Sacré Bleu! My Love Affair with the Citroen Ami Just Got Complicated
Image Credit: Caselani.
Bonjour, mes amis! And mon Dieu, have I got a story for you! I've always had a soupçon of affection for the Citroen Ami. It's quirky, it's cute, it's basically the automotive equivalent of a beret – utterly French and unapologetically itself. But now, an Italian company has gone and done something that's made my heart flutter and my wallet weep - all at the same time. They've created the Type-Ami, and it's like they've plucked a vintage dream from my subconscious and plopped it onto four tiny wheels.
Imagine, if you will, the classic Citroën HY van – that corrugated iron icon of post-war France, the vehicle of choice for bakers, butchers, and probably a few Resistance fighters. Now, shrink it down, give it a battery-powered heart, and dress it up in a miniature version of that iconic body. That, my friends, is the Type-Ami. It's a toy car come to life, and one that you can actually drive. Well, sort of.
Image Credit: Caselani.
This magnifique creation is the brainchild of Italian coachbuilder Caselani, the same folks who've been busy giving modern Citroens a retro makeover. David Obendorfer, the design genius behind this madness, has a real knack for blending old-school charm with new-age technology. He's the same guy who brought us the Type H and Fourgonnette van conversions, and now he's worked his magic on the Ami. It's a bit like a time machine on wheels, whisking you back to a simpler era, where the pace of life was a little slower, and the baguettes were a little longer.
The transformation is achieved with a set of fiberglass panels that cleverly mimic the corrugated metal of the original Type H. Sure, it is a bit of a costume party for cars. But instead of dressing up as a superhero, the Ami is channeling its inner vintage van. And you can choose from nine standard colors, or, if you're feeling particularly avant-garde, Caselani will even match your favorite shade of lipstick. Right, that's me sold.
Image Credit: Caselani.
Underneath all that retro styling, the Type-Ami is still very much an Ami. It has the same 8-horsepower electric motor and 5.5-kWh battery. An entire stable of 8 horsepower… That's not a typo. It's enough to get you to a top speed of 28 mph, which is probably faster than you'd want to go in something that looks like it belongs in a museum. At least you'll be the most stylish snail on the road.
And now, the moment of truth – the price. The Type-Ami starts at €13,000, which is roughly $13,400 in American dollars. If you're lucky and already own an Ami and just want the conversion kit, that'll cost about $5,200. Ouch. That's a serious price to pay for a bit of nostalgia that's essentially a glorified golf cart. It feels no different from buying a vintage handbag – it looks fabulous, but it costs more than your rent.
Image Credit: Caselani.
There you have it, mes chéris. The Type-Ami – a delightful blend of retro charm and modern technology. It's everything I love about the Ami, but with a healthy dose of vintage flair. But that price tag? It's enough to make me say "Ooh la la!" Still, I can't help but dream of zipping around town in this little beauty, baguette in hand, and a mischievous grin on my face. Who needs horsepower when you have this much style?
