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{{Infobox automobile
| name = Oltcit Club
| image = Oltcit Auto.jpg
| caption =
| manufacturer = [[Oltcit]] (1981–1991)<br />[[Oltena]] (1991–1994)<br/>[[Rodae]] (1994–1996)
| aka = Citroën Axel (1984–1988)<br />Oltcit Special<br />Oltcit Axel<br />Oltena Club (1991–1994)<br />Rodae Club (1994–1996)
| production = 1981–1996
| model_years =
| assembly = Romania: [[Craiova]]
| designer =
| class = [[Supermini]] ([[B-segment|B]])
| body_style = 3-door [[hatchback]]<br />2-door [[pickup truck|pick-up]]
| layout = [[Front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout|Front-engine, front-wheel-drive]]
| platform =
| related =
| engine = 652&nbsp;cc [[Air-cooled engine|air-cooled]] [[flat-2]]<br />1129&nbsp;cc air-cooled [[flat-4]]<br />1299&nbsp;cc air-cooled flat-4
| transmission = 4 / 5-speed [[Manual transmission|manual]]
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2370|mm|in|1}}
| length = {{cvt|3732|mm|in|1}}
| width = {{cvt|1538|mm|in|1}}
| height = {{cvt|1430|mm|in|1}}
| weight = {{cvt|835|-|875|kg|lb|0}}
| predecessor = [[Citroën Dyane]] (Citroën Axel)
| successor = [[Citroën AX]] (Citroën Axel)
}}

The '''Oltcit Club''' is a [[supermini car|supermini]] produced between 1981 and 1991 and developed in co-operation by [[Citroën]] of [[France]] and [[Oltcit]], a [[joint venture]] company with the [[Romania]]n government.

They were powered by the air-cooled engines from the [[Citroën GS|Citroën GS/GSA]]; the air-cooled flat-twin engine from the Citroën Visa used in the Romanian-market Oltcit Special was not installed in the export-only Citroën Axel.

==Development history==

From 1965 [[Robert Opron]] worked on the Citroën G-mini prototype and project EN101, a projected replacement for the [[Citroën 2CV|2CV]] using that car's flat twin engine. It was supposed to be launched in 1970. The advanced space-efficient designs, with very compact exterior dimensions and an aerodynamic drag co-efficient C<sub>d</sub> of 0.32, were axed because of adverse feedback from potential clients.<ref>{{cite web|author=Julian Marsh |url=http://www.citroenet.org.uk/prototypes/g-mini/g-mini.html |title=Citroën G-mini prototype and projet EN101 |publisher=Citroenet.org.uk |access-date=2012-09-14}}</ref> The more conservative final design has a Cd of 0.36 (for the Axel 12 TRS, 0.37 for the Axel 11).<ref name=TAM85>{{Cite book | title = Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1985 | editor = Mastrostefano, Raffaele | publisher = Editoriale Domus S.p.A | ref = TAM85 | year = 1985 | page = 206 | language = it | location = Milano | isbn = 88-7212-012-8 }}</ref>

[[File:Citroen Olcit.JPG|thumb|left|Citroën Axel 11]]
The early seventies [[Citroën Prototype Y]], intended to replace the 2CV-based [[Citroën Ami]] which dated back to 1960, was developed in co-operation with [[Fiat]]. It built on the lessons from the Citroën G-mini and EN101 projects. It used the then new and advanced [[Fiat 127]] platform, featuring a transversely mounted engine driving the front wheels, with an end-on gearbox layout that Fiat had pioneered in the 1960s. When cooperation with Fiat ended, a new Citroën-designed platform was planned. After the takeover of Citroën by [[Peugeot]] in the wake of the 1974 oil crisis, the renamed "Projet VD (Voiture Diminuée)" became the [[Citroën Visa]], incorporating the floor pan of the [[Peugeot 104]] and using the advanced 104 engine with the (under-engine) transmission and chassis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citroenet.org.uk/prototypes/projet-y-ta-vd/projet-y.html | title = Projet Y | publisher = Citroënet | access-date=2010-01-07}}</ref> It was the first new model under the platform-sharing policy of [[PSA Peugeot Citroën]] that continues today. The earlier [[Citroën LNA|Citroën LN]] was no more than a facelift of the Peugeot 104Z "Shortcut" with a re-engine and transmission from the [[Citroën Dyane]].

Eventually, in 1981, the original Citroën platform design from "Project Y" emerged as an Oltcit in Romania, using a Citroën Visa flat-twin engine and [[Citroën GS]]-based gearbox, and Citroën GS flat-four engine and gearbox. Like the GS, it also featured four wheel disc brakes, with the front ones mounted [[inboard brake|inboard]] to lower [[unsprung mass|unsprung weight]]. Beginning in July 1984, it was also sold in Western Europe as the Citroën Axel.<ref name=TAM85/> Citroën was hoping to recoup money that Citroën had invested in Romania that the communist government could not repay. The Axel had been scheduled for an earlier introduction, but Oltcit had been unable to provide either the quality or the quantity expected by their French partners. This project was problematic for Citroën due to productivity and build quality issues and 60,184 cars were made, even though the base models were priced below the 2CV in Western Europe. The Axel was never sold in the UK.

