VA VA VROOM!
Founded in 2014, the Citroën DS Club Hong Kong brings together 350 collecting members, who own a total of 200 vehicles. A living encyclopedia of the brand, Kelvin Iu, the club’s chairman, shares his passion with CDLP
Why such a passion for Citroën?
The first Citroën to catch my attention was the C4, in 2006 when I was just 11 years old. I thought it was so cool when the center part of the steering wheel stayed as you turned, which blew my mind. I learned that Citroën cars are all so unique, especially the classic ones, and I read about everything Citroën on the internet. I researched its history in Hong Kong and managed to find some old advertisements in newspapers, which amazed me — especially how early they were introduced to the Hong Kong market. I also watched tons of old Hong Kong movies, mostly from the ’50s to ’70s, just to find shots of Citroën in the city.
What’s the process of joining the club?
It’s not necessary to own a Citroën to join. As long as one is interested to learn about Citroën, all are welcome — and they can join our Facebook group hkdsclub to find out more.
What’s the brand’s history in Hong Kong and why are so few of them seen on our streets today?
Hong Kong’s first agent, Messrs. Bitto & Co Ltd, was established in 1922. Although Citroën was popular in the ’70s, it later became unpopular in Hong Kong due to a bad reputation for its complicated suspension system and its reliability. Because of Citroën’s uniqueness, mechanics in Hong Kong often refuse to repair them, as they require special skills and patience.
What car are you driving now? And what’s your dream Citroën?
I’m driving a 2014 DS3 Cabrio Racing. My dream Citroën is the Ami 6 from the ’60s. I like its quirky styling and it brings me so much joy just to look at it. I think the Ami 6 is a typical Citroën, as it’s a loveor-hate relationship. Some even say it’s the ugliest car in the world. But I think it would be a blast to drive, as it shares the 2CV platform.
What are the rarest, the oldest and the most recent Citroëns in the club?
The oldest and rarest classic Citroën is a 1967 DS21 Safari. There’s only one in Hong Kong and it was bought by our vice-president, Michaël Noronha, at an auction in the UK. The rarest modern Citroën is my 2014 DS3 Cabrio Racing. Only one in ten is right-hand drive, out of 100 in the world, and it’s also the only one in Hong Kong; I bought it from a Citroën dealer in Ireland. The most recent is a 2019 C3 Aircross.
2019 marked the marque’s 100th birthday. How did you celebrate?
We organized a trip to France and attended the Centenary Celebration Meeting in La Ferté-Vidame in a brand-new C5 Aircross we rented from Citroën. We visited André Citroën’s tomb and the old Javel factory. We were driven in a DS Cabriolet and toured around Paris at night. We visited a lot of Citroën-related locations and also drove a Traction Avant Familiale on a test circuit at Cité de l’Automobile in Mulhouse.
Any especially fond memories at La Ferté-Vidame?
We were overwhelmed by the sea of Citroëns, not to mention some of the rarest models, including a large number of DS Cabriolets and Chaprons, an SM Opéra and an official collection of concept cars. It was simply heaven for us. We also had the pleasure to meet Henri-Jacques Citroën, the grandson of André Citroën and Linda Jackson, at the time the marque’s CEO. We also met a lot of new friends from all over the world who share the same passion for Citroën.
This year, Citroën will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the GS and the SM. What do you think about these models?
I never get tired of the side profile of an SM. It’s so elegant and timeless, but it still looks so futuristic today. As for the G series, my favourite is the later GSA model, because it has the funkiest dashboard of all-time!
Are you going to organise any special events to celebrate these birthdays?
Unfortunately, I don’t believe there are any surviving GS in Hong Kong, but I managed to find some old adverts and photos to prove the existence of the GS here back in the mid-’70s. As far as I know, there’s at least one SM in Hong Kong, but it’s under restoration at the moment. We would like to display it as soon as possible, so stay tuned …