As French icons go, the DS is up there with the Citroën 2CV, albeit at the furthest extreme of Citroën ownership. The space-age saloon was aerodynamic, futuristic and wonderful to drive when new, remaining so even today.
Unsurprisingly, it’s also a massive hit with collectors as a result and a good DS is a hugely desirable car. This one is a top-spec model – a Pallas – from the latter end of DS production, which means a stronger engine and a more upmarket interior than on early cars.
Fitted with the 2.3-litre EFi fuel-injected engine, it’s a truly wonderful car that has been a part of the vendor’s life for the past 25 years, driven home by him from the South of France in 1998 and kept in his ownership ever since, serviced annual by a DS specialist and repaired and maintained as required. It’s a lovely thing.y2VrBcwtzBRF2yRGyplaTT05FTm8A2WWTTZt4kkY.jpg956.36 KB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
UK V5C showing one keeper – the two previous were a pig farmer in the Dordogne and a private keeper in the same region of France thereafter
MOT valid until November 2023, but also tax, MOT and ULEZ exempt
Extensive bodywork repairs carried out including a ffull respray which doesn't include bonnet and roof in 2012
Massive lever-arch file of receipts and repair invoices
Fully documented record of all work carried out (and cost) over past 25 years, totalling over £21,000
Owned, cherished and shown by Citroën Car Club member
Magazine featured, with relevant 2011 copy of Classic & Sports Car included
The DS is fantastic inside, its spectacularly stylish dashboard, single-spoke steering wheel and column-mounted gear shift dominating the interior appearance.
The seats, carpets, roof lining and door trims are in terrific order, while the striking red velour trim is wonderfully preserved with only the gentlest of patinas – it’s clear that this car has been well-loved.
While in superb overall condition, the vendor declares that the fuel gauge is non-operational and that the rev counter doesn’t always work. Everything else works as intended. 5ahR9tSi0LNqejNhcBrRJ7VtsUJCf3BAyuuwZy0W.jpg675.14 KB
THE EXTERIOR
New door bottoms, structural work and part respray in 2012
Repainted in original colour - Blanc Meije
Recent welding to jacking point and sill to ensure structural correcteness
Original chrome, trim and badges
Finished in its original shade of pure white, the DS is in one of the best colours for the model and looks absolutely terrific on its original wheel trims, with the later headlamp fairings giving it an even more futuristic look than earlier DSs.
The chrome and exterior are original and in good order, with all the correct badges, lamp lenses and trim.
The bodywork is in great overall condition with a couple of minor imperfection, notably some very minor rust bubbling on one front wing. There are no dents or damage and the paint finish is good overall, while the underside has seen some recent repairs to keep it in tip-top order. A respray was carried out in 2012 minus the bonnet and roof, along with localised repairs to the door bottoms, at a cost of over £3,000 and it still looks magnificent today. RC1zQK2SfJ2kytf8G9fKt1FFDU8wvXY5JlSPnpOZ.jpg685.37 KB
THE MECHANICS
Genuine low mileage
Maintained by DS specialist over past 25 years
Column-change manual transmission
Drives very well with no known faults, and recently serviced
Stainless steel exhaust system
During his quarter of a century of ownership, the vendor has entrusted all maintenance of the DS to the DS Workshop in Hertfordshire, who have carried out any repairs and preventative maintenance as required. As a result, the Citroën is in fine mechanical order, both in terms of the engine and transmission and moreover its hydraulic system, which works as it ought to with no leaks.
The hydropneumatics suspension goes up and down as it should and the vendor describes it as a great car to drive, with a surprising turn of pace thanks to the 2.3-litre fuel-injected engine. He has toured with car extensively, including several trips back to France.
The vendor reports that the car has a slight electrical drain that nobody has ever been able to diagnose, so it is fitted with a battery isolator to avoid any non-start issues.lokXBfu3XS7dmsPPTEA5EAQPDGrblq1KubM6Qgpo.jpg762.88 KB
SUMMARY
If you’re in the market for a DS that you can simply jump in and enjoy, then here’s an example that entirely fits that bill – it’s a lovely example in very good overall condition, being sold by a Citroën collector who has cherished it for the past 25 years and has never skimped on maintenance – it’s had everything it has ever needed. It’s not perfect, but it wouldn’t take a huge amount of investment to take it to the next level, while the upmarket Pallas specification and red velour interior makes it even more appealing.
Notice to bidders
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