Citroën Ami

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Citroën Ami
Citroën Ami 6
Manufacturer Citroën
Parent company PSA Group (from 1976)
Production 1961—1978
Class Supermini
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
5-door estate
Layout FF layout
Engine(s) 602 cc Flat-2
1015 cc Flat-4
Related Citroën 2CV
Citroën FAF
Citroën Ami 6
Citroën Ami 6
The Ami 8 featured a more conventionally positioned back window
The Ami 8 featured a more conventionally positioned back window
Dashboard and shift lever of Ami 6
Dashboard and shift lever of Ami 6

The Citroën Ami (French for "friend") is a supermini produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1961 to 1978. The Ami and stablemate Citroën Dyane were replaced by the Citroën Visa. The Ami was for some years the best-selling car model in France. Production totalled 1,840,396 units.

Contents

[edit] Overview

As with Renault 4, Citroën was responding to a market need for a vehicle slightly larger and less rustic than the 2CV. The Ami is a rebodied 2CV with certain mechanical upgrades to compensate for the added weight. Most variants are powered by a two-cylinder flat engine.

The Ami and the 1961 Ford Taunus were the first vehicles with rectangular (as opposed to round) headlamps.

[edit] Versions

The Ami 6 sedan is distinguished by an unusual reverse-raked rear window, similar to the 'Breezaway' rear screen fitted to the contemporary Mercury Monterey in the US, or the Ford Anglia in the UK. A similar design feature is used on the current three door Citroën C4 and also the Renault Mégane.

The later Ami 8 saloon has a fastback rear window. It was redesigned by the French car design and bodywork company, Heuliez. Most notable changes were the front part and bonnet and the sloping, rather than inverted, rear window on the saloon. The estate version of the Ami 8 had a similar general appearance to that of the Ami 6 although the later car's tail-lights were integrated into the rear wings.

The Ami Super was a flat-4 variant powered by the engine of the GS and produced between 1973 and 1976.

A small series of prototype coupés, the M35 were produced as test vehicles for loyal customers — testing the Comotor Wankel engine. This engine briefly reached production form with the GS Birotor.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Although not its commercial name, in France the Ami was often referred to as the Citroën 3CV (trois chevaux, or "three horses", CV originally being the initials for "cheval-vapeur" -- horsepower --, but used here for "chevaux fiscaux" in short. The "cheval fiscal" was a French fiscal unit based on the power of the car ; smaller figures usually meant economical cars), after the Citroën 2CV (deux chevaux, "two horses"). The 3CV nickname was never applied to the Ami 8, only to the Ami 6.
  • The Ami's seats were easily removable. Sales pitches of the Ami included photographs of the seats being used as picnic chairs.
  • The 2CV is remembered as the (long-suffering) steed of Thomson and Thompson, the detectives in The Adventures of Tintin, but an Ami 6 can be seen in the Castafiore's Emerald, the doctor's car, in a memorable gag involving Professor Calculus.
  • Famous owners of the Ami include Yvonne de Gaulle.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Automobiles Citroën a subsidiary of the PSA Peugeot Citroën since 1976, car timeline, 1950s–1980s — next »
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Economy car 2CV
City car LN / LNA AX
Supermini Dyane
Ami Visa
Small family car GS GSA
Large family car 11 CV ID / DSpécial / DSuper BX
Executive car 15 CV DS CX
Grand tourer SM
Off-roader Méhari