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The ugly duckling has moulted - Ami 6 - the big little Citroën

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Created on May 1, 1961

Text:

Peter Ruch

Photos:

Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

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Archiv

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Archiv Radical Mag / Peter Ruch

7

Archiv

15

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

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

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

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - plenty of space between the axles

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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) - Bertoni's masterful design

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

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Citroen 2 CV (1960) - from the outside, the AZL model hardly differed from the cheaper versions, but the paintwork was not matt

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Citroën DS 19 (1956) - the new saloon at the Paris Motor Show in October 1955

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Citroen Ami 6 (1962) - a test car in the sixties

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Citroen Ami 6 (1963) - popular with women

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - from small to big - the engine of the 2 CV grew by almost 200 cc and received a larger carburetor

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - the basic suspension design of the 2CV was adopted, but made more elaborate and thus largely freed from its disadvantages - note the additional telescopic shock absorbers

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

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - unmistakable

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

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - full-length front bench seat - no cardan, gearshift in the dashboard

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Citroën Ami 8 (1969) - originally only intended as a model upgrade of the Ami 6, as the lettering shows

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

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Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - at home everywhere

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

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Citroën Ami 6 Break (1964) - Tierärztin oder Tierfreundin

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - das Seitenprofil zeigt die auffällige Dachkonstruktion

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - viel Platz zwischen den Achsen

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - die Vorderansicht mit den breiten Scheinwerfern und der charakteristischen geschwungenen Linie dazwischen

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Bertonis meisterhafte Entwurf

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - viel Platz und wohnliche Atmosphäre im Interieur

Summary

At the beginning of the sixties, Citroën was still confident that it could not only throw old technical traditions overboard, but also convince the masses of buyers of new solutions and design innovations. The car that was to close the gap between the 2CV and the DS/ID, the Ami 6, was therefore eagerly awaited. 'hobby' reviews of the newcomer were favorable, although the expected revolution failed to materialize and the new car was seen more as a synthesis of its little and big brothers. Whether the Ami 6 would be a success, the reporter made dependent on the not yet known price. This report reproduces the original wording of the article from 1961, supplemented by many photos from the time.

This article contains the following chapters

The gap between the 2CV and DS/ID is closed
Only on paper?
The almost secret newcomer with leanings downwards and upwards
Not beautiful, but a big little car
Four-door model with excellent interior comfort
Sufficient luggage space
No air suspension
Two cylinders and 18 hp are enough
Lessons learned from the "big one
Attractive interior
No grill gimmicks
Inherited economy
Good synthesis instead of sensation

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When Citroën launches a new car in Paris, the world takes notice. The experts as well as the average car consumer. People pay attention because they expect technical, conceptual and not least aesthetic sensations from the designers of the long-established company under the sign of the two angles. People know that the Quai-André-Citroën not only consistently pursues revolutionary ideas, but also has the courage to implement them in an almost dictatorial manner, against all psychological considerations of the inertia of the buying masses and their stubborninsistence on time-honored traditions. This was the case with the 2 CV, which was regarded by many as a caricature of a car and yet is one of the most functional cars, and it was the same - at least in the early days - with the technically sophisticated and also stylistically revolutionary large DS and ID models.

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Images of this article

Citroën Ami 6 Break (1964) - Tierärztin oder Tierfreundin

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - das Seitenprofil zeigt die auffällige Dachkonstruktion

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - viel Platz zwischen den Achsen

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - die Vorderansicht mit den breiten Scheinwerfern und der charakteristischen geschwungenen Linie dazwischen

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - Bertonis meisterhafte Entwurf

Citroën Ami 6 (1961) - viel Platz und wohnliche Atmosphäre im Interieur

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