Petrol CX ambulances are relatively rare but were popular in Italy due to the high car tax for vehicles over 2000cc. This particular CX was converted when new by French coachbuilder Heuliez from a 1989 2.0 TGE Safari. The original Safari roof was removed & replaced by a one-piece GRP moulding, the tailgate was extended to suit the enlarge aperture. Records show that the last 8 petrol CX Safaris were converted in 1989. As this example was made in July 1989, it was probably not converted until later in the year since most French factories close for August, so it might even be the very last one to be converted. However I have no way of confirming this since Heuliez have sold their ambulance division & production records from this period are not available.

It was bought new in June 1990 by a hospital in Milan, Italy, & used by them until 2003. It was then taken over by the Croce Italia Piemonte (Red & Green Cross) in Turin. I bought it in June 2005 & imported it into England. The ambulance was nicknamed "Slimer" from Ghostbusters, & is still sign written as such on each rear wing.

The front cabin is standard CX, with electric windows etc., separated from the rear by a full height partition with sliding windows.

The independently heated & ventilated rear cabin contains an attendant's seat with seat belt, a Spencer trolley stretcher with mattress, & a lightweight Ferno aluminium scoop rescue stretcher for carrying a patient down stairs. There is a large cupboard over the roof of the front cabin, accessible by a perplex lift-up flap & several storage pockets around the cabin. A table is fitted to the rear of the partition in front of the attendant's seat.

Under the bonnet, there is the original Italian Fiamm 2-tone ambulance siren, & an adaptor box in the speedometer cable which was used to connect a taximeter - ambulance journeys were chargeable!

A new clutch was fitted in 2005 whilst it was still in service. Since then it has been renovated by a Citroen specialist who maintained my previous CX Safaris. Work carried out includes a major service, new spheres, some new hydraulic pipes & ball joints, steering hydraulic overhaul & replacement of all engine belts. The engine starts first time, even after several weeks of non-use. It is MOT'd until 11 July 2008, 129,750kms (about 81,000 miles) from new.

Additionally, new door lock barrels & keys, front side/indicator lamps, rear door gas struts & a period Blaupunkt "Toronto" radio cassette have been fitted. Front & rear bumpers have been repainted in the correct bumper paint.

It is fully equipped as removed from service & is UK registered as an ambulance. As such it is Road Tax exempt & should therefore be fully exempt from the London Congestion Charge without the need to register for exemption, see www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2006/11/14/congestion_exemptions_feature.shtml.

Regularly used, "Slimer" sneaked into Italian Car Day at Brooklands & toured France in 2006, visited Citromobile 2007 in Utrecht, Netherlands, where it attracted much attention, as well as attending various other car events & long distance trips. I would drive it to Italy tomorrow without any hesitation or concern...

It creates much interest from people of all ages wherever it goes, some of who burst into whistling the Ghostbusters tune! It is regularly photographed while on the road & while parked. "Slimer" is ideal to take to the forthcoming 2008 Citroen world meeting in Rome.

The coachwork condition is remarkably good for a vehicle which has been worked for 15 years. The underside condition could pass for a car only 2 years old, even the exposed screws securing the sill trim covers are as new, as shown in the photos. The doors, a usual rust area on the CX, are literally as new. There are 2 small dents in the rear of the rear doors & behind the right hand C-post, also signs of some previous corrosion rectification on the tailgate - show me a CX Safari without any! There is some bubbling at the point on the tailgate aperture where the roof is bonded to the original body but this has been monitored & is unchanged in over 2 years.

The interior is very clean, the dashboard storage box flaps have been replaced. Several holes remain in the centre of the dashboard where the taximeter & radio were fitted, see photo, I decided to leave these as they were.

Original CX ambulances are rarely if ever found in this unmolested condition & this example is probably unique in having such low kms.

I have copies of the original Italian documentation & Heuliez sales brochures & these are included in the sale.

All the detail photographs were taken in October 2007.
Located in Derbyshire, "Slimer" can be inspected by arrangement.

Reluctantly offered for sale as I have too many cars & it is time for somebody else to enjoy owning & using it...

In conclusion, here is a rare opportunity to obtain a unique example of a Citroen CX ambulance which can give the new owner much pleasure & has the potential of generating income through film & TV use.

£6,950 ono