statement: robustness, performance, and high-flying sport, straight out of French workshops, ready to face the harshest nature with raw elegance.

So yes, you will have to open your wallet for 475,000 to 525,000 euros to take home this piece of history. But in reality, it is much more than just a financial transaction: it is the acquisition of a rolling narrative, a fragment of the golden age of competition where man and machine fought to survive and triumph. At this price, you'd better have a nice dry cellar or a garage capable of accommodating this wonder, as it will not be a cheap decorative piece but a legend to be handled with respect.

Source: www.autoplus.fr

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