Good Find Friday features interesting vehicles we’ve found for sale while conducting market analysis or appraisal research. They are not for sale by Wolf and Mare and we have no business relationship with the sellers. We just think they’re worth learning about and sharing with our readers!

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Every once in a while I like to cruise some of the lesser-known car classifieds sites, at least those that aren’t really on the radar for those of us in the United States. Platforms like lesanciennes.com, marktplaats.nl, mobile.de, and theparking.eu open up a whole new interesting world of car window-shopping when you’re tired of looking at the same old halo cars from the usual brands. My favorite might be lesanciennes.com, as it’s chock full of unusual vehicles — mostly French — available at auction or for sale. Today’s Good Find Friday car is very French, but I actually found it on Facebook Marketplace in the great state of Ohio. Is this 1978 Citroën GS Break a car you should consider adding to your collection? Read on to find out.

Around the same time I found today’s feature car, a friend sent me a link to this 1972 Citroën GS Break listed for auction on BringaTrailer.com. It’s a special car, having been painted with various national flags in celebration of the 1972 Munich Olympics. The patriotic wagon is for sale out of New York and the auction ends in just a few hours with bidding up to $7,500 as of the time of this writing. Today’s car is much more subdued, but we’ll have this prominent stateside sale to use in our Market Snapshot.

The Citroën GS was introduced by Citroën on 24 August 1970, designed by Robert Opron, to fill the gap in Citroën’s lineup between the economy-cars (such as the 2CV and Ami) and the more luxurious DS. The car featured a front engine, front‐wheel drive layout, an air-cooled flat-four engine offered initially in 1,015 cc displacement and later in 1,129, 1,222 and 1,299 cc forms.

From the outset the GS distinguished itself with advanced technical specification for its class: independent four-wheel suspension combining double wishbones at the front and trailing arms at the rear, hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, in-board front disc brakes integrated into a central hydraulic system (derived from the DS) and a remarkably aerodynamic body shell boasting a drag coefficient around 0.318.

The GS was launched as a four-door fastback saloon and from September 1971 an estate (known in Citroën speak as “Break”) version joined the range. Trims ranged from the base G Special through Club, X and Pallas luxury versions. A notable high-end variant was the GS Birotor (also called the GZ) produced between 1973-75 with a twin‐rotor Wankel engine rated at 79 kW (106 hp) but with only 847 units built due to its high cost and fuel consumption.

In 1979 the model underwent a major facelift and transition: the restyled model bore the name Citroën GSA and shifted to a five-door hatchback body (and later a hatch-estate) with a new five-speed gearbox, updated controls, larger bumpers and revised exterior details. Combined production of GS and GSA reached approximately 2.5 million units by the end of production in 1986.

Offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Miamisburg, Ohio with an asking price of $13,000, this 1978 CItroën GS is finished in blue over a black interior and features a station wagon body style.

The paint color appears to be Bleu Myosotis, a 1976 and later Citroën color based on my research, but digital photos don’t always present paint finishes accurately. Based on the limited photos, the paintwork appears to be in good condition, with nice gloss and it certainly suits the car’s styling. The body appears nice and straight looking down the sides, and no serious rust is visible near the door bottoms or wheel arches — common areas of concern.

Exterior details include Citroën badging, nicely proportioned chrome bumpers, dual side mirrors, a roof-mounted antenna and a rear wiper on the hatch. The glass and headlight lenses appear to be in very good condition.

The interior is upholstered in black vinyl with basketweave center inserts. A trademark single-spoke steering wheel dominates the interior, which appears remarkably modern. The dash looks almost like something out of a late-model BMW. Sadly, this dashboard doesn’t feature the super-cool “bathroom scale” style speedometer of the Citroën GS on Bring A Trailer.

Rust and corrosion in the engine bay seem to be at a minimum, with good finishes on the engine components and an overall very tidy and clean presentation. The engine displacement isn’t noted in the description, but it’s mated to a 4-speed manual transmission. 

One cool feature of Citroëns is their hydro-pneumatic suspension that could be adjusted in one of 3 settings from the cockpit. The last and tallest setting was used exclusively for wheel changes, a necessary feature given the rear wheel arch’s design that covers a portion of the rim and tire. This suspension was famously capable of allowing the car to still mosey down the road with one rear wheel completely missing. Try that, Porsche!

The rear compartment seems rather spacious and includes a trick integrated rear cover to hide valuables, a prudent addition since the tall greenhouse permits as much visibility into the car as out. In terms of what to look for, rust is the first concern, followed by any strange noises or emissions from the engine on operation. Ensure the clutch doesn’t slip, as it may be an engine out affair on the GS. Parts availability on a car never offered in the USA is likely to be a challenge, so bank on consulting European shops and parts suppliers. There are US-based enthusiasts groups that can also serve as a lifeline for the new owner.

The average price of a Citroën GS, at least in Europe, is around $12,500 or so, with the earliest cars, the first years of the refreshed design, and the rare Wankel-powered Birotor bringing the highest prices. The US market is virtually non-existent, so determining the value is challenging. On top of the average price for a Europe-based car in similar condition, I’d add several thousand dollars for importation and duty costs plus a touch of profit for the seller.

The most recent sale in the US (aside from the car below) was a 1973 Citroën GS Birotor sold for $22,400 at Gooding & Company’s Mullin Collection Sale in April of 2024. That’s well above the average, despite the fact it was likely inoperative and required refurbishment.

So what did our “Drapeaux” special edition of the Citroën GS sell for today? The car was listed at no reserve and sold to the high bidder for $24,000. This may seem like cheap money for such a quirky car, but it’s nearly double the average. The dollars to smiles ratio is probably still pretty good, however. Given a 1973 Citroen GS Break sold for $13,000 on Bring a Trailer back in 2018, this is probably a fair deal for a GS that’s already in the States.

One wonders: would this air-cooled family wagon would be welcome at an event that refuses entry to water-pumpers, or would luft-loving Porsche and Volkswagen enthusiasts scoff? One thing’s for sure, it would be an eye-catching car at any local car meet and a perfectly practical daily classic. 

I personally would welcome one into my garage. What about you? Let me know in the comments!

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisal and auction services for sellers and buyers of collector European cars. We also provide importation services. Give us a call or drop us a line!