Highlights

Superb period colours with yellow offset with smart silver roof
115bhp 2.4-litre petrol engine works well
Semi-automatic 4-speed gearbox
Bodywork in great condition for year
Very rare car in RHD with only six recorded on UK roads in Q1 2024
Hydraulic suspension gives a velvety smooth ride quality to shame many modern cars
Height can be raised or lowered

The Appeal

It’s incredible to think that the Citroen DS is now 69 years old, having first been unveiled at the Paris motorshow in 1955. It still looks like it was beamed down from another planet today and it must have seemed incredibly futuristic back in the Fifties.

The Pallas model – named after the Greek goddess Pallas Athena - arrived in 1964 and aimed to take the brand further upmarket and a more refined 2347cc engine could be specified in 1966. The car dripped with innovative touches, such as the famous swivelling headlights that turned in synch with the steering for better night-time vision. These arrived in 1967.

Best of all was the hydraulic suspension, which is reputed to have saved President Charles de Gaulle’s life during an assassination attempt by Algerian separatists in 1962 when the car was able to escape in hail of bullets despite suffering several flat tyres. This prompted the president to decree that all high ranking ministers be wafted around in DS models and was popularised in Frederick Forsyth’s novel The Day of the Jackal which was subsequently made into a film starring Edward Fox.

This Goddess is one of the last ‘D’ models to be produced (the SM replaced it) and has aged gracefully. It received many favourable comments from passersbys during the photoshoot. One of whom pointed out that ‘it’s like something from the Jetsons’. We couldn’t have put it better!

The History and Paperwork

V5C present in current owner’s name
Owned since 14 March 2024
Tax and MoT exempt (last MoT 8 July 2021)
Registered as a historic vehicle
Photographic evidence of restoration work
Plenty of invoices detailing service and maintenance work
Previous MoTs and tax discs available

The Condition

Original black leather interior is incredibly soft and comfortable
Front seats show patina of age and a few minor cracks but present well
Front seats feature padded headrests with variable positions
Door cards are in good order and feature a cream ribbed upper section
Rear seats have a pleasing patina and have been equipped with lap belts
Carpets are all in good condition
Single spoke steering wheel gives a unique view of the dash and is in good condition
Semi-automatic 4-speed gearbox seems to work fine
Mushroom brake pedal gives a unique look to footwell!
Dash instruments all appear to work fine
Additional 12V socket and USB ports have been added to centre of dash
Rally plaques on inside of glovebox lid indicate previous classic car enthusiast owners

Inside the black leather seats are incredibly soft and comfortable and you can’t help but fall for the charms of the quirky cab. From the ‘mushroom’ brake pedal to the strange gearlever stalk that pokes out of the top of the steering wheel shroud it’s a quirky delight. The single-spoke steering wheel might flex a little but gives an unimpeded view of the all the gauges and dials. It’s a pleasant and unusual place to be.

The yellow bodywork (which gave the car its nickname of Daffodil) has clearly been treated to a restoration work previously but the work was clearly carried out to a high standard and the paintwork is smooth and glossy. There is lots of evidence of rustproofing around the vehicle, so clearly this was a priority of one of the previous owners.

The silver roof and detailing, together with the whitewall tyres and chrome hubcaps give the car a great period look and it really does make a cheerful change.

With futuristic spaceship-like good looks, incredibly comfortable leather seats and that supple suspension giving a fabulous ride quality this is still a perfectly practical classic that would be a real event to drive.

Bodywork looks to be in good order and paintwork presents well
Chrome and silvered brightwork all looks to be in good order
Silver roof is inset with a slide-back fabric sunroof that works fine
Front headlamps and indicator lenses all appear uncracked
Rear tail-light lenses appear to be in good order
Reversing lamps have been fitted to rear and appear slightly rusted at edge
Underside of car has been undersealed and appears in solid condition
Radar Dimax Classic whitewall tyres fitted to all wheels in size 215/70-R15 (dated 2023)
Spare wheel is a Michelin XAS in 180HH15 size and looks to be a vintage show one with lots of hairline cracking on sidewall

The Mechanics

Engine bay looks smart and all original
Had recent new suspension spheres this year
New tyres this year
Powered by a 115bhp 2.4-litre engine mated to a four-speed semi-automatic
Engine started up easily and idled quietly
Said to start, top and drive fine
It floated over speedbumps en route to the photoshoot location

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

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✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

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