Citro\u00ebn is a marque with a quirky past and never afraid to push the boundaries. In addition to the kitcar industry having a fond relationship with the Citro\u00ebn 2CV underpinnings with many kitcars based on it they also had a factory in the UK, in Slough (1926-1965) where the 2CV was produced.<\/p>\n Other Citro\u00ebn models produced in Slough included:<\/p>\n Type A<\/p>\n Traction Avant<\/p>\n Light Twelve<\/p>\n Light Fifteen (SWB) or Big Fifteen (LWB)<\/p>\n Six Cylinder or Big Six<\/p>\n 2CV<\/p>\n 2CV Royal Navy pickup<\/p>\n DS<\/p>\n They also made the GRP-bodied English market Bijou model which was as close to a specialist car as any mainstream manufacturer has ever really got. It was designed by a famous designer associated with Lotus, the late Peter Kirwan-Taylor (often described as the Pinner Pininfarina!) the same man who had a hand in the MkVI and also styled the Elite\u2019s body in 1957.<\/p>\n Incidentally, the fibreglass bodies were initially produced by Whitson & Co, also located in Berkshire. Whitson\u2019s had previous within the specialist car industry as they\u2019d previously produced the bodies for Peerless Cars. They made about 100 Bijou bodies before the work was transferred to CF Taylor of Crawley, West Sussex.<\/p>\n Citro\u00ebn UK\u2019s bosses were the masterminds behind the Bijou as they felt that there was a disconnect between English buyers and the 2CV, which was thought to be a bit too wacky and quirky for UK tastes.<\/p>\n Cleverly though, the 2CV\u2019s mechanicals and floorpan were retained, as was the interconnected suspension that provided the fabled Citro\u00ebn Rolls-Royce-like ride quality. The Bijou was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show of 1954.<\/p>\n Although the shape was appealing and the use of existing parts bin components inspired, Citro\u00ebn didn\u2019t factor in the fact that the 425cc 12bhp engine from the 2CV was even slower in the Bijou as it weighed more than the 2CV! \u00a0There was definitely a bit of \u2018kitcar\u2019 about it and to these eyes I find the charming Bijou looking like it could have come from a kitcar operation like Fairthorpe.<\/p>\n The lack of performance and the \u00a3695 (about \u00a311,305, in today\u2019s money) price tag probably put people off. Plus, it\u2019s often forgotten that GRP can be pretty heavy add in the fact that the Bijou had a fully trimmed interior and 2CV, er, didn\u2019t its 605kg versus 2CV\u2019s 533kg put things into perspective.<\/p>\n Although top speed was slightly higher \u2013 50mph versus 47mph \u2013 acceleration was considerably reduced.<\/p>\n There are a few myths about the Bijou, including the untrue claim that the windscreen was actually the rear screen of the Safari.<\/p>\n By the time production ended in 1964, just 207 had been sold to UK buyers.<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.totalkitcar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Citroen_Bijou_1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>