2023-07-02 18:32:57
However brilliantly designed it was, the Citroën 2CV did not find its audience across the Channel. The clientele finds it far too spartan, and it is true that its drafts combined with its questionable watertightness and its almost non-existent heating constitute major drawbacks in the cold mists of Perfidious Albion.
No central pillar for the Citroën Bijou, nor even a seal between the windows… like on a Facel-Vega! The rims are from ID.
Citroën UK is moved by this and is trying to find a solution to make the 2-legged vehicle profitable, which it manufactures in its Slough factory. An idea emerges: to decline the car in a small coupe with a fully closed body, which would be both chic, elegant… and sold more expensive. To do this, we rely on Peter Kirwan-Taylor, an engineer close to Colin Chapman for whom he designed the Lotus Elite. Nice (2) CV!
The cockpit of the Bijou is much more substantial than that of the 2CV. Note the steering wheel and door handle inherited from the ID. Photo: Bonhams.
For Citroën UK, it draws a sober, fluid line without a central pillar which will be embodied in fiberglass reinforced with polyester. This gives the Citroën Bijou, presented in 1959. Does it find its audience? No ! Indeed, it costs £674, compared to £384 for example for a Ford Popular, or £589 for a Mini. In addition, the Bijou retains the 425 cm3 of 12 hp fitted to the 2CV. As this coupe weighs heavier (605 kg once morest 540 kg), it suffers from even more sluggish accelerations even if, thanks to better aerodynamics, it is less slow: 80 km/h peak, once morest 72 km/h.
Result, sales do not take off, but in addition, manufactured on a dedicated line, the Jewel loses money. When marketing ceased in 1964, only 207 units were sold. Total failure? At first glance, yes. But the idea must have pleased the parent company, which also developed a more bourgeois version of the 2CV: the Ami 6, launched in 1961. And this time, it was a success…
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#Citroën #Bijou #2CV #chic #England
