BEHIND THE GARAGE DOOR

AN INSPIRED MODEL NAME, WHICH MEANS ‘GODDESS’

Here’s a peek behind the garage door of someone doing the work at home. Conrad Peterson and son Matthew started with a 1971 Citroën DS Special that Conrad found online back in 2011. He describes the condition then as “very rough”. Work started by taking it all back to bare metal, steel, and aluminium — and fibreglass,

for the roof. All the stainless-steel parts were cleaned and polished.

The hull was in reasonable condition, although some minor rust repairs were necessary. Nine square metres of Mongoose Q mat was used inside to better insulate for heat and sound. The interior was completely redone, and this included repainting the head lining.

On the mechanical side, so much has been done: steering, brakes, the famous LHM fluid changed; even an uprated Pallas motor and five-speed gearbox have been fitted. Some salvageable items from the Pallas were included — turning headlights and bonnet pulls, as well as some of the stainless-steel trim.

According to Con, parts haven’t been

too hard to find. Dave Jones from

Auto France provided advice and parts, Ellis Collision Repair of Paraparaumu the panel and paint, Blair’s Electrical some of the electrics, and Lyn Shailer from Suite Doctors the trim and carpets.

Con’s advice for anyone contemplating a similar job: “be prepared to do the same operation three or four times — and patience, patience, patience, patience, patience, patience, patience, patience, patience, patience. Cleanliness is also a must!”