Ami is the French word for friend. With its 602 cc engine capacity fractionally above the limit for 2 CV designation, the Ami was nicknamed the 3CV, differentiating it from the long established 2CV.
Citroën responded to a perceived market need for a vehicle slightly larger and less rustic than the 2CV. The Ami is a rebodied 2CV with certain mechanical upgrades (particularly a larger engine than the 1950s 2CV), to compensate for the added weight. At launch all the cars were powered by an air cooled 602 cc two-cylinder flat engine which would also be offered at extra cost in the 2CV from 1970.
But the Ami was more than just a re-bodied 2CV - it introduced a world first to the motoring world (together with the German Ford Taunus P3). Up until then, headlights had been round. Always. As a matter of fact, non-round headlights remained illegal in the US up until 1975!
This little (Atlas) Dinky promises “super-détail” on the box - and for its day, it wasn’t bad at all. The front opens to reveal the engine. The tyres have the “Dunlop” name on them, and the rear opens as well.
And if you look closely, it even gives away the secret of Dinky’s suspension: Two transverse leaf springs. It also features the proper white steering wheel on the inside, a nice touch.
Even the colour scheme is period correct - something that even today isn’t always the case.
The Ami 6 was made from 1961 to 1969, when it was replaced by the similar Ami 8 - though that replaced the angled rear window with a more conventional fastback design. Production figures ran at over 100,000 units per year for most of its life - which made it a huge success for Citroen.