Project_5AXO - Reliving my youth!

Crikey, I genuinely never thought I'd ever start a thread in the readers car section of PH. However, here I am and here's the start of the story.

To gain some perspective we need to jump in the time machine and look back to my late teens where, after crashing my 1st car after 2 days of driving, a 1.4 Ford Escort, I pick up my first Citroen Saxo. It was a 1.1 with the MK2 conversion and VTR body kit in Poseidon Blue. It was great car that I did a few period relevant modifications too. As a young lad it got me around and really sparked my interest in cars. Apologies for the shocking picture, it's all I have of it.



As you see it was very low and had a false 2nd tail pipe. I kept it clean and it did the job for a good couple of years before my insurance calmed down a bit!
It also gave me the french car bug and I couldn't stop. So with that one sold onto a guy at work for his daughter to use as a first car, I purchased my 2nd Saxo, this time an 8v VTR. Bought standard and modified over the years.



At this point I was attending all the car shows and involved with the SSC (SaxoSportsClub). Modifying cars consisted of bodykits, big wheels and sound systems. There were still only a few 'fast cars' around. Mine was no different, it was on 17's and had an immense JL Audio sound system which used the entire boot. The amps were in false floors in the foot wells, graphic equalisers the lot. It was amazing and I loved it. I was still living with mum and dad at the time and remember coming home with one of the JL Audio W6's 12" and putting it on the kitchen top. Mum asked "How much was that?"...I replied "only £70"...."HOW MUCH!!!!?" she shouted! Little did she know they were actually ~£400 and I had two of them, plus a JL monoblock amp that cost me £1k! Thankfully she knows now and we laugh about it!

I kept that for about 3 years before going with the power trend. Still wanting a Saxo, I kept looking for a VTS before this little gem popped up for sale.



It was Mk2 VTS which was running the GMC Rotrex Supercharger kit, 4 pot brakes and a good exhaust system. It was bloody fantastic and I loved it. The spec list was good but I could see potential for better. It ran about 190bhp. I swapped out the engine management for a KMS standalone, turned up the boost a little (smaller pulley) and it made 228bhp at the fly. I was made up and ran it for about a year. Sadly, it had a quick visit to a ditch when attempting to avoid colliding with a van that pulled out on me. Little did I realise but one of the pistons had seized in the left caliper and the braking under full load meant it send me sideways very quickly.

I purchased the car back from the insurance as I wanted to keep all the parts that weren't damaged. By this time I was pretty handy on the spanners, I work for JLR (still do) and built prototype engines daily. I decided to buy another shell, do a swap and go for a full track build. Hence Saxo no4




The spec this time was far superior. Forged pistons, roll cage, aqaumist intercooler spray, flocked dash, Cobra seats. Quite simply it was epic. It made 252bhp and was a real weapon. A trip to the Nurburgring didn't phase it, several UK track days and it was brilliant. It was featured on the cover of PFC and made a small feature in Fast Car mag. I was happy. It was used as a second car until I started using it less and less and decided to move it on. Sadly I regret that decision every day.

I sold the Saxo and bought a Clio 172 which I put Jenvey ITB's on.


I sold the Clio and bought an Evo 5


I sold the Evo5 and bought a Focus RS Mk1


At this point madness descended and I traded in the Focus for a 325i Msport tourer. I started cycling a lot more and it rarely got used. I sold it on and ever since then I've had a succession cheap run abouts, Nissan Primera, Toyota Corolla and finally a Toyota Avensis (which I still have). Additionally I passed my bike license and loved the 2 wheel thrills, currently riding a BMW S1000XR, adore it.

With the trip down memory lane complete it brings us to present day lock down. Now I've been pining after a C63 for a years. I've so nearly pulled the pin on many an occasion. What's stopped me is my limited mileage. I don't drive a huge amount (cycling to work etc) and the thought of spending 25k on a car in one go scares me! Then a thought occurred, by far and away the best and most enjoyable experience of my automotive history was the red Saxo, I built it myself and some friends. Why not do that again but just better.

