Slough 1959: At Citroën the 2CV was not selling at all well.
The 2CV was thought to be a bit too basic and a bit too weird for the average British motorist and it was decided to do something about it.
The proposed new car would sport a more conservatively styled body dropped onto the 2CV chassis and running gear. It would also have a more luxurious interior which was an ambition easily achieved given that the 2CV could only boast deck chairs.
The result was the Citroën Bijou:
Styled by accountant (and downhill skier) Peter Kirwan-Taylor, the achingly beautiful Bijou never quite achieved the bon mots that his first design did.
The previous effort was, of course, the Type 14 Lotus Elite:
Coupled with its Coventry Climax engine, the lightweight Elite went on to become an extremely successful competitor on the track and, in 1959, won its class at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The Bijou, however, proved to be too expensive, too heavy, too thirsty and too slow for the High Street, let alone the race track. Consequently Citroën only sold 207 and the wonder of it is that 207 such discriminating buyers existed.
Kirwan-Taylor, Pinner’s very own Pininfarina, was rightly proud of his achievement with the Lotus Elite. One wonders what interference he accommodated from Citroën to make the Bijou so very different. Today however, the Bijou is a much loved idiosyncrasy and welcome at all Citroën Car Club events.
