Citroen DS20 1971 Model
Citroen DS20 1971 Model
SOLD
The Citroën DS is remembered as one of the most influential cars ever to come out of Europe. It’s not the rarest or the most expensive Citroën ever built but it left an indelible mark on the automaker’s history.
Citroën chose to call its flagship sedan DS because the letters are pronounced “déesse” in French, a word that literally translates to goddess. The first pre-production cars were hand-built in utmost secrecy in the summer of 1955 and the car was unveiled the following October at the Paris Motor Show.
Citroën received 800 orders for the DS in the first hour of the show and a whopping 79,000 orders by the time the event closed its doors several days later. These figures are even more impressive considering the company was selling the DS and asking all buyers to leave an 80,000-franc deposit. Furthermore, customers were told they’d have to wait about a year and a half for their brand-new DS to arrive.
Early DS models were dubbed DS 19 because they were powered by a 1,911cc version of the Traction’s four-cylinder engine. In 1969, the base DS’ output was increased to 103 horsepower and 1985cm3, and it was rechristened DS 20,
When it was launched it was rightfully acclaimed as the most advanced car in the world and in many regards it still is. The hydro-pneumatic suspension was powered by an engine pump to an impressive 2,200 psi and this one system raised the car as high as 10 inches through a lever inside. It also changed gears as fast as a twin-clutch setup and had power steering and hydraulic disc brakes, which were so sensitive that the pedal was replaced by a small button on the floor.
If you had a flat tire, you merely raised the car, until you could put a block under the chassis and undo the single nut that held the wheel in place. The secret of the suspension was the nitrogen spheres, which were interconnected by the hydraulic system to function as springs. Along with the car’s armchair seats, they provided the best ride in the world, so much so that Rolls-Royce used the system years later.
The northern French “pave” roads of big granite slabs were notoriously unforgiving, and this car was designed with those avenues in mind. The DS was effective enough to win the Monte Carlo Rally and the East African Safari Rally, which hardly had any roads at all.
Production ended in September of 1975, nineteen years and eleven months after the car was presented to the show-going public in Paris. Most of the 1.3 million D-Series sold were assembled in France but some were built in England, in Belgium, in Portugal, in Spain, in South Africa, and even in Australia from complete knock-down (CKD) kits.
A comprehensive restoration was done about 10 years ago. It's like it just left the factory, and it drives exactly as one may expect. The matching nrs engine and gearbox are completely overhauled, driving this DS is a revelation: it floats over good and bad roads without any drama, and the seats are as comfortable as an Eames lounge chair. As the DS is a real design icon, it looks even more fantastic in today’s traffic then it did in the sixties. Inside, every single button feels like it is just manufactured, and even the period radio is intact.
The vehicle has been owned by a true Citreon Collector and enthusiast and I challenge anyone to test his knowledge.
Retaining a delightful patina of originality, it starts well, runs as it should and is a joy to drive, bringing a smile to the faces of both occupants and onlookers wherever it goes.
Model 1971
Transmission type: Manual
Vehicle colour: Off White
Mileage: N/A
Interior colour: Brown
Number of doors: Four Doors
Convertible: No
Driver side: Right Hand Side
Fuel: Petrol
Motor size (CC): 1985cc
Owner's Manual: No
Service History: Restoration History
SOLD