Lomax and Citroën specials

Citroën specials have long been popular within the kit car industry, especially those based around the 2CV and its variants. The three- and four-wheeler open-top Morganesque kit cars made under the Lomax brand made a huge impact on the kit car scene when they first appeared in 1983, and were still in production as recently as 2014. Total sales almost hit the 4000 mark, which is impressive by kit car standards. The company even took over Rickman Cars, manufacturer of a practical range of GRP-bodied SUVs.

There were numerous Lomax model numbers, ranging from 223 to 424, which simply helped to identify the number of seats, engine cylinders and wheels (223 means two seats, two cylinders and three wheels). Nowadays, secondhand examples seem to sell for around £6000, which ironically is often cheaper than a 2CV. They may not look as authentic and classic as a Triking with its vee- engine at the front, but Citroën specials are nothing new, so they are catered for by a few clubs (www.citroenspecialsclub.org and www. sportsandleisurecars.co.uk), and many classic Citroën parts specialists. If you like open-top motoring with limited creature comforts, then the novelty of flies-in-your-face driving can’t get any better than with a Lomax.

Lomax model numbers such as this 223 indicated the number of seats, engine cylinders and wheels. Photo courtesy of TKC magazine.

Citroën- based kit cars and specials were a popular solution to a rusting 2CV, Dyane or Ami, and designs were many and varied.