Dynamo blew up, clutch cable snapped, front brakes stick, exhaust replaced, front wheel.
I've had classic Citroens for years, but when a rare British built Bijou model came up I had to have it. It's such a comfortable car and with a higher MPG than the original 2cv, it's an amazing little thing with some great attributes.
You've got to see the car in the right way, otherwise it's just a terribly underpowered cramped piece of rubbish, if you take into consideration that cars like this were blown out the water by the Mini at the 1959 Earls Court Motor Show.
The motor's the same 425cc unit it was fitted with from new, and with it topping out at around the 50 mark, foot to the floor motoring is needed constantly to keep up with modern traffic. Hills can also cause a bit of a problem if I'm honest. Smokey start ups are a common occurrence on cold or rainy mornings, and if the heater and choke are on at the same time, toxic fumes are likely to enter the cabin.
Despite having a fibreglass body, it hasn't swapped the brightwork rusting in places. However, saying that, after over 40 years, the undercarriage is in good condition for its age.
Being a car with a non corrosive body, most owners seem to have kept it out on the street for most of its life, as the "Sherwood Green" paintwork is now faded to different shades in different areas. In my opinion though, this brings out a patina that looks good on this car, and I'm not too concerned with the paint at this time.
Having just spent a weekend tuning it up to some extent, the car is running excellently at present and despite being a rare and highly uncommon car, I plan to put the car into daily use from next week. 425cc and all!
LONG LIVE THE BIJOU!
Maybe you could respray it.
I've only ever seen ONE usable Citroen Bijou in my life... and that was parked (briefly) outside the Headmasters House of Dunhurst school, Petersfield, Hampshire, which I attended early 1960's. Quite unforgettable; even for a 9 year old!.
Last September (2008) I was gobsmacked to notice what appeared to be the body shell of a Bijou sitting on the driveway of a house located on Grove Road, Preston, Kent. I was to busy fruit picking at the time to enquire further but when I visited Preston again (mid February 2009) its position seemed to have been replaced with an Ami 6 or was it an Ami 8...?...
Quentin the Beeman on Nevis West Indies.
I have two of these cars, both roadworthy. One is sherwood green, now on a 2CV galvanised chassis with a 602cc engine. But left the bodyshell in its original condition as everybody said don't respray it. Pics can be seen if you do a google image search.
The other is daffodil yellow, which I've had for about 15 years. Still on its original chassis, but again with the 602cc engine, makes it more usable for thrashing around the lanes.
Always attracts interest at car shows, as only 213 built a large number have survived and are being rebuilt. With examples around the world.
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