Citroën GS Road Trip - 3000km through France in 10 days
Day 1: Utrecht – Rouen
After checking the fluid levels, adjusting the valve clearances, and refitting the exhaust pipe with a proper clamp—along with a few other minor tweaks—I set off for France.
The drive through Belgium was, as usual, a bit of a slog: rough roads, endless roadworks, and heavy traffic. It makes sense, though. Belgium’s highways serve as a transit corridor for traffic headed to the Netherlands, France, and beyond. The infrastructure just can’t keep up with the sheer volume. Still, the GS handled the poor road surfaces with surprising grace. The engine purred like a contented kitten, and I found myself genuinely appreciating the ride comfort and handling of this old car. Hard to believe it’s from 1974—over 50 years old—and still such a pleasure to drive.
Interestingly, not many people seemed to notice the GS on the road. Maybe that’s a sign of how modern it still looks, even after all these years.
I had arranged to pick up some parts I’d bought on eBay from a seller near Rouen. We met in the village of Fleury-sur-Andelle, where Arnaud—the seller—keeps a storage space filled with vintage cars he regularly auctions off. It was an absolute treasure trove: Citroën GS Birotors, Peugeot 404s, Citroën DSs, a Facel Vega, Citroën CXs, and many more.
After admiring the collection, Arnaud handed me the parts and, when I asked for a dinner recommendation, simply said, “Follow me.” He led me to a charming little restaurant called La Potiniere in the village center. The food was simple and good—just what I needed.
With a full stomach and a few more GS parts in the boot, I made my way to my Airbnb in Freneuse and called it a day.
Day 2 – Rouen to Avranches
In the morning, I grabbed a croissant and a coffee, checked the oil level (still good—no top-up needed), and set off on the second leg of the trip.
I asked Google Maps to avoid highways and toll roads; I wanted to explore the French countryside properly—passing through small towns, stopping in charming villages, and driving the kinds of roads the GS was made for: routes départementales and routes nationales.
On these smaller roads, you really get to feel the GS doing what it was designed to do. The suspension soaks up uneven surfaces effortlessly, and the steering is precise and confident—point it where you want to go, and it just follows.
My GS is fitted with the smallest flat-four air-cooled boxer engine Citroën offered: the 1015cc. Being a 1974 model, it benefits from some key improvements over earlier versions, like the fixed intake manifold and upgraded inlet heating system. These don’t matter much in warm weather, but on colder days—especially under 10°C—they make a real difference in cold starting and drivability.I run the engine on 20W50 mineral oil, which performs well in warmer conditions. Yesterday had been dry and sunny at around 22°C, but today was a different story: cold and sometimes rainy.
I drove along the coast to visit le Mont Saint Michel, which was an absolute wonder to see. And for that time being, it was not raining at all.
After many kilometers of twisty, winding roads, I arrived at my Airbnb, had a quick meal in town, and called it a night—ready to rise early for the next stage of the trip.
Day 3 – Avranches to Vannes via Rennes de la Janais
The halfway destination of my big trip was Vannes, where some of my family lives and whom I wanted to visit. On the way there, since my route passed through Rennes, it seemed like a nice idea to stop by the birthplace of my GS: the Citroën factory at Rennes-La Janais.
It’s now a rather sad, Stellantis-operated facility. No trace of Citroën remains. Only the oddly shaped roof of the factory is still visible, peeking out from one corner of the premises, where I managed to quickly park and take a photo.
After that brief visit, I continued on to Vannes, where I stayed for two nights and explored the surrounding area like the Cote Sauvage.
Day 5 – Vannes to Saintes
This was a pretty straightforward traveling day where i drove the GS trough smaller roads to Saintes, a lovely historical city where I had a nice stay at an Airbnb and a decent copious meal at La Table du Maroc
Day 6 – Saintes to Aignan
Another day of driving where i tried to reach my friend in Aignan, the final destination before going back to The Netherlands. It went well and I tried to reach my friends house before he had to go for work. I succeeded and reached the place around 13:00.
Day 9 & 10 – Aignan – Limoges – Utrecht
