Spring 1961, Neuilly-sur-Seine. In the offices of Citroën, Pierre Bercot, the CEO of the chevron brand, stares perplexedly at a gesso model placed in front of him. The object he discovers will revolutionize the French automobile industry , but also provoke one of the most enduring aesthetic controversies in automotive history. This impossible silhouette, this "Z" line that defies all conventions... it is the work of an Italian genius named Flaminio Bertoni.

And I have to admit that the first time I saw an Ami 6, I was a kid and I thought it was... weird. Really weird. That upside-down rear window, it looked like someone had put the car upside down!

{slides}

But this apparent oddity actually hid an extraordinary technical challenge . Flaminio Bertoni had just solved the impossible equation that Bercot had set him: to create a real, spacious 4-door saloon with a decent trunk, all on the cramped chassis of the 2CV. In other words, mission impossible.

And yet, the Italian genius had found THE solution. By reversing this famous rear window, he gained space everywhere: more volume in the passenger compartment, a finally usable trunk, and even unexpected practical advantages . This inverted window always remained clean in the rain, and maneuvers in rotten weather became child's play.

The man behind the revolution: Flaminio Bertoni

Flaminio Bertoni, born in 1903 in Italy, is quite simply one of the most visionary designers in automotive history . When he arrived at Citroën in the 1930s, no one imagined that he would revolutionize car design. This guy is the one who designed the Traction Avant, the 2CV, the DS... and now the Ami 6.

But with the Ami 6, Bertoni pushes the envelope even further. He knows full well that his design will shock, divide, and get people talking. And I think, deep down, he finds it amusing. Because behind this revolutionary design, there's an implacable logic.

Bercot's brief was clear: he wanted a mid-size car , something between the rustic 2CV and the luxurious DS. A car for families who wanted a little more comfort than the Deuche, but couldn't afford a DS. The problem? Citroën was on a tight budget and wanted to reuse the 2CV platform.

So Bertoni rolled up his sleeves. He took his pencil, his clay models, and began to think. How could he comfortably accommodate four passengers on a 2CV chassis? How could he create a real trunk? And then came the genius idea: the "Z" line .

The revolutionary technical challenge

I don't know if you realize the technical feat. In 1961, no one, absolutely no one, had imagined a body like this. This inverted rear window was unprecedented. And it wasn't just for show—although, beauty is subjective with the Ami 6!

No, this solution allowed us to save space everywhere . The cabin was spacious, the trunk was finally usable, and the icing on the cake was that Citroën could keep the proven mechanics of the 2CV while offering real comfort.

Because yes, the Ami 6 was also that: the soft seats of the DS, the iconic single-spoke steering wheel, a neat finish . It was a far cry from the Spartan 2CV. Bercot wanted to attract a more bourgeois clientele, and it had to be seen.

April 1961: mixed public reception

When the Ami 6 arrived in dealerships in April 1961, it was a shock . People stopped, stared, and scratched their heads. This car was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. With its "Z" shape, its upside-down rear window, and its angular shapes, it was completely disconcerting.

The automotive press isn't quite sure what to make of it. Some are calling it genius, others are calling it odd. And the general public? Well, the general public remains perplexed . Is this car beautiful or ugly? It's impossible to decide.

I remember the heated discussions in cafes. There were those who loved this revolutionary design, and those who thought it was a complete failure. There was no middle ground with the Ami 6; you either loved it or you hated it.

And sales, at first? Well, it's not crazy. The French, accustomed to more classic lines, are hesitant. This Ami 6 is as scary as it is fascinating . Citroën is starting to wonder if Bertoni hasn't dreamed too big this time.

The "For you, Madam" marketing strategy

Faced with this mixed reception, Citroën decided to play it smart. The brand specifically targeted modern women of the 1960s . The slogan? "For you, Madam." The idea was to present the Ami 6 as the perfect car for these ladies who wanted more refinement than the 2CV.

And it works pretty well! The Ami 6 appeals to this female clientele who appreciate comfort, ease of driving, and even this original design that stands out from the crowd. Besides, do you know who drove an Ami 6? Yvonne de Gaulle , the General's wife! When the First Lady of France chooses your car, it's because you've hit the nail on the head.

But the real turning point will come from where we didn't expect it...

1964: the unexpected triumph of the station wagon

Three years after the launch of the sedan, Citroën released the estate version of the Ami 6. And it was a hit . No one really saw this estate coming, especially not Pierre Bercot, who hated estates, which he considered to be utility vehicles.

But the numbers speak for themselves: in 1966, the Ami 6 station wagon became the best-selling car in France ! More popular than the sedan, more popular than many of its competitors. This was unprecedented in the French automotive industry.

I find it fascinating. This estate body, with its "Z" line, works even better than on the sedan. The loading volume is enormous, the practicality exceptional , and finally, this inverted rear window makes perfect sense on an estate.

Bercot, who had been reluctant to approve this project, must swallow his pride. His "utility" estate car is saving sales of the entire Ami range. Sometimes you have to admit your mistakes!

And then came 1964, a dramatic year for Citroën: Flaminio Bertoni died suddenly . The man who had revolutionized French automotive design left us at just 61 years old. For Citroën, it was the end of an era.