Thus started a search for a MK1 Saxo. I prefer the earlier shape. I've had a Ebay watch in place for almost 3 years for Mk1. In all that time I've seen 2 come up for sale, 1 was so rotten it wasn't worth the money they were asking.The search stopped shortly after, they just don't exist. I contacted a load of people from SSC days and quickly found none for sale and those that had them weren't willing to part ways. So I settled for a Mk2. Now the challenge is finding a non rotten one.

Sadly this was challenging, until an old contact of mine put me in touch with a guy who had one but it wasn't listed for sale. I dropped the guy a note and quickly arranged a COVID safe visit. Finally, after 12 years away I'd picked up another VTS!





It has 10 previous owners and 110k miles. Crucially, it was rot free. These cars tend to go in a few key places. Under the ECU, Under the fuse box, sills, jacking points and boot floor. Happily the ECU had been cut and repaired only the fuse box place needed attention. That was all. I was astonished to see the rest in excellent shape.

Spec list was a good starting point too. Much of which would get replaced but some things would be kept.

Safety devices roll cage
Satchell gear shifter
MSD coil pack upgrade
Bucket seats
Aftermarket exhaust
Aftermarket manifold
Brembo 4 pots
Braided lines
Gaz coilovers

I got the car home and put it in it's resting place for the next year while my plans are put into action.



So what are those plans....well that's subject to my second post...stay tuned!

Hands down my Mk1 VTR was the most fun car I’ve ever had...when everything worked which it did for about 2 weeks of my ownership!

I remember coming off the M6 after getting a drive shaft replaced and the other one disintegrated on the way home!

Is it possible to fit a mk1 front to the mk2? Assuming you could find panels/light etc?

I was a local area meet organiser for SSC around 1999-2000. Epic times and I miss that car all the time. I did the Alconbury trackdays, Trax, MPL...pretty much whatever meet I could get to. VTS with 150bhp which seemed a lot in a little hatch 22 years ago!

Great to see a Saxo getting some love. I am on a similar path and nearing completion of MK1. May even create a post in due course.

Keep the images coming!

Thanks for posting. I never had a Saxo but I had a few 106 GTI’s I would love to do what you are doing to a gti/ rallye. I remember a mate had a fully stripped out and lightly modded vts back in the day. I was a passenger and it said 140 on the clock... completely stupid but we were young and stupid.
Quick little cars though!

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.

I think a lot of people have had an encounter with a Saxo or 106 at some point in their lives. They really are lovely little things.

I'm always prepared to eat my words when i'm wrong and this is no different. Earlier I stated I'd found a solid car with very little rust. However, upon stripping back the arches I've noticed the outer skin is being pushed outwards. Essentially, water and debris has gotten between the two and corrosion has begun. Luckily I don't think this has been going for many year as the areas that require repair are small

Area of concern;



a few minutes with a 1mm cutting disc got the rot out:



While I was there I took the old underseal off ready for renewal;



This highlighted area number two which was hidden under very thick layers of underseal;



Two areas there, an area of double skin like the first patch and then a hole in the corner.

No way around it other than to cut it out;



Thankfully not a huge patch required. Pleased with my efforts given I've never done a rust repair job before. Welder is on the way so I can patch it up next week with some luck.

Underseal has also been purchased but i'll leave that for another post.

Awesome reliving your youth thread so far..

Lookforward to seeing your progress

I should be joining you soon once i pick up my lockdown 'toy', again reliving my youth is the theme and i cannot wait..

I had a mk2 furio in the light blue colour same as yours, it was great fun. Out of interest what was that colour called ?

Yes, for my very first car, I bought a brand new Corsa at the time with 2 years free insurance, and I'm not entirely sure how it worked, but if you kept your nose clean for those two years and then took out a third year with them they doubled your NCB, so I ended up with 4 years NCB after just two years of driving, saved me a fortune, great deal.

A few of my mates also bought Saxo's, but I could only dream of being able to afford a VTR back then, so went for the Corsa instead.