After causing a sensation at the Villa d'Este in 2024, the Citroën GS Camargue, a true dream car of the 1970s, is now on display at the Volandia Museum. This unique prototype, born of the historic collaboration between Citroën and Carrozzeria Bertone, is still fascinating almost 50 years after its first appearance.
Unveiled in 1972 at the Paris and London Motor Shows, the GS Camargue stands out for its bold design by Marcello Gandini. Famous for his work at Bertone, Gandini succeeded in transforming the Citroën GS, a four-door saloon designed by Robert Opron, into an elegant and sporty two-seater, perfectly combining Citroën's technical innovation with Italian stylistic excellence.
The choice of the name "Camargue" is not insignificant. It refers to the region in the south of France famous for its marshes and white horses, a reference to the environment in which the Citroën GS was first presented in 1970. Although the GS Camargue attracted admiration on its debut, Citroën ultimately decided not to mass produce it, preferring to focus on the commercial success of the GS saloon. With more than 2.5 million units sold, the latter left little room for the coupé versions. Today, the GS Camargue continues to embody Citroën's creative spirit and daring, demonstrating the importance of working with external designers such as Bertone.
A masterpiece of design, testimony to a historic collaboration
The GS Camargue is not only an iconic prototype, but also the beginning of a significant era in Citroën's history. The collaboration with Bertone, which began with this model, continued and led to the creation of other equally iconic cars, such as the Citroën BX. In 1978, Citroën once again called on Bertone to design the replacement for the GS. Marcello Gandini, drawing on his experience, then proposed a concept based on the "Tundra" prototype, which would evolve into the 1982 Citroën BX, the first production Citroën not designed by the brand's in-house Style Centre.
The link between Citroën and Italian design was not new. From Flaminio Bertoni, creator of the legendary Traction Avant, 2CV, DS and AMI6, to Nuccio Bertone and Marcello Gandini, this partnership symbolises seven decades of aesthetic perfection at the service of the chevron brand. The GS Camargue, now on display at the Volandia Museum, is at the heart of this rich history. Alongside the collection dedicated to Bertoni, it is part of a series of cars that revolutionised automotive design. Its exhibition at the Villa d'Este in 2024, and then at Volandia, recalls the undeniable impact of this model on the history of the automobile, even if it was never marketed..
In conclusion, the Citroën GS Camargue has undoubtedly left its mark with its daring and elegance. Although it was never mass-produced, it remains a benchmark of style and creativity, a symbol of Citroën's avant-garde vision in the 1970s. This prototype is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the French brand and Italian excellence. While its non-commercialisation leaves enthusiasts with a sense of unfinished business, its legacy lives on, exhibited today at the Volandia Museum, to the delight of car and design lovers.
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