Misplaced Pages

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Oltcit Club" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Oltcit Club
Overview
Manufacturer	Oltcit (1981–1991) Oltena (1991–1994) Rodae (1994–1996)
Also called	Citroën Axel (1984–1988) Oltcit Special Oltcit Axel Oltena Club (1991–1994) Rodae Club (1994–1996)
Production	1981–1996
Assembly	Romania: Craiova
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini (B)
Body style	3-door hatchback 2-door pick-up
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	652 cc air-cooled flat-2 1129 cc air-cooled flat-4 1299 cc air-cooled flat-4
Transmission	4 / 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,370 mm (93.3 in)
Length	3,732 mm (146.9 in)
Width	1,538 mm (60.6 in)
Height	1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Curb weight	835–875 kg (1,841–1,929 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Citroën Dyane (Citroën Axel)
Successor	Citroën AX (Citroën Axel)

The Oltcit Club is a supermini produced between 1981 and 1991 and developed in co-operation by Citroën of France and Oltcit, a joint venture company with the Romanian government.

They were powered by the air-cooled engines from the Citroën GS/GSA; the air-cooled flat-twin engine from the Citroën Visa used in the Romanian-market Oltcit Special was not installed in the export-only Citroën Axel.

Development history

From 1965 Robert Opron worked on the Citroën G-mini prototype and project EN101, a projected replacement for the 2CV using that car's flat twin engine. It was supposed to be launched in 1970. The advanced space-efficient designs, with very compact exterior dimensions and an aerodynamic drag co-efficient C_d of 0.32, were axed because of adverse feedback from potential clients. The more conservative final design has a Cd of 0.36 (for the Axel 12 TRS, 0.37 for the Axel 11).

The early seventies Citroën Prototype Y, intended to replace the 2CV-based Citroën Ami which dated back to 1960, was originally developed in co-operation with Fiat. It built on the lessons from the Citroën G-mini and EN101 projects. It used the then new and advanced Fiat 127 platform, featuring a transversely mounted engine driving the front wheels, with an end-on gearbox layout that Fiat had pioneered in the 1960s. When cooperation with Fiat ended, a new Citroën-designed platform was planned. After the takeover of Citroën by Peugeot in the wake of the 1974 oil crisis, the renamed "Projet VD (Voiture Diminuée)" became the Citroën Visa, incorporating the floor pan of the Peugeot 104 and using the advanced 104 engine with the (under-engine) transmission and chassis. It was the first new model under the platform-sharing policy of PSA Peugeot Citroën that continues today. The earlier Citroën LN was no more than a facelift of the Peugeot 104Z "Shortcut" with a re-engine and transmission from the Citroën Dyane.

Eventually, in 1981, the original Citroën platform design from "Project Y" emerged as an Oltcit in Romania, using a Citroën Visa flat-twin engine and Citroën GS-based gearbox, and Citroën GS flat-four engine and gearbox. Beginning in July 1984, it was also sold in Western Europe as the Citroën Axel. Citroën was hoping to recoup money that Citroën had invested in Romania that the communist government couldn't repay. The Axel had been scheduled for an earlier introduction, but Oltcit had been unable to provide either the quality or the quantity expected by their French partners. This project was problematic for Citroën due to productivity and build quality issues and 60,184 cars were made, even though the base models were priced below the 2CV in Western Europe. The Axel was never sold in the UK.

When launched in France, Citroën acknowledged that the Axel was a competitor of their Visa. However, that the Axel only had three doors and was of a simpler, more robust design was considered enough to offset any possible loss of (already shrinking) Visa sales. The four-cylinder Axel 11 was 10 percent cheaper than a two-cylinder Visa in the French market. It also had a particularly low rear loading height, which, with its sturdy, basic construction, contributed to being particularly well received by farmers and denizens of smaller towns.

In addition to the regular Axel, there was also a light commercial version with no rear seats available, called the "Axel Entreprise."

Production

The Oltcit Club carried on with the Prototype Y-derived design and was sold between 1981 and 1995. It was also sold in Western Europe, often badged as the Citroën Axel.

