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The history of the Citroën Ami started in 1961 when the
Citroën Ami 6 (1961 - 1971) is presented to the public.
In 1969, the
Citroën Ami 8 (1969 - 1979) appeared. It is an evolution of the Ami 6 who is finished in 1971. The line beetwen the 2CV and the DS/ID was not still completly, so that in 1971 appeared the Citroën GS. A revolucionary car, very comfortable and safe. The GS would be beetwen the Ami and the DS/ID. In 1973, in order to complete the Ami's line the Citroën Ami Super (1973 - 1976) is presented. It has a boxer 4-cylinder air cooled engine derivate to the GS. The Ami Super was produced until the ending of 1976. In that time, Citroën was already working in the successor of the Ami 8, the Citroën Visa, which would be presented to the public in 1978. Next, the full history of the all versions of Citroën Ami, enjoy it!. |
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The Citroën Ami 6, that was characterized by his particular design, was presented in April 1961. Flaminio Bertoni was the man who made the particulary line of the Ami 6.
The earlies Ami 6, had a 602cc engine with 26 CV (SAE) to 4500 rpm., which let it go until 105 Km/hs. Also it had a 4 syncronized gearbox.
In 1966, the Ami 6 changed the electric instalation to 12 volts. The Sedan chaged it in May and the Break, in September.
From 1968, the Ami 6 gained the M28 engine with 35 CV (SAE) and front disc brakes.
So that, it became the first A-Serie to be fitted with front inboard disc brakes.
The Ami 6 was sold in 3 versions: a sedan (until 1969), a break (September 1965 - July 1971) and a van o service (March 1968- September 1969).
In his 10 years of life, were made more 1.000.000 Amis 6 amoung sedans, breaks and vans. In 1965 was the seller in France.
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The Citroën Ami 8, was launched in March 1969 at the Genova Motor Show as a face-lifted Ami 6. It looks more conventional in appearance than the Ami 6. The reverse-rake rear screen was replaced by a fast back that looked as a hatchback car. Also, the front end was generally cleaned up.
The Ami 8's engine was a boxer 2-cylinder air cooled (like all his brothers: 2CV, Dyane and Mehari) of 602 cc but with 35 CV (SAE) to 5750 rpm. The top speed is 123 Km/hs. All the version, has front disc brake.
The Ami 8 was sold in 3 versions: (all of them, from 1969): a sedan, a break and a van o service.
- Citroën Ami 8 Van o Service -
The Ami 8 was produced until 1979, and was superseded by the Citroën Visa, which was presented to the public in 1978 at the Salon de Paris.
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The Citroën Ami Super was launched in January 1973 and looks like the Ami 8 but it has a boxer 4-cylinder air cooled engine of 1015cc and 55 CV (SAE). Now, the top speed is 147 Km/hs. The Ami Super was the top Ami and was beetwen the Citroën GS (launched in 1971) and Citroëns A-Series.
The engine, gearbox, brakes and suspention were shared with the Citroën GS. Also the Ami Super uses a floor mounted gearchange rather than the traditional "push-me, pull-you" A series shift.
On the right front wing the Ami Super, have the text "1015" and "Ami Super" on the bootlid. Then, 1974 the text "Ami Super" was on right and left front wings and bootlid.
The Ami Super was available in 2 version: Sedan and Break and was produced until the ending of 1976, with 42.000 units.
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The Citroën Ami M-35 was the first Citroën that used a rotary engine. The project was development to show the reliability of that. The engine was build by Comotor Company, a joint-venture beetwen Citroën and NSU.
In 1969 Comotor bought a 850.000m2 terrain to build a factory for assembling rotary engines.The Ami M-35 body was build by Heuliez at Cerizay. Six bodies were build in the autumn of 1969. But the project itself didn't start until January 1970. The six bodies were painted in colors that differ from the main production run.
All Ami M-35 have the text "Prototype Citroën M35 no. xxx" painted on the front wings.
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| - Citroën Ami M-35 - | - Rotary Engine - |
The first Ami M-35 were driven by professionals over 1 million km within 5 years. The performance was improved and some eyewitness saw Ami-M35 doing over 175km/h.
Citroën planed to sell 500 cars to people who lived in France, and used the cars for at least 30.000km annually. But only 267
cars were build: 6 in 1969, 212 in 1970 and 49 in 1971.
The cars would be maintained by specialist from the research department and all problems had to be reported
directly to this department.
When M35 project finished, Citroën gave to the owners the option of either keep their cars or return back them.
In the first case, a few customers stick to their M35, and had to sign a contract in which Citroën doesn't have to keep
parts for the next 10 years. Most M35 don't keep running for a long time, most get engine or ignition problems and
were scrapped or stored.
In the second case, M35 owners were given an important disconunt to buy another Citroën (2CV-Dyane-Ami8-Mehari-ID/DS
and the new GS). All cars given back to Citroën were destroyed.
The M35 was a very special car in the long range of Citroën A-Types. It was the only 2 door fixed head coupe and the only A-Type ever with hydraulic suspension. This special suspension, the luxurious interior (include electric windows) and the very silent running engine made it a very comfortable car indeed.
Today, there are companies that rebuild and modify rotary engines of Citroën and other marks.
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In Argentina, the Citroën Ami was presented in 1971 with the 8 Break version. It was sold in 2 version until 1981: Club and Elyssé. The Elyssé looks like an Ami Super. The steering wheel and tires are the same.
The argentinian Ami has the M28 engine, but it had not front disc brake. It's remarkable the radio Motorola BGH, the clean windscreen system and the internal headlights regulation. Also the argentinian Ami have not seat-beats.
Citroën was in Argentina from 1960 to 1982 with only two models: the 2CV (425cc until 1968 and 602cc engine until 1982, called 3CV ) and since 1971 with the Ami 8. In 1982 Citroën left Argentina, but the 2CV would be produced until 1987 named IES 3CV America and IES 3CV Super America .
Another models could be imported, like the Visa and GS between 1980-1982, but in really Citroën cars were not succefully in Argentina.Citroën came back to Argentina in 1998 with almost the totality products line. Today, Citroën seller car in here is the Xsara.
