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AMI6
[1964]
Early 1996, together with parter in crime Gijs, I picked
up this car in France. We spent a week driving through
France looking for either a DS or an Ami. We found both.
Gijs invested in his first DS, I in this Ami. At the
time 4500 FF. Driving home was an adventure. amongst
others I came to understand the limitation of a 20 liter
tank, I discovered Paris the hard way by getting stuck
in the Friday afternoon rush hour, I had to fight off
drugs runners (any driver of a French car driving in
the direction of Rotterdam is a junky, right?), and had
to convince both Dutch and French policeman (basically
a crash course French) that what I was doing was perfectly
legal (mostly, I was convincing myself). |
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Anyhow, I made
it home. My - then - future wife and myself spent the next few
months fixing it up and getting it through the required
controls until in November we used it to start our married
life together.
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At the moment it is standing somewhere in Holland, all
perfect and in driving state in a garage, waiting to
be used again. I should import it into Switzerland.
But this will take some time, so maybe I should sell
it, as Citroens are build to be driven, but then again,
driving it is so incredible enjoyable so I probably
postpone the decision and spend some more time contemplating
options. |
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2CV
[1985]
For my daily trip to the train station we bought an more
or less decent 2cv. Probably tree considerations played
a part in the decision. First, because it is incredible
to drive them. The climate around here being subtropical, the roof
top is open starting from March until early October.
Second, because it was easier to simply buy an 2cv than
it was to import the Ami (which would be even nicer, but then I am lazy). Third, to get parts for the Ami around here is difficult. Being from 1964 it has a less than
common engine, which is OK to drive in Holland where
the local group of enthusiastics ensure all parts are available,
but less than OK in Switzerland where finding parts is virtually impossible. Last time I had the Ami here my family
basically served as parts suppliers. Ever seen someone
with an 2 meter exhaust pipe on the train? |
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| Importing the Ami, still on my wish list, would
include upgrading it to
'current' standards. Now, one year
later, the 2cv still is to good to be taken apart, and
we do not yet have the physical space nor the time to
justify importing the Ami. Contemplating, contemplating....
:-) |
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