Closing date for April issue -> February 17
Citroën Visa 11 RE (1987) The gesture determines the value for Gerrit
Just a conversation
No, a ten-minute conversation isn't long, but in this case it is exceptional. A brief encounter during a vintage Peugeot 205 tour with friends, where Gerrit spontaneously approached us. He had a story you'd hardly believe. A story about the sensation of kindness, an act of kindness that left a deep, warm feeling. A story about a Citroën Visa 11 RE from 1987.
Personal connection with the owner
Gerrit: “This Citroën I received my Visa in September 2014 and now only have 78.000 kilometers on the odometer. At the time, I worked at a Citroën-dealer and was asked by a friend of my parents if I knew of a smaller car with plenty of room and easy entry. The owner drove a Mercedes, but after her husband's death, she had difficulty handling the large car. She wanted to drive a smaller car, hence the request for advice.
We helped her sell the Mercedes and she ended up in a brand new Citroën Visa 11 RE. For years, we handled all the maintenance. As an added service, the car was always picked up at home and returned after the service. After a while, I noticed that appointments for the MOT were no longer being made.
Optimal service
Gerrit: "We thought it wise to check with the lady to prevent the MOT from passing unnoticed. The reason turned out to be quite different: the car wasn't actually being used anymore due to her advanced age and was sitting idle in the garage. My advice was to suspend the car to avoid fines."
A better plan?
Gerrit: "The lady thought it would be better if I got the car, with one condition: she wanted to take me for one more drive. Of course, I resisted at first. I asked, 'Isn't there anyone in the family who wants the car?' That wasn't an option. As a thank you for all those years of excellent service and friendly treatment, the car had to go to me."
Seductive?
Gerrit: "With this beautiful, well-maintained Visa in my possession, I received an attractive offer at a classic car show. Yet, it didn't feel right, considering my long-standing relationship with the owner. My love for this lovely classic grew steadily, and I started to like 'her' more and more. I enjoy the comfort, practicality, and driving pleasure of a classic car that you see less and less on the road. From my experience, I knew the Visa's personality: economical, reliable, and always ingenious. A car that always makes a good impression."
The gun factor
It's wonderful to hear such a story, where positive feelings prevail. Granting means giving something to someone wholeheartedly, and that this is the case here seems abundantly clear. Citroën Gerrit's Visa 11 RE proves that the true value of a classic is sometimes not in the money, but in the gesture.
(Below are some more pictures)
Neat car, take care of it.
My father drove a Visa 11 Leader (a special edition) with over 3 km/h (1:18,5 average) without any problems.
On that car, I placed two round (Hella) spotlights on the bumper in front of the grille. They gave it a sporty rally look, and they provided a lot of light in the dark.
I would keep this white one completely original, it's a gem.
Brand new Visa in 2014? If I remember correctly, 1988 was the last year of production?
Read carefully what it says: 1987