Bertoni's complex legacy

With Bertoni's passing, a question arises: what to do with the Ami 6? Can this unique design evolve without its creator? The answer will come from another design genius: Robert Opron.

The Citroën Ami 6 was more than just a popular car—it was a symbol of French automotive audacity. And it reminds me why I love collecting miniatures of these iconic cars.

That's why I created my shop BernardMiniatures.fr. I have more than 1500 miniatures in stock, mainly 1/43 scale, with a nice selection of Citroëns from this golden era - Ami 6, Ami 8, but also 2CV, DS, GS... all this fabulous period of the 60s-70s.

I'm not a big industrial site, so I often only have one or two pieces of each model, but that's also what makes it charming. Each miniature tells a story, like this Ami 6 that sits in my display case.

Delivery is free for orders over €75 in France, and I take great care to package everything well - these little wonders don't travel well if you're not careful.

Go take a look at bernardminiatures.fr if you feel like it, you will see that I have some nuggets that are really worth the detour.

But let's get back to our story, because what happens next will surprise you...

1969: Robert Opron and the rebirth with Ami 8

Five years after Bertoni's death, Citroën unveils the Ami 8. Robert Opron, the new master of design at Citroën , has a delicate mission: to evolve the work of his predecessor without betraying it.

And frankly, Opron pulls it off like a boss. It keeps everything that works: the body, the doors, the roof, the rear fenders . But it revolutionizes what was bothersome: gone is the inverted rear window, replaced by a more conventional fastback silhouette.

The Ami 8 is the perfect compromise. It retains the roominess and practicality of the Ami 6, but with a less divisive design . Opron understood that this famous "Z" line could put off some buyers. So he smoothed it out, softened it, modernized it.

And I have to say I find the exercise brilliant. Managing to evolve such a unique design without losing its soul is a great art. The Ami 8 retains that unique Citroën personality, but in a more consensual guise.

The mystery of the number "8"

But why "8"? At Citroën, traditionally, the number designated the engine capacity: 2CV, DS 19, DS 20, DS 21... But the Ami 8 keeps the same 602 cm³ engine as the Ami 6 ! So why this "8"?

No one has ever really been able to explain this choice. At the time, Citroën had the 850cc Panhard engine, which could have justified this name, but it was never fitted. The mystery remains , and that adds to the charm of this unusual car.

What is certain is that the Ami 8 is performing better commercially. The more classic lines appeal to a wider audience , and Citroën can finally exploit the full potential of this mid-size range.

1973: experimentation with the Super Friend

Citroën didn't stop there. In 1973, the brand launched the Ami Super, a supercharged version with the GS's 1015cc flat-four engine . This time, you could finally exceed 140 km/h!

The Ami Super is the technical culmination of the lineage. More power, more performance, but still with that remarkable spaciousness . On paper, it's perfect.

But in reality? Well, the Ami Super was going to be a flop. Too expensive in a too narrow range , it disappeared in 1976 after only 3 years of career and 42,000 copies. The public did not understand the point of paying more for an Ami when you could have a GS for the same price.

I think it's a shame. This Ami Super had everything going for it: the unique character of the Ami line with real performance . But the commercial positioning was a failure.

Citroën's only three-box saloon

Besides, guess what? The Ami 6 was the only three-box sedan in Citroën's history before the arrival of the C5 in the 2000s! Flaminio Bertoni had initially imagined a revolutionary hatchback, but Bercot had rejected it.

The result: this singularity is unique in the history of the chevron brand. For 40 years, no other Citroën would have this three-box configuration . This shows how special the Ami 6 really was in the range!

The lasting legacy of a controversial design

In 1978, production of the Ami ended for good. More than 1,840,000 units were produced over the entire career of the Ami 6 and 8. That's a huge number for a car with such a distinctive design!

And today, what remains of this adventure? Well, a sought-after collector's car, a design that continues to divide opinion, and above all, a unique legacy . The Ami 6/8 is proof that you can achieve commercial success with a revolutionary design.

I look back on that era with nostalgia. Manufacturers dared, experimented, and took risks . Today, cars all look the same. At the time of the Ami 6, each brand had its own personality, style, and boldness.

Flaminio Bertoni considered the Ami 6 to be his finest work . Not the DS, not the 2CV, but this small sedan with such a controversial design. And when you think about it, he may not have been wrong.

A design that still divides today

Even today, mention the Ami 6 at a car rally and you'll see: enthusiasts are immediately divided . There are those who find this line brilliant, revolutionary, and those who find it a failure, bizarre.

But deep down, perhaps that's Bertoni's genius: creating a car that leaves no one indifferent . In a world where the automobile is becoming increasingly uniform, this Ami 6 with its inverted rear window remains unique, inimitable.

And I must admit that, looking back, I find this design more and more brilliant. This "Z" line has character, personality . It tells a story, that of an era when manufacturers were not afraid to shock.

So the next time you come across an Ami 6 or an Ami 8, stop for a second. Look at that distinctive silhouette, think of Flaminio Bertoni, who dared to defy convention . And tell yourself that you are looking at one of the most daring cars in French automotive history.

Because in the end, that's perhaps the real success of the Ami 6: having left an eternal mark . Sixty years after its release, we're still talking about it. We're still debating it. It's still divisive. And frankly, how many cars can say that?