8k Miles? 1971 Citroen Safari Station Wagon

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Coming from the great Northwest is a fantastic and funky 1971 Citroen Safari station wagon.  Located in Portland, Oregon, this family cruiser is said to have low mileage and could be yours for $12,000. According to the seller, the car starts up and drives, but only for a bit, so some issues will need to be addressed if you are interested in this French driver. The car has Citroen’s Citromatic “semi-automatic” transmission, so no clutch drops for this wagon!

Known for its avant-garde and distinctive design, the Citroen Safari is known for its roomy interior and groundbreaking features. This model is a testament to the French marque’s commitment to luxury, design, and engineering, even for something as mundane as a family wagon. The Safari wagons were built on the same platform as their renowned DS model, so they have the same technologies that made these cars unique. The most interesting of these is the hydropneumatic suspension, which provides a smooth and gentle ride and makes tire changes a breeze (check out the videos on YouTube)!

One of the appealing aspects of this particular Safari is the low mileage.  This is important for a car with such unique mechanical systems that your average mechanic has never seen. The odometer only reads 08350 miles, and the seller believes this to be the actual mileage. It even comes with the original bill of sale, showing that it was purchased in Atlanta, GA, for $5,116.00. This was a considerable amount of money back then! The frame/body tub is said to be solid with no rust issues.  However, there is one spot of rust under the rear window and some bubbling on one of the doors. Looking through the pictures, the paint does not appear to be in good condition, either.  But maybe an afternoon of detailing will help it shine.

The seller perfectly sums up this car as “interesting.”  A Citroen Safari wagon may not be the apple of most people’s eyes, but I have never seen one at a classic car show or a cars and coffee gathering, so I know that if anyone pulled up in one, it would get some attention. This car also has a connection to Hollywood, according to the seller. Would it be worth trying to research which movies this car co-starred in? Maybe your favorite movie star walked past this car in your favorite crime drama.  That would make this car interesting and provide many great stories throughout your ownership of this unique ride.  Check it out here on Craigslist.

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Comments

  1. alphasudMember

    I hope to have a DS someday. I’m more partial to the sedan though. Special cars if you have the knowledge and skill to maintain them.

    Like 4
  2. MikeMember

    Someone just bought this and is flipping it already as it’s already been on Barnfinds less than a month ago??

    https://barnfinds.com/stored-two-decades-1971-citroen-ds21-safari/

    Like 1
  3. Bamapoppy

    Of all the Citroen’s I’ve ever seen I cannot recall a wagon. This would definitely be a rarity at a cars & coffee.

    Like 3
    • Daymo

      Citroen also did a huge (and I mean HUUUUUUGE!) Safari version of their CX, some with eight seats. Quite possibly with the largest load area of just about any car you can imagine – certainly in Europe!
      Think old Volvo estates are large? They’ve got nothing on the CX!

      Like 3
    • Jon.in.Chico

      Commuting from Fairfield, CA, to Napa, I regularly passed a light blue station wagon on I-80 … I’ve always liked these cars …

      Like 0
  4. mikeMember

    Previously listed on Barnfinders less than a month ago Quick Flip?

    Like 1
    • bucky66

      Yes, the ad says the owner purchased the car very recently.

      Like 0
  5. Paul R

    108,000 miles ?
    With that kind of wear on the armrests?
    The interior looks well used actually, those jump seats in the back were probably never used.
    One of these was the Doctor’s car on the TV series “Heartbeat”

    Like 3
  6. Covelo Hot Shot

    I’ve lived out in cowboy country for the last fifty years or so, and exotic vehicles are just too much hassle to try to keep going. Citroens are fabulous cars, especially these old DS types, and a wagon would be the best. Long ago, and far away, I had a 2CV, my girlfriend had an ID, her father had a DS Pallas, and the little community of crazies who kept these French machines on the road all depended on a mechanic in Oakland, George Sayeh (guess on the spelling). He was a French transplant from Algeria, had left during the independence struggles, gone to a country in South America, left that place due to a too familiar social disruption, and was now in Oakland and was a bit worried about the Panthers. Very capable mechanic, and he maintained an adequate supply of parts to keep the Citroens alive. Once I was at his shop and it was time for lunch break. Removes the coveralls and he’s wearing a white shirt with a tie. Lunch is a loaf of bread, piece of cheese, fruit and a glass of wine. Classy guy, and I still like Citroens.

    Like 12
    • angliagt angliagtMember

      I actually know where Covelo is!,but I’ve never been there.

      Like 0
      • chrlsful

        U do?
        U talkin
        Portugal,
        Spain
        or
        Cali?

        Like 0
    • John EderMember

      I sold your local fire department a new Type 2/3 fire apparatus a number of years ago. Do you guys still have dial up internet? I stopped at the station once to see how things were going. I needed to get to a product manufacturer’s website to answer a question that the Chief had. I thought that the internet was down after about 15 minutes of waiting. The Chief just said, “Dial up…” By the way, the road from 101 is challenging. I had to drive my SAAB on it in a driving rain storm after my wipers conked out. 🫤

      Like 0
  7. Paul in MA

    I absolutely love these cars. I love that rear window.

    Like 4
  8. ChingaTrailer

    One has to wonder how many times that odometer as said “only 8,xxx miles?” Actually, I love it when a seller makes such an outrageous and obviously false claim – it lets me know I shouldn’t rely on anything else he says either! Even if it were true, such low mileage on an over 50 year old Citroen is not a good thing – so many parts, seals, gaskets etc fail from simple lack of use. Even the grease in the wheel bearings will congeal and fail to lubricate when the car is put back into use. No, it’s too big a project, should be the posterboy for the aphorism – always buy the best example available, it will be much less work and expense in the long run!

    Like 6
  9. justpaul

    Got to see one of these in real life once, rolling down the NJ Turnpike. No photograph can do them justice. Sitting up on their air suspension and rolling, they are majestic if quirky.

    As for the mileage: Atlanta to LA is over 2000 miles, which would be a quarter of what is shown in just one road trip. What are the date codes on the tires?

    Like 3
  10. Jules

    Doubtful mileage…otherise, love these cars. Jules former 2 cv and Panhard Tiger owner!

    Like 3
  11. KCJ

    I’ve been to many car shows an never seen one in real life, could only imagine what this car would look like in all shined up an running, they’re definitely one of a kind 👍

    Like 0
  12. Bob Washburne

    The title photo posted in the ad shows the 8xxx miles and the “not actual mileage” box is checked.

    Seller says he bought it to help with the repair of another one. So what did he swap out or remove from this one?

    It could be fun to find out, but I can have a lot of fun for $12K almost anywhere in the world.

    Like 0
  13. chrlsful

    fantastic.
    One of my faves. First, the DS, THE citrone ta have. Then its a wagon (most round here no me as “Wagonman”).
    Chrome @ “D” piller, tail lights and back glass probebly = the price its wrked up to now… (love the roof rack too)
    I’d get rid of the green 1 instead !

    Wacky DS owner probably bought it just to see how some component wrked, was mounted, paint color or sompin, can now ‘do’ his own vehicle, and is off loading his ‘reference material’. Some of what I do requires a junk yrd excersion for same during a restoration…

    Like 0
    • John EderMember

      I do the same. Most of my “technical research” was done at Pick and Pull. Why find out that there is a hidden clip holding something together on your car after you have broken it? Pry that sucker open at the yard and then go, “Oops- no wonder it wouldn’t come apart.” Then drive home with this critical newly acquired information and intelligently disassemble your pride and joy.

      Like 0

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