Citation X-11

Yup, that's what I said...an online buddy of mine in another forum is kind of a `casual' enthusiast (but not bad with a wrench, and even works in a parts store). He's always wanted one, finally found it, and now wants advice. I know nothing about these cars, except that the X-11's head-and-shoulders above the other X-chassis cars (didn't the Heinrocket drive one of these in SCCA SSB?). Can anyone point me to some suppliers/tuning parts/etc.?

Wasn't the Fiero suspension two sets of X-11 fronts, one the right way for the front and one 180* out for the rear? (I don't know if that is true, but I feel like I remember reading that somewhere.) You might have luck in the suspension area that way. I would imagine Fieros have a larger aftermarket than the Citation.

So building on what I said earlier, if Northstars fit in Fieros, then Northstars will fit in a Citation.

Heinrocket got the X-11 built specifically to homologate the race parts he needed to be competitive in whatever SS class they fit back in the day. the fast suspension parts were first year only, iirc, and after that it was just stripes and badges, plus the mildly-tweaked 2.8L V6.

here's a link to some cool X-11 swaps. the black "SS" with the L67 is pretty bad-ass and was built with pretty much 100% OE GM parts from various makes and models.

http://thebaron.110mb.com/

Carson wrote: So building on what I said earlier, if Northstars fit in Fieros, then Northstars will fit in a Citation.

I saw some V8 conversions when I was searching the net for info.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/264625

I didn't see any Nstars-but with enough junkyards, I smell a Challenge project.

I don't think that's what he wants. He's got a sentimental interest in these things, it was like his first car or something. He just wants to restore it and personalize a lil' bit.

Either Car and Driver or Road and Track RAVED about this car when if first came to market. Said something akin to "it's the best car Detroit has built".

Interesting rarity at this point. They're long gone from New England, that's for sure.

Those swaps are fantastic. Great oddball car to work with.

AngryCorvair wrote: Heinrocket got the X-11 built specifically to homologate the race parts he needed to be competitive in whatever SS class they fit back in the day. the fast suspension parts were first year only, iirc, and after that it was just stripes and badges, plus the mildly-tweaked 2.8L V6. here's a link to some cool X-11 swaps. the black "SS" with the L67 is pretty bad-ass and was built with pretty much 100% OE GM parts from various makes and models. http://thebaron.110mb.com/

Thanks, AC. I'll post that link up for him. I don't think he wants a swap, but he sure seems to be looking for a community that knows the car.

IIRC, they did pretty well back in the day. Didn't Bob McConnell win the Runoffs one year with one? I know when I started as an SCCA corner worker in the mid-1980s there were still a few around. I think the last one I saw had even been converted into an Improved Touring car about `92 or so...

the website http://60degreev6.com has some X-11 guys on it. Some is building one here in Central Illinois. his name is Marty, he is on that web site, he knows a lot about the cars.

I know I'd like to find one for nostalgia. Good examples are hard to find.

We're building one for a LeMons race. Taking it back to it's racing heritage...

I had a friend in HS with one, it was new at the time and we all thought it was pretty cool. None of the rest of us had a new car!

What I remember most is watching them at the runoffs. They were quick, but had a real tendency to lose their wheels wtih broken hubs.

racerdave600 wrote: I had a friend in HS with one, it was new at the time and we all thought it was pretty cool. None of the rest of us had a new car!

one of my friends got a new Escort GT. We thought it was cool too... although not as cool as another classmate who was given a brand new Starion GT for her senior year... that's what happens when your parents have been saving for your college education and then you get a full-ride scholarship...

Anyway... the PA State Police had a Citation they used on the turnpike as an unmarked car... ugly gold color color too... I only found out because they filled up at the gas station where I worked back in '87-88. Don't remember if it was an X-11 or not... but I doubt it was the base model (they also had an unmarked LX 5.0 notchback).

I always liked the wheels. Bought a set for my Fiero when I was in high school

I have a few pics of X-11's that Don Yenko built for racing, but never sold trough a dealership

Yenko citation FTW!

my neighbour had an X-11 when i was growing up, awesome little car.

Only thing I remember about them.. my late grandfather worked for OSHA as a mine inspector.. his Government car was an X-11

I had (actually still have) a Hotwheels(R) one, but the stripes have long since rubbed off, so it looks like a regular Citation.

friedgreencorrado wrote: Yup, that's what I said...an online buddy of mine in another forum is kind of a `casual' enthusiast (but not bad with a wrench, and even works in a parts store). He's always wanted one, finally found it, and now wants advice. I know nothing about these cars, except that the X-11's head-and-shoulders above the other X-chassis cars (didn't the Heinrocket drive one of these in SCCA SSB?). Can anyone point me to some suppliers/tuning parts/etc.?

