1962 Citroen Bijou

Citroen Bjiou (Coupe), 1959-1964

The Citroen Bijou was in production from 1959-64. Styled by Peter Kirwan Taylor, it is a front-engine, front wheel drive coupe seating two adults and two children.

The Citroen 2CV hadn't been a strong seller in 1950s Britain - it was seen as too austere for most buyers, who valued the sensibility and stolidity of the Morris Minor and Austin A35. In comparison, the 2CV with its fabric roof and deckchair seating was seen as little more than an upturned wheelbarrow - and while Citroen had larger cars to offer, it felt it was missing out on a market. Especially given that it had a factory in Slough...

So Citroen decided to Anglicise the 2CV. It engaged Lotus Elite stylist Peter Kirwan Taylor to create a new fibreglass shell which would render the 2CV attractive to British eyes. The resultant car bore more than a casual resemblance to the DS, albeit in two door form, and with pillarless doors offering a full length side opening akin to that in later Mercedes coupes. Inside, there was a DS steering wheel, and DS door pulls - and while the seats were based on the same frames as those in 2CVs they bore leather facings. It looked good - but as the GRP shell was heavier than the 2CV, it was slower. It was also too expensive to capture the Mini crowd, and too eccentric to appeal to those who found the Wolseley Hornet's size and comfort appealing.

Natural rivals in period would certainly include the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet, though the traditional buyers of these cars wouldn't have entertained the Bijou any more than they might have entertained the idea of a Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia. Today, 2CV fans looking for something unusual might buy a Bijou, or equally might turn to the eccentrically sculpted Citroen Ami 6. The later and more conservative Ami 8 and Dyane models also meet the brief of a 2CV with a more niche appeal, while those seeking a uniquely British Citroen experience would be well advised to look for a Slough-built ID19 with walnut dashboard and leather trim.