Spatial symmetry breaking is examined numerically for the linear C n + (n=3, 5, 7, 9) radical cations with hybrid B3LYP and local BP86 functionals. B3LYP clearly breaks spatial symmetry for 2 Σ u + D ~ h structures for C 3 + and C 5 + . BP86 does not break spatial symmetry but generates lower-symmetry lower-energy 2 ΣC ~ v solutions which are not connected with the 2 Σ u + D ~ h structures starting from C 5 + . The 2 Π g and 2 Π u electronic states do not suffer from spatial symmetry breaking. The bent C 3 + , kinked C 5 + , and quasi-linear C 2 v and C 2 h structures of C 7 + and C 9 + are the lowest energy chains.