Manufacturer	Citroën
Production	1961 to 1969
Class	Motor Car
Body style	4-door saloon,5-door estate,3 door van
Layout	Front engine
Engine	602 cc flat-2
Drive	Front wheel drive
Wheelbase	95 in (2,413 mm)
Length	154 in (3,912 mm)
Width	60 in (1,524 mm)
Height	57 in (1,448 mm)
Dry weight	1411 1b, 640 kg

The Citroën Ami 6 is an automobile, produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1961 to 1969.

History 

 The Citroën Ami 6 (also called the "3 CV ") is a sedan and station wagon and van produced by the French automobile manufacturer Citroën from 1961 to 1969. The Ami 8 will take over until 1978. The primary objective was to offer customers a compromise between two models, the top-of-the-range DS, and the low range 2 CV.

The first Citroën Amis built on the 2 CV platform were manufactured in the Panhard factory in Paris, then in the newly created Rennes-la-Janais and in Belgium. However, in a 2 CV, the lowering of the roof is such that the rear window forces passengers to lean their heads forward. Flaminio Bertoni, creator of the Traction Avant, 2 CV and DS, finds a solution: it proposes to reverse the slope of the window to offer passengers more comfort. The inverted rear window, results in a rather controversial "Z" profile. However, it allows easy access to the imposing rear trunk. Presented for the first time on the 1953 Packard Balboa X prototype.

The 425-cc twin-cylinder boxer engine of the 2CV was seen as not being powerful enough for the weight of the bodywork envisaged, its displacement was increased by the bore size while keeping the same engine base. It will be set at a larger 602 cc to stay within the administrative limit size of 610 cc.

The Ami 6 innovates on the sociological level by presenting itself on advertising documents as the ideal second car for lady drivers. As for the name "Ami", it would have been born from the association of the name AM, following the M project, of the number 6 corresponding to its engine capacity.

In April 1961, the Ami 6 is inserted between the popular 2 CV and the revolutionary DS in the range. To do this, the takes best assets of the robustness and rusticity of the 2 CV chassis platform and mechanics as well as the finish inspired by the DS soft seats, single-spoke steering wheel, door handles and controls. The car quickly met with success, despite flaws such as too thin sheet metal bodywork, a rear trunk opening latch located under the rear seat and spartan equipment no automatic windscreen wiper return until August 1961, as well as the evacuation of rainwater accumulated in the roof gutter which required two modifications before the appearance of two holes in line with the uprights in July 1962 first positioned above the windshield wipers, they caused runoff on the windshield in the event of heavy rain; then completely removed, packets of water spilled out during braking). The wiper blades first oriented towards the bottom of the windscreen on the driver's side are quickly replaced by blades aligned in the axis of the brush holders. 

In September 1963 the opening of the bonnet was controlled at the bottom of the dashboard and on the left by a ring pull and a cable connected to the striker fixed to the front face now comprising an intermediate central sheet visible at the front of the car above the grille. In addition, a semi-automatic centrifugal clutch is now available as an option as on the 2CV. Between December 1963 and January 1964 the pedals of clutch and brake in the floor as on the 2CV are replaced by suspended pedals. From the start of production, the front windows are sliding for their rear half, those of the rear doors are fixed until August 1961. The window frames are made of aluminium, with a gouge line up to July 1963. Then they have three features until the replacement for the 1969 model year by steel profiles in the colour of the bodywork or covered with a stainless-steel trim on the "Club" station wagon finish. 

The third window of the Ami 6 station wagons is just surrounded by a large black rubber seal with a thin stainless-steel strip in the “Club” finish. The top of the dashboard, first in hard gray plastic, is quickly covered with a flexible plastic coating of the same colour. For the 1967 model year, the dashboard became black. The comfortable seats are removable.

