Citroen is a funny old car maker. Having been renowned for building some of the very best small, fast cars around, and famous the world over as one of the most successful ever rally manufacturers, it has somehow been content to leave driver-focused cars to everybody else. The old DS3 Racing was fine, but there was nothing to mark back-to-back Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships in the WRC; the C3 replacement also claimed victories, yet there was no road car recognition. A bizarre move – you only need consider the staggering popularity of the GR Yaris to see the appetite for a properly done hot hatch with motorsport influence.

Perhaps the advent of hybridisation and electrification will yield an exciting new future for great driving Citroens. It’s already rediscovered its funky side with recent models like the C5 X, so perhaps there’s hope. You’d imagine it must have an eye on cars like the reborn Renault 5 as well – surely Citroen won’t want to miss out on that hot hatch rebirth.

Certainly not with cars like the AX in the back catalogue. While current and more recent offerings leave something to be desired from the perspective of an enthusiast, the old heroes continue to charm. The AX really is old now, too, the very last of the near-2,500,000 made produced a quarter of a century ago. Development began 40 years ago, and the first arrived in 1986. It was the archetypal small, French city car: small, simple, practical and fun.

Also, in the finest French small car tradition, there was a fast one not long after launch. A few fast ones, in fact, beginning with the twin-carbed Sport in 1987 and later including a GTI in the 90s. Here we have a GT, perhaps the best-known variant in the UK, which shared a single-carb 1.4-litre engine with the Peugeot 205 XS. Its paltry 86hp sounds like the output for mild hybrid assistance in 2023, but was more than enough when shifting something like three-quarters of a tonne.

You only need glance at an AX to see why it weighs so little. Everything is so tiny and so slender, from the pillars to the wheels; its tippy-toe stance and huge gap between tyre and wheelarch appears quaint 35 years later, like it’s been delivered on temporary wheels to be swapped out. But that’s exactly how it’s meant to be, and very good it was as well: contemporary road test praised the AX for its willing performance and eager handling. Ultimately the little Citroen would go on to live somewhat in the 205 GTI’s shadow, but it remains a fine example of the genre.

This one looks a fantastic example, having recorded less than 80,000 miles since 1988 and survived the whole time without modification. The immaculate interior is a real treat, complete with zany upholstery and weird steering wheel; the outside has just been resprayed, too, so looks superb – even if a sombre grey is a bit flat for something so exciting. Regardless, the GT looks a little gem, the perfect reminder of when hot hatches were simple fun and Citroen were the masters of them. And it’s hardly like there are loads left out there to choose from…

Engine: 1,360cc four-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 86@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 86@4,000rpm
MPG: 32.5
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 77,000
Price new: £7,914
Yours for: £13,000