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Citroën Ami 6 in the (historic) test - a lot of duck and a bit of goddess

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Created on September 5, 1961

Text:

Robert Poensgen

Photos:

Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

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Archiv

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Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

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Archiv

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In French, "L'Ami 6" sounds like "La missis", the little owl. Citroën was not only creative with shapes.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - when factory photos were still small works of art

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With the Ami 6, Citroën once again succeeded in creating a completely new design that caused quite a stir.

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Citroën Ami 6 Break (1964) - Veterinarian or animal lover

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Curved shapes and large headlights - the front gives relatively little cause for discussion.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1963) - it had to do without the stabilizing hydropneumatics

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - a masterpiece is a masterpiece is a masterpiece

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Citroën Ami 6 (1963) - Citroën tried to place the car primarily with women

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Citroën Ami 6 (1963) - the Citroën factory photographers created true gems

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Unmistakable silhouette and proven components underneath - with the Ami 6, Citroën plugged the gap between the 2CV and the ID/DS models.

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As a successful combination of unique bodywork and familiar mechanics, the compact saloon gave Citroën another sales hit.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1963) - the wide headlights provided good light thanks to the special reflectors

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Citroen Ami 6 (1963) - popular with women

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Citroën Ami 6 Break (1964) - Bertoni considered the Ami 6 to be his best work.

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More economical than most other family cars of its time - the Ami 6 consumed between 6 and 7 liters in test operation.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - unconventional and above all memorable design

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - in the nightlife

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Presentation at the Paris Motor Show

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Citroën Ami 6 (1963) - Special feature among small cars, low engine power but excellent driving comfort

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - at home everywhere

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - what is this guy fishing for?

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The swing for adults - although the Ami 6 is by no means a sports car, it still encourages fast driving.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Once the Citroën blends into the street scene, nobody will notice how unconventional the design is.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Bertoni's masterful design

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - The bold sheet metal modeling and its shape are not to everyone's taste.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - the front view with the wide headlights and the characteristic curved line between them

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - with radiator curtain and open doors

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Citroën Ami 6 Break (1964) - where the car only plays a minor role

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Should not (only) attract attention and cause outrage: The design of the rear window is based on rational aspects.

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Citroën Ami 6 - Citroën's four-door beacon of hope at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show

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The Ami 6 offers good space for the occupants. Legroom in the rear is rather tight.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - plenty of space and a homely atmosphere in the interior

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The relationship to the ID and DS is mainly noticeable in the interior.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1964) - Gear lever like in the 2 CV

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The soft bench seat could have been taken from a living room. Thanks to 2CV technology, the footwell is not occupied by mechanical components.

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The four-stroke two-cylinder engine of the "Deuche" grew by almost 200 cubic centimeters and was fitted with a larger carburettor.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Mix of technologies from the 2CV and DS for the 3CV

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The suspension of the 2CV was modified for the new model. Otherwise, the suspension remains soft, which is noticeable when cornering.

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A look at Ami-6 production in 1962.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - a genuine Citroën

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The test drive largely confirmed the advertising promises. In addition to good cruising speeds, the Ami 6 also achieved reasonable deceleration values.

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - Advertising campaign "why" - Suitcase

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - Advertising campaign "why" - Air cooling

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - "Enchanting" advertising campaign

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - Congratulations on the New Year

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Citroën Ami 6 (1962) - Advertising campaign "why" - four doors

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Summary

Citroën had already proven with the 2CV and the ID/DS sisters that it was possible to consistently break with conventions and thus achieve great success. In 1961, however, the manufacturer did not launch a rolling revolution with the Ami 6, but rather a highly unconventional creation made from tried and tested ingredients. The middle-of-the-road hybrid challenged good taste and had a few surprises in store... This article reproduces an original test report from September 1961 and shows the compact saloon in extensive photo and sales material.

This article contains the following chapters

From its father it has the stature...
...from the mother the cheerful nature
The economical front-wheel drive...
...sits very well despite super-soft suspension
Equipment with light and shade
Spacious, but very lightly built

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

"Ami 6" is pronounced "Ami-siß" in French, which is the same as the word for friendship. Citroën has a lot of sense for such puns. The big cars are called "ID" = "idea" and "DS" = "goddess". However, there is far less sense of the fact that "practical" is by no means synonymous with "ugly". Perhaps the French buy less with their eyes than the Germans, but it is hard to imagine that the 2CV, the "ID" and "DS" models and finally the "Ami 6" would have been a sales failure if they had listened a little more to a designer! Certainly, every detail, including the shape of the new 600 Citroën, has its formal function, and we are the last people who would advocate the beauty of an automobile as an end in itself. But the Ami 6 certainly didn't have to be so bizarre!

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