I never thought that I’d own a French car but I do. They’re an acquired taste for sure, at least for those of us who weren’t born and raised in France. This 1975 Citroën Ami 8 Break is a car that’s been on my wish list for a few years now, since I’ve turned the corner in the automotive world to being a lover of unusual designs. This example is listed on eBay in Oakland, California with a $4,200 buy it now price.
Whoa, now that’s an unusual design! This car looks like it’s been through the wringer a few times, there are several dents and dings that would take a lot of time and money to get out. I don’t know if it’s worth it financially, although these unusual cars can sell for two or three times the seller’s asking price. The Ami 6 and 8 were based on Citroën’s famous 2CV but came at a 35% price bump and it hurt sales initially.
I prefer the Ami 6 sedan version with the rearward-sloping rear window, that’s such a cool and unusual feature. The estate / wagon / break would give more storage room but, as shallow as it sounds, I go for looks more than anything else in my cars. And, not sexy, sleek, or popular looks like a Jag E-Type or Corvette, I like these strange looking cars. The seller says that they’re including “boxes and boxes of spares, and front and rear fenders. Chassis sound but floor repaired, new floors included as well as an NOS driver’s side door.” Oddly, there isn’t one photo of the driver’s side, other than this one showing the dented door.
The classic Citroën steering wheel is present as is the under-dash shifter which adds to the quirky factor. The front seat looks great but the photos are just as quirky as the car is, with different sizes and even different file formats. I’m scratching my head at this one, but at least it follows a theme of being unusual to the nth degree.
The engine looks like it’s missing parts and pieces, doesn’t it? I’m not quite sure what’s going on there but this should be Citroën’s famous 602cc two-cylinder boxer with around 30 hp. 0-60 will take half a minute so hopefully the next owner won’t be in a big hurry to get anywhere. They say that it has a new clutch and it runs well. I would want to seek out a nicer example but these cars don’t come up for sale often in the US. Have any of you owned or even seen a Citroën Ami Break?
Amis are super. Even the ones that aren’t Super.
I’d rather have 2CV or an Argentinian 3CV, cuz this car is Ugly.
My opinion is that the asked price is much too high.
I had a 1971 AMI8 in a much better condition and had to sell it, I could not get more than $ 2300 in France where parts are much easier and cheaper to find than in the US.
We have a 1965 Ami 6 and a 1967 Ami Break, both fabulous cars, extremely quirky and a blast to drive. The 6 is in very nice condtion, the Break is a bit rough, but still loads of fun!
Wish it was an Ami 6
Want one BAD to go with my 72 DS21 Safari wagon. Citroen owners are unique folk..Great cars and a lot of fun !!
30 years ago, in France, they were worth a beer. Engine looks rather complete.
Looks like the engine over heated and melted the hood and header panel.
Anyone notice the hole in the photo of the front it almost looks like where a crank goes like in them there olding days?
That’s what it is.
@Guy W.: Yes, the hole is for an engine crank. Most all Citroen 2CV based derivatives are able to be started with a hand crank.
I’ve owned 2CVs, Dyanes and an AMI 8 break. Great fun to drive in Europe but not sure about the US tho.
I’ve seen this car and it’s definitely “rat-look.” My recollection is that it’s pretty solid mechanically though. Asking prices for all Citroens except the DS and SM seem to be much higher in the US than elsewhere, so this isn’t out of the ordinary. Whether or not it’s worth it depends on your taste for quirkiness.
The French make great wine, beautiful women, and fine art. Automotive engineering and fighting, not so much. Their cars are just so damn hard to look at. C’est la vie.
@Vance: Respectfully, I disagree. I own several French cars including Citroens, Renaults, Panhards and many others, and I love their unconventional design and technology.
I also find that typically, those who are critical of their design, either asthetically or mechanically, have never actually taken the time to learn about that design, or to seek to experience that design. If you took the time to carefully inspect any French car in detail, or to actually ride in and drive a proper French car for any length of time, you would learn that they really are quite remarkable.
Yes, they are unconventional, but really quite incredible. You may think that this looks like a POS to your limited senses, but imagine how breathtaking a Chevrolet Nova must have appeared to someone from Paris in the 1970s!
If we try to be a little more open minded, we might learn or appreciate ideas that are differenct from our own preconceived notions of what automotive art should look like.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Chas
Chuck, I totally forgot that I have owned a French automobile, it was a Renault Encore. And it really was not a bad car except my throttle would freeze wide open until the engine got warm. WD40 would work for a short time then it would return. My mind is quite open and it’s even educated, it’s my eyes that have the problem. To each his own mon frere.
French car? R5 Turbo. Apline. 205 GTi. Maybe. The rest? No. Never. Unless you paid me
I have a French engine in my Spec Racer and I am impressed. An R5 Turbo? Yes! an Alpine 205 GTI? Yes! Grew up with 2 Dauphines and a 4CV. NO THANKS! I had an employee that had a DS21 and a DS19 and a 2CV. NO THANKS!
There are many British cars and German cars and Japanese cars that I have owned and many others that I would love to own. But not many French cars.
A Peugeot 205 T16 Rally car would be a huge exception!
Toevallig hier terecht gekomen. Maar, mijn God, de meeste opmerkingen zijn tenenkrommend kortzichtig. Nooit nagedacht hoe vooruitstrevend Citroën was? De 11cv en 15cv (Traction Avant), 2cv, DS/ID en zelfs de SM waren baanbrekend. Terwijl Amerikanen motoren van duizenden cc’s maakten met maar een paar pk terwijl ze tientallen liters nodig zijn om 100km af te leggen. En maar krampachtig aan achterwielaandrijving, bladveren en allerlei ouderwetse domme dingen vasthouden. Rare regels bedenken om maar import tegen te houden, gelukkig waren er de Japaners die hebben de Amerikaanse rommel tenminste opgeruimd. Gelukkig zijn de Amerikaanse auto’s niet zo schreeuwerig groot meer, alleen nog steeds verschrikkelijk lelijk. Groeten van een Franse autoliefhebber uit het prachtige historische Europa.
Came here by chance. But, my God, most of the comments are cringe-inducing. Never thought how progressive Citroën was? The 11cv and 15cv (Traction Avant), 2cv, DS/ID and even the SM were groundbreaking. While Americans made engines of thousands of cc’s with only a few horsepower, while they need tens of liters to cover 100 km. And just clinging to rear-wheel drive, leaf springs and all kinds of old-fashioned stupid things. Inventing strange rules to stop imports, luckily there were the Japanese who at least cleaned up the American mess. Fortunately, the American cars are not so screamingly big anymore, just still terribly ugly. Greetings from a French car enthusiast from beautiful historic Europe.