Citroën Bijou
| Citroën Bijou | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Citroën |
| Production |
1959-1964 207 made[1] |
| Assembly | Slough, England |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Economy Car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Related |
Citroën 2CV Citroën Dyane Citroën Ami Citroën Méhari Citroën FAF |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 425 cc air cooled two cylinder |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 94 in (2,388 mm)[2] |
| Length | 156 in (3,962 mm)[2] |
| Width | 61 in (1,549 mm)[2] |
| Height | 46 in (1,168 mm)[2] |
The Citroën Bijou was a small coupé manufactured by Citroën at the premises they had occupied since 1925 in Slough, England. The Bijou was assembled from 1959 until 1964. It was based on the same platform chassis as the Citroën 2CV, sharing its advanced independent front to rear interconnected suspension. The design was thought to be more acceptable in appearance to the conservative taste of British consumers, than the unconventional and uncompromisingly utilitarian rural look of the standard 2CV.
The body was made of fibreglass, and the car featured the two cylinder 425 cc 12 bhp engine also seen in the 2CV. Only 207 were produced, plus two prototypes. It incorporated some components from the DS, most noticeably the single-spoke steering wheel.[3]
It was designed by Peter Kirwan-Taylor, by now already known as the stylist of the elegant 1957 Lotus Elite, another "fibreglass" bodied car.[3] Bijou bodies were initially moulded by a company called "Whitson & Co", located near to Citroen's Slough premises,[3] but it later proved necessary to transfer this work to another supplier.[4]
Disappointing sales levels for the UK's own Citroen seem to have been down to the Bijou's price, which at the time of the 1959 motor show was 674 British pounds.[3] At this time the British market was acutely price sensitive, and buyers could choose a Ford Popular with four doors, four seats and a much larger engine for 494 British pounds.
A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1961 had a top speed of 44.7 mph (71.9 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-40 mph (64 km/h) in 41.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 59.5 miles per imperial gallon (4.75 L/100 km; 49.5 mpg-US) was recorded. The Bijou's more modern styling gave it a higher top speed and lower cruising fuel consumption than the equivalent 2CV, however the greater weight of the bodywork impacted on the car's more general performance, especially its acceleration. The Bijou was considered expensive by the testers.[2] It was also more expensive than the Austin Mini, which was more practical.
As of 2008, 140 Bijous are on the 2CVGB club register.
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References
- ↑ Sedgwick, Michael; Gillies (1993). A-Z of cars 1945-1970. UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Citroen Bijou". The Motor. Jan 4, 1960.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1960 (salon Paris oct 1959) (Paris: Histoire & collections). Nr. 15: Page 19. 2000.
- ↑ http://www.citroenet.org.uk/foreign/slough/ken-smith/ks1.html
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External links
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