When launched in France, Citroën acknowledged that the Axel was a competitor of their Visa. However, that the Axel only had three doors and was of a simpler, more robust design was considered enough to offset any possible loss of (already shrinking) Visa sales.<ref name="Car9.84">{{cite journal | journal = Car | date = September 1984 | page = 61 | title = Oracle | first = Jean | last = Bellevue | editor-last = Cropley | editor-first = Steve | publisher = FF Publishing | location = London, UK }}</ref> The four-cylinder Axel 11 was 10 percent cheaper than a two-cylinder Visa in the French market. It also had a particularly low rear loading height, which, with its sturdy, basic construction, contributed to being particularly well received by farmers and denizens of smaller towns.<ref name="Car9.84"/>

In addition to the regular Axel, there was also a light commercial version with no rear seats available, called the "Axel Entreprise."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axel Entreprise 1986 (1936Km) |url=https://www.citromuseum.com/1/visite/visite-guidee-youngtimer/axel-entreprise-1986-1936km/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.citromuseum.com}}</ref>

==Production==
[[File:Oltcit Club 11 RL (2555449531).jpg|thumb|left|Oltcit Club rear]]
The Oltcit Club carried on with the Prototype Y-derived design and was sold between 1981 and 1995. It was also sold in [[Western Europe]], often badged as the [[Citroën Axel]].

In 1991, as a result of the withdrawal of Citroën from the joint venture, the name of the manufacturing company was changed to [[Automobile Craiova]] and production continued under the ''Oltena'' brand.

After 1994, it was sold under the ''Rodae'' brand, when the company decided to go into partnership with Korean company [[Daewoo Heavy Industries]] (later [[Daewoo Motors]]).

==Oltcit Club 12 CS==
[[File:Oltcit Club 12 CS.jpg|thumb|Oltcit Club 12 CS]]
The '''Oltcit Club 12 CS''' is a small pick-up based on the [[Oltcit Club]]. It was launched in 1993 with a 1299&nbsp;cc engine and a 5-speed gearbox with ratios that favor power. This model also has thicker rear torsion bars to withstand a greater load.<ref name="automobileromanesti.ro">{{cite web|url=http://www.automobileromanesti.ro/Oltcit/Oltcit_Club_12_CS/|title=Oltcit Club 12 CS|website=automobileromanesti.ro|access-date=July 23, 2022}}</ref>

==Engines==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:91%;"
|-
! Name !! Capacity<br>(cc) !! Type!! Power !! Torque !! Top speed !! Consumption<br>(liters/100&nbsp;km)
|-
| VO36/630 || 652 || air cooled flat twin,  OHV || {{convert|34|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 5250&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|49|Nm|lbft|0|abbr=on}} at 3500&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|121.2|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} || {{convert|6.8|L/100 km }}
|-
| G11/631 || 1129 || air cooled flat  4,  SOHC || {{convert|57.4|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 6250&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|79|Nm|lbft|0|abbr=on}} at 3500&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|149.4|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} || {{convert|8.1|L/100 km }}
|-
| T13/653 || 1299 || air cooled flat  4,  SOHC || {{convert|61.5|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} at 5500&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|96|Nm|lbft|0|abbr=on}} at 3250&nbsp;rpm || {{convert|157|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} || {{convert|7.3|L/100 km }}
|}

==Models==
===Oltcit-branded models===
* Oltcit Special (652&nbsp;cc)
* Oltcit Club 11 (1129&nbsp;cc)
* Oltcit Club 12 TRS (1299&nbsp;cc)
* Oltcit/Oltena Club 12 CS (pick-up version) (1299&nbsp;cc)

===Citroën-branded models===
* Citroën Axel 11 R Entreprise (1129 cc)
* Citroën Axel 11 R (1129 cc)
* Citroën Axel 12 TRS (1299 cc)
* Citroën Axel 12 TRS Entreprise (1299 cc)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category|Oltcit Club}}
{{Commons category|Citroën Axel}}
*[http://www.oltcit.ro/ Oltcit (Citroen Axel)] in [[Romanian language|Romanian]]
*[http://www.citroenet.org.uk/ Oltcit, Oltena and Axel] at Citroenet
	
{{Citroën}}
{{Citroën timeline 1950–1989}}

[[Category:Citroën vehicles|Axel]]
[[Category:Cars of Romania]]
[[Category:Subcompact cars]]
[[Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars powered by boxer engines]]
[[Category:Hatchbacks]]
[[Category:1980s cars]]
[[Category:1990s cars]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1981]]
[[Category:History of Craiova]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1996]]