The Citroën DS Turns 70: A Look Back at a Revolutionary Car

Throughout automotive history, numerous models have left an indelible mark on the general public. It’s the case with the Citroën DS (1955-1975), whose unveiling takes us back 70 years.

The Citroën DS was produced from 1955 to 1975
The car is famous for having saved General de Gaulle’s life
In 20 years, around 1.5 million units were sold

When people still talk about a car that’s been gone for 50 years, it means it had something exceptional. In fact, Citroën still uses the DS name because it continues to resonate with the public.

But what about this Déesse, which shook up the industry on October 6, 1955, when it captivated everyone who saw it at the Paris Auto Show?

It comes down to a multitude of factors, as you’ll soon discover.

Unique Styling

The first thing that strikes everyone about this car is, of course, its design. Its creator, Flaminio Bertoni, literally signed a masterpiece. This Italian stylist and sculptor was a significant figure in Citroën‘s history. He had designed the Traction Avant, 2CV, Type H, and would create the Ami in the early 1960s.

As for the DS, nobody had ever laid eyes on a car with such an aerodynamic style and such unique lines. More than seven decades later, we remain in awe at the sight of this vehicle.

You don’t look at a Citroën DS; you contemplate it.

In fact, at its unveiling, the crowds gathered to see what seemed to come straight from the future. The brand’s representatives were overwhelmed with questions. In just 45 minutes, customers had placed 749 orders for a car that had been presented only moments before.

By night, the count had reached 12,000. After one week, Citroën had received 80,000 confirmations.

Such an impact was unprecedented.

Aesthetically, note that the model’s lines remained essentially unchanged for 20 years. The main evolution would come in 1968 with the adoption of headlights hidden under glass panels that were flush with the bodywork.

And because Citroën always did things differently, the inner headlights pivoted with the steering wheel (with a mechanical link) to illuminate the road in corners. It was a first at the time.

A Difficult Start

Despite the enthusiasm, the model’s beginnings were difficult. Citroën was going through a difficult period at that time, and its flagship model, the Traction Avant, had been on the market for 21 years.

At the Paris Auto Show, the company needed to make a blast to restore its reputation.

The problem was that the DS featured a host of innovations that weren’t all ready, especially for mass production. Consequently, the first examples were plagued with numerous reliability problems, particularly with the hydropneumatic suspension, which was revolutionary for its time. The brand’s dealers lacked all the necessary repair manuals to perform tasks. This left some customers very frustrated.

It could have had a devastating impact on the model’s future, but fortunately, Citroën made adjustments quickly. By the end of 1956, and certainly by 1957, the engineers had largely corrected the missteps of the early editions. And incredibly, in 1962, a political event would boost the model’s popularity.

The Petit-Clamart Assassination Attempt

The Petit-Clamart assassination attempt occurred on August 22, 1962. It was an attempt on the life of General Charles de Gaulle, who was then President of the French Republic.

It was organized by the OAS (Organisation Armée Secrète), which opposed the policy of Algerian independence. They wanted to eliminate the leader whom they considered a traitor to the cause of French Algeria.

Charles de Gaulle and a presidential Citroën DS19

In any case, as the presidential DS was driving on the Petit-Clamart road near Paris, hidden gunmen opened fire on the car, puncturing two tires. The DS driver then pressed the accelerator, and thanks to its stability, the vehicle managed to escape the danger zone, saving the lives of the President and his wife in the process.

General de Gaulle’s image would emerge strengthened, as would the DS’s. The car achieved legendary status, representing a symbol of survival and proof of the great French engineering.

Twenty Years Ahead of Its Time

When the car was withdrawn from circulation in 1975, the DS was still superior to brand-new models. It’s therefore fair to say that it was at least twenty years ahead of its time.

And what made this car so exceptional, besides its design?

There was, of course, its independent hydropneumatic suspension, which allowed it to float smoothly on the road. In fact, it was possible to raise the DS to cross obstacles. When parked, it practically slumped against the ground. It also featured front disc brakes with dual circuits (drums at the rear), as well as high-pressure hydraulic assistance for the braking system and the rack-and-pinion steering. Its body panels were removable, which facilitated repairs. The rear panel, for example, was held in place with one bolt, and the wrench used to remove it was the same one required for the wheels.

Finally, its front-wheel-drive configuration and the fact that the front track was wider than the rear track made its handling exceptional for its era. The car was even fitted with radial tires, far from the norm back then.

DS19, DS21, DS23

Over the course of 20 years, there were three main versions of the DS: the 19, 21, and 23. The meaning was straightforward; it referred to the 4-cylinder engines of 1.9, 2.1, and 2.3 liters.

Initially, the DS19 offered about 75 horsepower and 97 lb-ft of torque. In 1961, the addition of a dual-barrel carburetor increased performance to approximately 95 horsepower. In 1965, the DS21 debuted, offering around 125 horsepower with the same torque. Finally, in 1972, the DS23 was launched, featuring a power increase to approximately 141 horsepower and a maximum torque of 148 lb-ft.

We must be cautious with the numbers, as there are many sources and variations, not to mention the changes made to the car over the years, such as the introduction of fuel injection.

Nevertheless, as you can see, we weren’t talking about a rocket, far from it. However, its excellent stability made it easy to reach a speed of 180 km/h.

Henri Chapron and the Convertibles

Officially, Citroën didn’t offer its DS in a convertible version. However, it partnered with coachbuilder Henri Chapron for the conversion of models into cabriolets. Specifically,

Citroën sent Chapron a platform and reinforced structure derived from the station wagon variant, which was stronger.

In total, Chapron built 1,365 examples over the course of twenty years, models that the company identified as factory cabriolets. The distinction is vital because Henri Chapron allegedly built 300 other models not recognized by Citroën.

Pallas

Besides the Citroën Chapron models, another prestigious model marked this car’s history, such as the Pallas versions, introduced in 1964 with the DS19. The name referred to Greek mythology and particularly to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. It was a more luxurious model featuring fancier carpets, an abundance of chrome, and enhanced soundproofing, among other things.

These variants are highly sought after by collectors, especially those from the 23 series.

Over the course of 20 years, Citroën sold approximately 1.5 million DS.

Conclusion

We could We could go on at length about the rich history of the DS, to mention, for example, that a more affordable version had been offered (the ID19), or that variants of the model served police forces, emergency services, and, of course, the presidential office, with reinforced and armored units after the Petit-Clamart assassination attempt.