Citroën Ami 6 and Ami 8 Ignition Switch
The development of the ignition lock on the Citroën Ami 6 and Ami 8 followed the general trend in the French automotive industry at the time: moving away from simple switches toward integrated security and steering locks.
Citroën Ami 6 Ignition Switch (1961–1969)
In the early stages, the ignition system of the Ami 6 was kept quite simple and was heavily based on the contemporary Citroën 2CV.
- Ignition and light switch: The Ami 6 still had ignition switches that primarily controlled the electrical circuit. The starting process was activated via a separate pull or push button, not directly via the key.
- Conversion from 6-volt to 12-volt: A major technical milestone occurred in May 1966, when the Ami 6 was converted from a 6-volt to a 12-volt electrical system. This also required modified ignition switches and switch contacts.
- No integrated steering wheel lock as standard: In the early 1960s, a mechanical steering wheel lock (Neiman) was not yet standard equipment on the Ami 6 in every market, but was often available as an accessory or only found in later export models.
Citroën Ami 8 Ignition Switch (1969–1979)
With the Ami 8, the technology became significantly more modern and more closely aligned with the European standard of the time.
- Combined ignition-start-steering lock: From the outset, the Ami 8 featured a modern system in which the ignition lock was located directly on the steering column. It served three functions: steering wheel lock, turning on the ignition, and starting the engine.