He wouldn't happen to live in Maine, would he?

And if he did would this be his new car:

http://skism.org/cmc/viewtopic.php?t=3048

The only things I know about Citations(the GM variety) are that;

1. The radios mount vertically in the dash

2. The V-6 5 spds cranked(not just the X-11 models)

I had the pleasure of driving an 86 X-11 quite a few times while it went between a few friends ownership.

My one buddy bought it because it was cheap, he drove it for a year or so before buying a Berretta. He sold it to my other friend, that's when I got to beat on it.

For one, the steering was horrible. It felt like every other GM car at the time...disconnected.

However, where the rubber met the road, it right on. Handled very nicely, good pull even from the 2.8, and virtually no torque steer. It also had awesome brakes as I remember.

Ended up getting beat up and destroyed over the 5 year I knew the car.

Cool, but there are alot of other cars I'd rather pay for.

did it have that aweful thin rimmed wheel GM products were known for?

Carson wrote: Wasn't the Fiero suspension two sets of X-11 fronts, one the right way for the front and one 180* out for the rear? (I don't know if that is true, but I feel like I remember reading that somewhere.) You might have luck in the suspension area that way. I would imagine Fieros have a larger aftermarket than the Citation.

You're half right. The rear suspension was from the front of a Citation, but the front was from a Chevette.

all you Gainsville types should look out for a really nice looking X11 driving around town. I saw it on the way to the track last year. It had some mild body work done very well.

Per, it might be worth an article.

Goldmember wrote:

friedgreencorrado wrote: Yup, that's what I said...an online buddy of mine in another forum is kind of a `casual' enthusiast (but not bad with a wrench, and even works in a parts store). He's always wanted one, finally found it, and now wants advice. I know nothing about these cars, except that the X-11's head-and-shoulders above the other X-chassis cars (didn't the Heinrocket drive one of these in SCCA SSB?). Can anyone point me to some suppliers/tuning parts/etc.?

He wouldn't happen to live in Maine, would he? And if he did would this be his new car: http://skism.org/cmc/viewtopic.php?t=3048 The only things I know about Citations(the GM variety) are that; 1. The radios mount vertically in the dash 2. The V-6 5 spds cranked(not just the X-11 models)

He's in Florida. Pensecola, IIRC.

And that link is priceless. I did some more research last night, and that car may be Bob McConnell's 1982 & 1984 SCCA Showroom Stock B National Championship car.

Here's the link, I've edited twice and can't get it to insert here instead of somewhere else in the post.

http://tinyurl.com/aaum3p

(page 591)

If it is, it would also be the first car John Heinricy raced in SCCA.

If any of you post to that forum, tell the guy. Heck, if any of you know John or Bob, tell them.

I t says "Bob McConnel" on the door, and he claims that is an actual pic of the car he bought, just ~25 yrs old.

I'll see tha actual car at our first event April 24-26, but I'llbe talking to him sooner.

I like the sponsor - Smedleys Chevrolet. I'd buy a car from them based on the name alone

Goldmember wrote: I t says "Bob McConnel" on the door, and he claims that is an actual pic of the car he bought, just ~25 yrs old. I'll see tha actual car at our first event April 24-26, but I'llbe talking to him sooner. I like the sponsor - Smedleys Chevrolet. I'd buy a car from them based on the name alone

Yeah, the picture was what piqued my memory. I never met Bob, that was back when I spectated races. About 3-4yrs before I started working them. I don't know if the car's worth much for the history...seems the only folks that care about old SCCA club racing history are looking for cars from the 50s-60s.

April 24? Man, I'm glad I live down South. Even if I'm not going to have the black Corrado repaired before March.

Goldmember wrote: 2. The V-6 5 spds cranked(not just the X-11 models)

Citations, including X-11s, only ever had 4 speeds. There is exactly ONE 5 speed X-11 in existence, and I know this because a good friend of mine owned it (it still exists, abandoned in a garage somewhere around here). The 5 speed trans in it was a GM 'experimental' unit that was destined for the trash but saved by a GM engineer...who just happened to be my friend's uncle. I rode many miles in the shotgun seat of this car which also had a modified 2.8 and, for something of the era, it ran pretty well. But the 2.8 always suffered from reliability issues with gaskets, crankshafts and cams. I think a Z-24 Cavalier would be a more available and probably better starting point for a build than a Citation, unless your goal is a V8 swap.