***Vendor supplied images***
Highlights
- One of three cars professionally converted by Oxford French Car Company
- Smart Gris Palladium car with black leather four seat ‘La Croisette’ layout
- Extensively used for long European trips and well known in Citroen circles
- Vast history file including recent engine rebuild plus brake and suspension work
- £22,000 invested in last 10 years including full body bare metal respray
- Voluntary MOT to April 2026 with no advisories
The Appeal
Henri Chapron was a visionary coachbuilder. He looked at Citroen’s evocative DS saloon and immediately saw its potential as a svelte convertible that wouldn’t look out of place parked outside a Cannes casino.
After displaying a concept at the Paris Show in 1958, he then worked with Citroen to develop two and four seat versions that were then launched in 1960. 1,400 Chapron ‘Decapotables’ were built and each one is amongst the most desirable of French classics.
The beauty of and demand for these cars has encouraged a coterie of specialists to convert DS saloons. This 1969-built DS20 Pallas was built by Oxford French Car Company around 25 years ago as its demonstrator. It is believed to be one of three produced. The quality of the work is impressive and closely replicates the ‘La Croisette’ four-seat Chapron car.
Since completion this is a car that has been thoroughly enjoyed. A previous long-term keeper used it for regular European tours, including attending the Italian DS gathering in 2017, where it won the award for furthest-travelled car. In 2016 Practical Classics took the car to Paris for a magazine feature.
In the last 10 years over £22,000 has been invested in the car using specialists like Citroen Conservatoire, Citroen Classics and BL Autos. Work has included a bare metal respray in smart Gris Palladium, full engine rebuild and attention to the brakes, suspension and wiring loom.
Today the car presents in very usable and presentable condition. There are a few areas to note in photos. With a current, voluntary and advisory-free MOT to April 2026, this car could be enjoyed ‘as is’ or there is scope to build on all that recent work.
The vendor says:
“Cooler to drive around in than any Aston or Ferrari!”
History and Paperwork
- Factory built and registered in 1969 in France
- First UK registered in March 1998
- Four registered UK keepers
- Converted by Oxford French Car Company around 25 years ago
- Believed to be the OFCC demonstrator and one of three built
- Used regularly for overseas trips by long term keeper between 2007 and 2018
- Featured at Italian DS event in 2017 where it won ‘furthest travelled’ award
- Driven to Paris for a feature in Practical Classics February 2016 issue
- £22,000 reported expenditure in last 10 years
- Maintained by specialists as summarised below
- Large history file with highlights shown in photos
- Factory workshop manual
- Various photographs of car on its trips abroad
- V5C in the current keeper’s name
- Voluntary MOT to 29th April 2026 with no advisories
- Vendor reports that total mileage is 198,092 kms
- Displays (1)78,092 in photos but the speedometer failed for four years
- Vendor estimates extra 20,000kms to be added
- Regularly serviced including June 2024
Recent maintenance highlights:
- £11,000 bare metal repaint in 2014
- Mechanical overhaul by Citroen Conservatoire in 2015 costing £10,000
- Serviced regularly by Citroen Classics and BL Autos
The Condition
- Converted by Oxford French Car Company around 25 years ago
- Bare metal respray around 11 year ago by specialist in Gris Palladium metallic
- Paintwork presents well with some scratches and marks to note in photos
- Bodywork in fair condition for age with some points to note in photos
- These include bubbling to various panels and some microblistering
- Underside presents well with no structural advisories on MOT
- Functional black fabric folding roof with some deterioration to note
- Chromework in fair condition with some marks and points to note
- Steel wheels with Michelin tyres
- Black leather four-seat interior in good order with some age and use to note
- Jaeger sports dials and period-correct radio as shown
- Supplied with tonneau in fabric to match roof
- Large boot with solid floors as shown
- Cream carpets look smart and largely free from stains
This car was converted by Oxford French Car Company around 25 years ago. The quality of work and attention to detail is obvious and explains why the car has been welcomed by Citroen enthusiasts when being shown around Europe. It is finished in the fetching combination of Gris Pallidium with black roof and leather interior .
This is a car that has been used and enjoyed and this is reflected in the condition. We would describe this car as a good, usable example with scope to improve if your interests are more in line with showing it. A current voluntary MOT verifies that it is a solid car, which can be checked in the photos.
The black leather ‘La Croisette’ four seat interior and the large boot provide decent practicality for long trips. It is all well kept, with that light patina of age that comes with a regularly used classic.
The roof is functional and usable but shows some signs of age. The vendor advises that it can be replaced for £1,500 but the current keeper has preferred the ‘slightly scruffy’ look.
The Mechanics
- 1,985cc DS20 4cyl engine
- Engine fully rebuilt in 2015/16 by Citroen Conservatoire
- Other work by same specialist totalling £10,000
- More recent work summarised below by model specialists
- Semi automatic gearbox
- Regularly serviced including June 2024 as shown in invoices
- Has proven 100% reliable on long European trips according to seller
- Stainless steel exhaust system fitted
- No reported running or driving issues
- No advisories on current MOT
2015/16 work by Citroen Conservatoire:
- Full engine rebuild
- New pistons
- Brakes overhauled
- Suspension rebuilt
- New wiring loom
More recent work:
- New power steering rack
- New starter motor
- Speedometer overhauled
- Body and mechanical repairs by Citroen Classics
- Annual services in 2023 and 2024
Some older classics have been sparingly used. Others, like this car, have enjoyed full lives. The trick when buying the latter is checking that the maintenance matches the usage.
This car falls into the latter category and has been well-looked after. Continuous investment in the last year, totalling £22,000, all via well-regarded marque specialists, likely explains why the car has proved entirely reliable on its long tours across Europe, including to Italy and the Alps.
The work is detailed above and includes a fully engine rebuild with new pistons, plus refurbishment of the brake and suspension systems. The sophisticated wiring loom has also been updated. More recent work includes a new starter motor, new power steering rack and repairing the speedometer. Invoices in the file show regular servicing, most recently in June 2024.
The car comes to market with no advisories on the long voluntary MOT.
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