France's Citroen DS.

I was pleased to get this Citroen DS press photograph in with a bunch I bought recently, as I've not got much French motoring info on the site as yet. The photograph shows a DS trimmed to Pallas specification, according to the blurb on the back of the picture.

Back to Car & Van Photographs - Page 3.

The brief note glued to the back says .. "This photograph shows the Pallas exterior finish available on either the DS 21 - 2175cc engine or the DS 19 - 1985cc engine."

I'm taking a guess at early 1960s with this picture, later DS Citroens would have their headlamps enclosed behind clear covers, the lamps steering in line with the front steering angle as corners were taken.

In those days the French could produce some seriously distinctive motorcars - witness not just the DS and ID ranges from Citroen, but also the quirky 2CV and Dyane models, and the slightly weird looking Ami 8 saloon and estate cars. Peugeot were more conventional, with cars such as the 403 and Farina-penned 404s leaving their factory gates. Renault took the fight to Citroen in the small-car market with their R4, a car that sold in large numbers but are seen rarely today, especially in the UK, despite these small cars being made into the 1980s.

The DS was first put up for sale in 1955, lasting for a total of twenty years in the Citroen catalogue, undergoing numerous detail revisions over this time. In addition to the four door saloon, there was also an enormous Safari estate car, and the limited production convertible by French coachbuilder Chapron, called the 'Decapotable' naturally. The styling was like nothing else in the 1950s, being highly futuristic with attention being paid to its aerodynamic properties. Its party trick was the ability to raise and lower the ride height from the driver's seat, thanks to its innovative hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension.

The first 'DS' cars were known as the DS19, with a less-complex and cheaper version being introduced later, known as the ID19. The 'Safari' estate was introduced in 1958, known in France as the ID Break. Later cars, badged as the DS21 and DS23 would have headlamps fitted behind clear covers, with the beam direction depending on the angle of the steered wheels.

Interest in the DS has not dimmed despite the last cars being built over 30 years ago, companies such as DS World will happily sell you a ready-to-run DS if you desire this car, and sites such as eBay are often packed with DS cars and parts, should you need them. You can also advertise Cit spares for sale, or wanted, on the oldclassiccar Citroen parts noticeboard.

Custom Search

Website design by ableweb
Disclaimer & Privacy Policy