Citroën had its own production plant
in England in Slough. The British didn't like the 2CV, which was sold in
the early fifties. So they developed a new car as a shopping car, for the
British taste, on base of the 2CV.
Motor Show 1959
At the London Motor Show in 1959 the Bijou
(model 1960) was presented to the public.
Bijou
The front of the production model of this
polyester car on 2CV base was different then from the model showed at the
Motor Show.
The Bijou has many parts from 2CV and
DS! The front window is the back window of the DS break ("Safari").
The Bijou never became a succes because
the price was too high in comparison with other cars. After 4 years Citroën
Slough stopped the production after only 213 Bijoux.
Bijou in color
Jeroen Cats made these pictures on the
1996 Techno Classica in Essen, Germany.
This Bijou has a Dutch owner (one of the
5 Bijoux in Holland). The engine and gearbox weren't original any more.
There are cracks in the glassfiber coachwork.
Take also a look under the bonnet (hood)
where you can see the 425 cc. engine.
