Rare Citroen model joins Orphanage collection in Yuma
Ami6 was once criticized as ‘world’s ugliest car’
A 1967 Citroën Ami6 has been added to the permanent collection of cars at The Orphanage in Yuma, CO. Ami is the French word for friend.
In 1960, French car maker Citroën of fered only a bare-bones economy model, the 2CV, and two top end, technologically advanced models called the DS and ID. A mid-priced, mid-size model was needed to bolster sales, and the result was the Ami6 which was formally launched in April of 1961. The Citroën Ami6 is a four-door, front-wheel drive, economy family car offered in saloon (sedan) and estate (station wagon) body styles over two generations, between 1961 and 1978. More than 1.8 million units were produced over the entire production run.
Described by some as a Citroën 2CV in a party frock, the Ami6 was built on the 2CV running gear and nicknamed the 3CV in France. It had mechanical upgrades, par ticularly a larger engine. At launch, the Ami offered an air cooled, 602 cc two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine. Suspension and chassis were like the 2CV and offered “dramatic” cornering at almost any speed. The Ami’s seats were easily removable and adver tising photographs depicted the seats
being used as picnic chairs. This was the first French car with lozenge-shaped headlights, the shape of which were illegal in the U.S. until 1975.
Chief Ami stylist, Italian sculptor, and industrial designer, Flaminio Bertoni said the design looked “…as if it had already run over three pedestrians” (perhaps because of the Ami’s wavelike, dipped bonnet) and critics judged the Ami 6 to be the world’s ugliest car. No doubt contributing to this indictment, the most striking design feature is the car’s reverse-canted rear window. This was not an altogether new idea. Ford Motor Company used this design feature, called the Breezeway Window, first on their 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruisers and then the 1958-1960 Lincoln Continentals.
In the American cars, the reverse-canted rear window could be opened to provide ventilation. Still, during its initial eight year run, the Ami became France’s bestselling car with more than a million units sold. Over his career with Citroën, Ber toni also designed the Traction Avant, DS, ID and 2CV.
Between 1963 and 1968, someone at Citroën thought it would be a good idea to sell the Ami6 in the United States. No one is sure how many were sold but the number is estimated at an ambitious 100. The “friend” found few friends here.
The car now in the collection is a front-wheel-drive, 1967 Ami6 which was brought to this country from Spain in 2018. It features a 602 cc, horizontally opposed, air-cooled, two cylinder engine rated at 26 hp.
Maximum speed is said to be 68 mph. The suspension is independent all around using leading and trailing arms and coil springs interconnected front to rear. Other peculiar features are sliding side windows front and back, a weight reducing fiberglass roof, dash mounted push-pull manual shifter and Citroën’s signature single spoke steering wheel. Curb weight for the Ami is a dainty 1428 lb. with a body length of 12’-8”. The color is burgundy, most likely resprayed at some point, and the turquoise roof and wheel color was most definitely off white to begin with. The Ami6 will turn heads as it debuts on the Orphanage turntable.