BUYING WITH CONFIDENCE

CONCOURS £20k-100k+

1 BE PATIENT

Though many DSs have been cherished, true concours cars are very rare, and will usually be found in auctioneers’ catalogues.

2 ORIGINALITY

This is crucial to a top DS evaluation, and any restorative work needs to be top notch. Modifications are forbidden!

3 DIGGING DEEP

The best ID19s can fetch around £20,000, while the more powerful, better equipped DS21 and DS23s are typically £30,000 and more. Some have high-profile histories, which helps nudge values.

GOOD £10k-20k

1 GET THE SPEC RIGHT

Many DS fans are attracted by kooky engineering, so spec can polarise interest more than it does for more conventional classics. Don’t be too dazzled though…

2 ROUGH VS HONEST

A little dusty patina is no bad thing, but structural and mechanical integrity is key because repairs are intimidating and costly.

3 CHECK IT ALL WORKS

For the same reason, check that absolutely everything works, especially all the ride heights and fiddly gizmos, such as swivelling headlights (where fitted).

USEABLE £5k-10k

1 SOLID BUT KNACKERED? Imports from outside Europe by non-Citroën specialists are more likely to have had weak maintenance. Approach with caution.

2 GENUINELY USABLE?

Reliability isn’t impossible to achieve, but it does require an enthusiast’s dedication to detail. The simpler IDs are much easier to keep on the road.

3 FLUIDS

Check that previous owners knew the difference between red/ green, early/late hydraulic fluids. Getting them confused spells ruin.

PROJECT £2k-5k

1 FEASIBILITY

The hydropneumatic elements add major complexity. Some parts are rare, and special tools are needed. The DS is also quite big!

2 DO YOUR RESEARCH

To impress at shows, any restoration will need total authenticity to original spec, which is complicated by the big number of variants built.

3 STARTING POINT

Worthy projects are rare, especially in the UK. A rolling-resto of a working-but-shabby car might be a better option… not that there are many of these either!