From a mechanical point of view, the twin-cylinder boxer engine has an displacement of 602 cc. First with a power of 22 hp SAE in 1961 then 26 hp by the 1964 models, for a top speed of 110 km/h, it ends with 28 hp by 1968 models for a speed of 112 km/h. The last models feature a 35 hp SAE engine (32 hp DIN), at the compression ratio increased to 9/1. It is equipped with a double-barrel carburettor (21/24) fed with forced air and a specific camshaft, which allows the car to reach a speed of 123 km/h.

Performance 22 hp

• Engine Capacity : 36.82 cu in, 602 cu cm
• Fuel Consumption: 47 mils per gal, 39.2 m NS gal, 6 x 100 km
• Max Speed : 65.2 mph, 105 km/h
• max power (DIN): 22 hp at 4500 rpm
• max torque (DIN). 30 1b it, 4.1 kgm at 2800 rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 4500
• specific power: 36.5 hp/l

Because of its chassis base, there are characteristics of the 2 CV on the Ami 6. The brakes are drums on all four wheels. The front brakes have a diameter of 220 mm against 200 mm on the 2 CV with cooling fins, and are attached to the gearbox. This is four gears all synchronized. The transmission to the wheels is done by double cardan joints, therefore constant velocity.

The bodywork is entirely bolted together, but the very light-coloured roof, first in fiberglass, then in synthetic material, is riveted to the body. From October 1967 the saloon received an optional half-sunroof in canvas or a roof painted in red or blue. The rectangular section headlamps developed by Cibié is a new feature. They replace the round parabolic mirror optics fitted to all the brand's other models. Which now allows the return of a denser reflected light beam but requires an increase in diameter. The rectangular headlight being truncated at the top and bottom, the truncation reduces the efficiency which is compensated by a set of three reflectors. Thus, with the same bulbs, the light intensity is twice as high as that of a conventional projector. Rectangular headlights and oval headlight bezels from the Ami 6 were used on the Maserati 5000 GT Allemano also fitted to Lamborghini 350 GTs.

The suspension of the Ami 6 takes up the same principle by the 2 CV. The suspension is by lateral horizontal springs compressed by a system of connections to the wheels by tie rods. They are housed in a cylindrical pot under the sides of the platform. All four wheels work independently. A mass stabilizer is present on each wheel and an elastic interaction system between the front and rear suspension completes the system. In June 1963 are replaced by four telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers which no longer require periodic adjustments. This quadruple effect system (springs, shock absorbers and front/rear elastic interaction achieves a particularly high-performance level of suspension which will be used on the Ami 8 by the addition of a front anti-roll bar limiting the effect of roll in curves.

In January 1964, the range is expanded with a station wagon which will quickly exceed the production and sales figures of the saloon. The explanation comes as much from its more conventional line as from its adaptation to the rural environment. The station wagon has better aerodynamics than the sedan. Thanks to the new bodywork.

In the fall of 1965, the seats with padded trim were replaced by longitudinal ribs and the lights of the sedans adopted those of the smaller station wagons and other utility vehicles in the Citroën range. From June 1966 for the sedan and September 1966 for the break, the electrical equipment goes to 12 volts instead of 6 volts previous, the dynamo is replaced by an alternator. The dashboard changes colour, it becomes partially black and the red charging light disappears. On the outside, the 1967 models are recognizable by the grille with horizontal bars and the ventilation grille streaked with small chrome bars. At the beginning of 1968, the rear lights were redesigned and grouped together on a trapezoidal block which would be fitted to the 2 CV in 1970 until the end of production.

Later by May 1968, the Ami 6 monogram in gilded brass affixed to the edge of the trunk identifies the model. Also in 1968, the range was completed by the Club version first on the estate then on the saloon which is distinguished by its four round headlights, its side mouldings, and elegant interior finish with mixed fabric seats in the centre and sides with reclining backrests.

The Ami 6 was also sold in the United States from 1962 to 1963 with the specific features that this country imposes, reinforced bumpers and a special lighting system. All versions combined; the Ami 6 was built in more with more than a million copies.

The Citroën Ami 6 side view