This story commences in the late 1950s when Citroën initiated Project M to bridge the gap between the 2CV and the ID19. The new model employed the Deux Chevaux’s floorpan with power from a 602cc version of the well-known flat twin unit, allied to very distinctive coachwork from the great Flaminio Bertoni. The resulting Ami 6 made its bow on 25th April 1961 and Citroën promoted it as the ideal bourgeois transport to compete with the Renault Dauphine. Across the Channel, some dealers hoped it would prove ideal for motorists who craved a smart, lightweight, four-door saloon. There were also hopes it would appeal to those Britons who had previously regarded the Slough-built 2CV and Bijou with suspicion.
Unfortunately, the price was a rather steep £823.14s.9d (nearly £173 more than a Ford Anglia 105E De Luxe), while dealers also faced the challenge of selling the Ami 6’s looks. The Motor found it ‘utterly different from “ordinary,”’ while Autocar very accurately believed: 'Some will undoubtedly be appalled by its appearance.' The 1964 Break (Estate) looked more conventional and was instrumental in the Ami becoming France’s most popular car in 1966, but UK sales still proved limited. The claim: 'The chances are
