Citroën DS

METAL GODDESS

There have been many articles in the best automotive magazines in the world, including New Zealand Classic Car (May 1997, issue 77), about the Citroën DS. Its name derived from Déesse (French for ‘goddess’), whose innovative design was styled by Italian sculptor Flaminio Bertoni and launched at the 1955 Paris Motor Show. During the first day of the show, 12,000 pre-orders would be taken for what was the most positively outrageous and inspiring innovation to hit the automotive industry in decades, if ever. It would not be until March 2016 that this record would be beaten, when the Tesla 3 received more pre-orders in one day: a staggering 180,000.

Not only did it not look like the more conventional straight lined designs of the age, it was designed with superior aerodynamics, body panels a mix of aluminium (bonnet), fibreglass (roof ), and steel, and fitted with stateof-the-art hydropneumatic suspension that meant it could travel quickly on poor road surfaces that were common in France at the time.

For the next twenty years, Citroën would make subtle improvements to the DS. These included modifications to the dashboard, enclosing the headlights, streamlining the door handles, increasing the engine size options, and the introduction of the DS Pallas – the Goddess of Goddesses. Despite these changes, the general shape and lines of this distinctive and beautiful French icon would remain the same until it was succeeded by the CX in 1975.

In all, production of the DS was just under 1.5 million. Most cars were manufactured in the Quai de Javal plant in Paris. Citroën was also assembling cars in Slough, England from 1926 up until 1966. The Citroën DS was also assembled in South Africa, Australia, Portugal, and Slovenia.

As the years rolled by and the start of the new millennium approached, some automotive magazines asked the obvious question: “What was the car of the century?”

Despite these changes, the general shape and lines of this distinctive and beautiful French icon would remain the same until it was succeeded by the CX in 1975

A Google search “what is the car of the century” landed on a Classic and Sports Car magazine article ranking the winner as the Model T, which seems fair enough due to the innovation of the continuous production line and a vehicle affordable for the masses. The second was the Mini, which continues to be manufactured today in a shape very similar to when it was introduced in 1959, even if the last original Mini rolled off the UK production line in 2000. Third was the Citroën DS, a very commendable placing.

In 2009, that magazine asked car designers another question, “What is the most beautiful car ever?” O n the panel were former Mclaren designer Gordon Murray; Ian Callum, famed for his Jaguar and Aston Martin designs; Leonardo Fioravanti of famous Italian design shop Pininfarina/ferrari; and Marcello Gandini of Bertone.

This time the DS was a clear winner. The Mini did not reach the top 10 and the Model T did not rate a mention.

Stuart was full of regret for selling his DS23, which his wife referred to as “The Mistress”