Seeing a Citroën BX 16 RS street parked in New York was truly a shock, and as the original post mentioned, it's one of the strangest cars I’ve ever come across in the city. What makes it even more intriguing is its current state. The OCR mentioned it's slowly rotting away, with broken bumpers, deep scratches, and missing mirrors. It's a sad sight for such a historically significant vehicle, especially considering it's reportedly the only one in America, local to Chelsea in Midtown Manhattan. This particular 1980s Citroën BX 16 RS was still wearing Spanish plates, which only deepens the mystery of how it ended up here and why it's been sitting here for over half a decade. Why would someone go through the immense trouble of importing such a popular car in all of Europe just to let it deteriorate on a NYC street? I can only imagine the stories it could tell, from its life on European roads to its current, rather tragic, resting place. The Citroën BX, especially the 16 RS model, was a huge success across Europe in the 1980s. It was known for its unconventional yet practical design, courtesy of the legendary Marcello Gandini. This is the same automotive genius behind iconic machines like the Countach and the Miura! Imagine, a car designed by a master, now a derelict curiosity on a busy Manhattan street. Its angular, wedge-shaped body was revolutionary for its time, setting it apart from its contemporaries. Beyond its distinctive looks, the Citroën BX is famous for one of Citroën's most iconic engineering marvels: its hydropneumatic suspension. For those unfamiliar, this system is a game-changer for ride comfort and handling. Instead of traditional springs and shock absorbers, it uses spheres filled with nitrogen gas and hydraulic fluid, interconnected to level the car automatically. This means the car maintains a constant ride height regardless of load, and it offers an incredibly smooth, 'magic carpet' like ride that almost floats over bumps. You could even adjust the car's height for different terrains or for changing a tire! It's a complex, yet brilliant system that gave Citroëns like the BX an unparalleled driving experience. Seeing this technological marvel, designed for supreme comfort, in such disrepair truly highlights the car's neglect. My hope is that someone with the resources and passion for these unique French classics might rescue this Citroën BX 16 RS. It's more than just a car rotting away; it's a piece of automotive history, a testament to innovative French engineering and Marcello Gandini's design prowess, patiently waiting for its next chapter. If you ever spot it in Chelsea, take a moment to appreciate the history parked right there on the street.