The A
Series platform was used as the base for a whole
range of utility vehicles - the story of these is
included in the story of the 2CV
saloons.
The 2
CV AU Fourgonette made its debut in 1951. It
was originally intended to fit the van with a 425 cm3
engine but Citroën's management vetoed this because
it was felt that people would soup up the 2 CV
saloon. The AU was therefore equipped with the
375 cm3 engine but employed a different
final drive - 7 x 31 instead of 8 x 31. Tyres
were 135 x 400 Michelin Pilote instead of 125 x
400.
Top
speed was only 60 kph/27 mph but it had a 250 kg
payload and soon became the preferred transport of
most small entrepreneurs and artisans.
Mechanical
changes broadly reflected those of the saloons - the
425 cm3 engine being fitted in 1955 when
the model designation became AZU.
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| Above
AZU pickup prototype |
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| Above the Export version of
the 3CV AK can be identified by the rectangular
indicators in the front wings |
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Below
in 1974, both the AZU 250 and AK 400 acquired
the rectangular headlamps and plastic grille
fitted to the saloons but reverted to round
lights in 1976.
In 1972, the AZU 250 Fourgonette acquired the
24 bhp, 435 cm3 engine of the 2 CV
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AKS 400 pictured above also lacked the
rear side windows although these returned in
1974 below. |
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| Above
- a Belgian-built
AK 350 "Weekend"
trimmed to AZAM standards. |
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| Above
in 1961, the AZU acquired the new bonnet and
grille |
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| Left
and above in 1963, the AZU
received the 18 bhp engine fitted to the
saloons and the corrugations on the upper side
panels were removed to facilitate sign writing
and doors became front hinged. |
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| Left
and above a new model, the
AK 350 Fourgonette below - was
introduced, fitted with the 602 cm3
engine
of the Ami
6 and with a payload of 350 kg. |
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| Above
in 1970, the AKS 400 Fourgonette was
introduced - mechanically identical to the AK
350 but with a higher roofline and a 400 kg
payload. |
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| Above
- the Ami
6 Service van was introduced in 1965. |
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| Above - the Ami
8 Service van was introduced in 1969 and
replaced the Ami 6 Service |
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| Above - the Méhari
was also available in commercial guise from 1970 |
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Above
and left - the Acadiane
- the front end of a Dyane
grafted onto the rear of an AK 400...
The
Acadiane had a payload of 480 kg and remained
in production until 1987.Unlike
the
saloon which was equipped with sliding
windows, the Acadiane was fitted with wind
down windows and was only ever available with
the 602 cm3 engine. |
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