Citroen Lomax 223 sports/convertible Red eBay Motors #130899682138

.   My Lomax 223 is for sale (AGAIN due to time wasters) to an enthusiastic owner who can use it more than I am able to.

Why am I selling it? 

Well. it sold a week ago to a French dealer (classic-motocycle( 19)for £4650. When they realised that they couldn't register it in France as the V5 wasn't what they expected (their story) they pulled out. Then a German couple agreed to buy it. and they have also disappeared off the face of the earth! I am tempted to say 'NO FOREIGN BUYERS'! If you are outside the UK. please contact me BEFORE bidding.

Taxed for for 6 months. and ready to go. I am selling the Lomax with great regret. It has been built on a March 1976 blue Dyane donor vehicle. which seems to have covered around 65. 00 miles. As a 69 years old 2CVGB member. I am not as agile as I was when I first purchased it on June 1st 1999. from the original builder in Dawlish. I really need doors today. which this Lomax hasn't got. I have bought a Toyota MR2 to replace it. Should be almost as much fun in the summer with the hood down. although it's still a bit tricky to climb into!

For the 13 years I have owner my Lomax it has lived in a garage and has never deliberately been out in the rain. unless I was caught out! Now I have no garage and an open topped car should not live under a tarpaulin. The Lomax comes with the original ex Dyane windscreen and surround / wipers  & motor / support structure for an all over roof with side sheets which make the car rain proof. However with its roof up it's not easy to get into at my age. I haven't used it for years. and anyway a roof spoils the fun of open motoring with aero screens.

What is it's history?

When purchased in 1999 it was a rolling chassis with several boxes of bits and pieces. The previous owner had dismantled the vehicle to make some modifications but as is often the case - nothing got done. A house move necessitated the disposal of the vehicle and I bought it. complete with the original build instructions and plans from Lomax.   6 weeks later it was up and running but the handling was simply dreadful. After I fitted an anti-roll bar. the handling was revolutionised. The Dyane's 'larger than 2CV springs' give a great ride. A year later I fitted a 1986 2CV engine when the original engine made some nasty noises. Rick Pembro (famous in the 2CV world for knowing all things 2CV) kindly donated his carefully tuned twin choke Dyane carb. and its run like a dream ever since. Electronic ignition means it starts and runs superbly - no hot starting problems here! Additions and modifications over the years include a chrome rear luggage rack / large chrome headlights (halogen bulbs) with chrome stone grilles. a variety of horns just for fun & side sheets (like fabric doors) to make driving less draughty. The 2 front tyres are almost new and the back Firestone has deep tread. so no tyres needed.

Annual mileages between MOT tests have been as small as 400 miles (2007 / 2008).   From December 1st 2011 until April 2012 the car was laid up under cover in a local farmers dry barn. This last winter the Lomax has been on my drive under a plastic sheet and car cover. In 1985 the mileage was 65. 00 - today she has done roughly 89. 00 miles. The original tough French chassis is still fitted and is sound and strong with no welding. I suspect the original builder after cleaning. painted the chassis with red lead paint. In my ownership the Lomax has never failed an MOT.   Once the headlamp was out of alignment. but a 13mm spanner soon fixed that and I got my test certificate. The current certificate. with no ‘advises' runs out on August 11th and I am sure the Lomax will pass again.   Every MOT tester comments on the king pins play but mine were replace about 5 years ago by Rick Pembro. Provided the wheels are jacked up and the king pins are greased well before the test. the play seems to be acceptable.   The original Dyane drum brakes are adequate for the light weight (480kg) of the Lomax. I also have some original build instructions from Lomax.

Bodywork wise. the gel coat has turned colour with the years from bright red to a not unpleasant sort of 'tomato ketchup' colour! However. the original builder got some things wrong! He drilled a big hole for the petrol tank filler tube (on the off side) and found it didn't line up. Also there are 2 holes for the screen wipers in front of the Aero screens. which were in the wrong place. The repair on the holes wouldn't pass muster at a 'concourse de elegance'. but I have learned to live with them.

I have put my personal plate on the new MR2. and I have also retained the old brass AA badge on the grille. Sentimental reasons.   I have a later chrome AA badge which I have fitted as a replacement. There are several old car badges on the n/s of the Lomax I am happy to let go including Touring Club of Switzerland / and a rare RAC Associate badge. and others. I am also including 2 seat ‘covers' which are electrically heated for cold weather use. They are individually switched and certainly keep back and bum lovely and warm.

Sporting history.

Since I got the car up and running reliably in 2000. my 2 sons and I have competed in the Clive Motorcycle Club ‘Welsh Rally' which is open to 'motorcycle and sidecar's (which the Lomax is taxed as). Over the next 6 years. taking part in this 'time and navigation rally' in Wales. we won Bronze. Silver. Gold. Platinum and 2 Dragon awards + the Belanger Award for the best performing 3 wheeler in 2006. After that there was noting else left to win so we retired from competition. During these competitions. averaging over 750 miles during the rally weekend in May. including motorway work. my Lomax has never missed a beat. or broken down. The only roadside failure I ever experienced was in Dawlish many years ago when cylinder oil feed pipe broke. Since then. the Lomax has carried a replacement taped onto the new pipe just in case it happens again.

Why buy my Lomax?

They are becoming increasingly rare and desirable / Mine is reliable. starts 1st time. will do almost 80mph. and is a proven kit car / it's like real 1930's motoring and makes passers by smile. children love it and old men think its a Morgan / its cheap to insure (less than £100 fully comp for me with Footman James) / the tax for 12 months is only £76 & MOT's are only £37. 80 / I have never checked fuel consumption as its not important. but it must do 60ish mpg as its streamlined and lighter than the donor vehicle. It will make you smile every time you get into it. and cost very little to run.

 Got this yesterday via Ebay from a fellow 3 wheeler enthusiast who I don't know. I have his permission to post this:-

"Just wanted to say that. as a previous Lomax 224 owner and having no connection to the vendor whatsoever. this looks like one of the best Lomaces (? ;o)) out there: I looked at several before buying mine. and mine was nowhere near as sorted as this vehicle looks. and its results prove. An excellent build. sir! I can add that at this price I would bite your hand off if I didn't currently have twelve cars (including a Pembleton in-build) and no space! My Lomax gave me more fun and pleasure than any car I've owned. including ones that cost ten times the purchase price (mine was £3500 eight years ago. and as I say it wasn't a patch on this example). If anyone watching this is seriously intent on buying a top-end Lomax '3. then I can only say (1) do it; (2) this is the one you should buy! :-) "

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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