In 1991, as a result of the withdrawal of Citroën from the joint venture, the name of the manufacturing company was changed to Automobile Craiova and production continued under the Oltena brand.

After 1994, it was sold under the Rodae brand, when the company decided to go into partnership with Korean company Daewoo Heavy Industries (later Daewoo Motors).

Oltcit Club 12 CS

The Oltcit Club 12 CS is a small pick-up based on the Oltcit Club. It was launched in 1993 with a 1299 cc engine and a 5-speed gearbox with ratios that favor power. This model also has thicker rear torsion bars to withstand a greater load.

Engines

Models

Oltcit-branded models

• Oltcit Special (652 cc)
• Oltcit Club 11 (1129 cc)
• Oltcit Club 12 TRS (1299 cc)
• Oltcit/Oltena Club 12 CS (pick-up version) (1299 cc)

Citroën-branded models

• Citroën Axel 11 R Entreprise (1129 cc)
• Citroën Axel 11 R (1129 cc)
• Citroën Axel 12 TRS (1299 cc)
• Citroën Axel 12 TRS Entreprise (1299 cc)

References

1. Julian Marsh. "Citroën G-mini prototype and projet EN101". Citroenet.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
2. ^ Mastrostefano, Raffaele, ed. (1985). Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1985 (in Italian). Milano: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. p. 206. ISBN 88-7212-012-8.
3. "Projet Y". Citroënet. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
4. ^ Bellevue, Jean (September 1984). Cropley, Steve (ed.). "Oracle". Car. London, UK: FF Publishing: 61.
5. "Axel Entreprise 1986 (1936Km)". www.citromuseum.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
6. "Oltcit Club 12 CS". automobileromanesti.ro. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

External links

• Oltcit (Citroen Axel) in Romanian
• Oltcit, Oltena and Axel at Citroenet

v t e Citroën
A marque of Stellantis
Current models	Cars Ami C3 C-Elysée SUVs, crossovers Basalt C3 Aircross C4 C4 Cactus C4 X C5 Aircross C5 X Vans Berlingo ë-Berlingo Jumpy/SpaceTourer Jumper
Historic models	Cars 2CV 7U Ami 6, 8, Super AX Axel Bijou BX CX C-Crosser C-Triomphe C1 C2 C3 Picasso C3 Pluriel C3L C3-XR C4, C6 C4 Picasso C4 Aircross C5 C6 C6 C8 C-Zero DS, ID DS3 DS4 DS5 Dyane E-Méhari Elysée Evasion FAF Fukang GS, GSA LN, LNA M35 Méhari Nemo Multispace Rosalie Saxo SM Synergie Traction Avant Type A Type B2 Type B10 Type B12 Type C Visa Xantia XM Xsara Xsara Picasso ZX Commercial Acadiane Belphégor C15 C25 C35 H Van Nemo TUB, TUC U23
Concepts, prototypes	19_19 2CV Pop Activa Ami One C-Airdream C-Airplay C-Buggy C-Cactus C-Métisse C-SportLounge C3 Air C3 Lumiere C6 Lignage C44 Cactus M CXperience DS High Rider DS Inside DS Numero 9 G Van GS Camargue GT by Citroën Hypnos Karin Lacoste Metropolis Oli Osée Pluriel Prototype C Prototype Y REVOLTe Skate Survolt Technospace Tubik Tulip Zabrus
Motorsport	Racing cars C-Elysée WTCC C4 WRC DS3 R5 DS3 WRC Xsara WRC C3 R5 C3 Rally2 C3 WRC Citroën Racing Citroën World Rally Team Kronos Citroën World Rally Team Citroën Junior Team Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team Citroën World Touring Car Team
Regional operations	Citroën Argentina (1959–79) Citroën Chile Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën
List of vehicles Category Commons

• Citroën vehicles
• Cars of Romania
• Subcompact cars
• Front-wheel-drive vehicles
• Cars powered by boxer engines
• Hatchbacks
• 1980s cars
• 1990s cars
• Cars introduced in 1981
• History of Craiova
• Cars discontinued in 1996