Vehicle Description
Much as it had with the Traction Avant in the 1930s, Citroen
shocked the world yet again when it introduced the revolutionary DS
to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1955. In creating the DS,
Citroen management pushed the engineering team and designers to
think outside of standard conventions and turn the automobile
industry on its head. With the extensive development required, they
risked the very existence of the company. When it appeared in Paris
for the first time, the world was taken aback at what Citroen
created. At a time when a typical American upscale family car had a
separate frame and leaf spring rear suspension, Citroen's
front-wheel-drive sedan featured monocoque construction, four-wheel
independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. But the pi�ce
de r�sistance lay in the central high-pressure hydraulic system
that controlled the power steering, disc brakes, and damping for
the hydropneumatic suspension. Also available was a brilliant
semi-automatic gearbox that utilized an automatic, hydraulically
controlled clutch. Encapsulating all of that technical wizardry was
a space-age body designed by sculptor Flaminio Bertoni and
aeronautical engineer Andre Lefebvre. The shape was like nothing
seen before or since. So incredible was the design that the famed
aesthete Roland Barthes described it as having "fallen from the
sky." Attendees of the Paris show responded with fervor, placing
twelve thousand deposits on the first day alone. For all of its
technical and aesthetic brio, the DS was not intended as a one-off
show car or a limited production halo car reserved for a few
wealthy buyers. In practice, it was quite the opposite as the DS
was a mid-priced family car for general consumption and produced in
surprisingly large numbers. Citroen produced more than 1.4 million
examples in the car's incredible twenty-year run. Throughout
production, Citroen continued to refine the car's styling and
mechanical specification. The many variants of the DS including the
standard sedan, the luxurious Pallas, the stripped down and
simplified ID, and the cavernous Safari wagon, along with many
coachbuilt variations. The Citroen DS is a regular addition to
lists naming the most beautiful or most significant cars of the
20th century, and one drive is enough to appreciate why the DS
stands as France's most celebrated car, a beautiful blend of art,
engineering, and Avant-Garde thinking. Featured here is a highly
desirable European market 1967 DS19 Pallas. The 1967 model year was
the final year for the original open-headlamp Bertoni design before
the refreshed Robert Opron design was introduced. It was also the
first year that Citroen utilized the new mineral-based LHM fluid
for the hydraulic system. This was a significant development as the
previous LHS "red fluid" was hygroscopic, causing corrosion issues
within the hydraulic system. The new LHM fluid eliminated this
issue and vastly improved reliability and service intervals. The US
DOT was slow to approve the new fluid for the American market, so
the combination of the early front-end design with improved
hydraulics was only available on European-market cars. Only offered
for one year, DS connoisseurs consider these 1967 Euro models the
best of the breed. This marvelous DS Pallas spent many years in
California in the hands of a dedicated marque enthusiast. According
to the previous owner, his family owned nothing but Citroens his
whole life. He lovingly maintained this car in excellent condition,
before selling it the most recent owner, another Citroen aficionado
in the Southeast USA. He had been searching for several years for a
well-sorted 1967 Euro model, and found this to be a truly
outstanding example. In the time since he purchased it, he
performed basic maintenance and a hydraulic system service and just
enjoyed the car regularly, even driving it to work daily. He has
owned several examples through the years and reported this car to
be his favorite. This fabulous DS is a beautifully preserved and
original car save for one respray in the factory color of Gris
Palladium. The paintwork is exquisite, with deep gloss and
remarkably straight panels. Accessories include desirable Marchal
fog lamps, rear window Venetian blinds, and a period aftermarket
hood grab handle. The stainless trim is straight and in very good
condition, with some light polish marks visible in the finish. It
rides on proper cream-colored steel wheels with full stainless
steel wheel covers and Vredestein Sprint Classic radial tires. A
few minor scratches are found on the windscreen, while the rest of
the glass is excellent and appears original. Serving as a beautiful
complement to the metallic gray paint, the natural tan-colored
leather is a hallmark of the high-spec Pallas trim. Few motoring
experiences compare to the feeling of sinking into the big chairs
in a DS, and the interior of this car is in outstanding condition,
with the supple leather showing some light creasing and a minor
scuff or two consistent with age and use. Carpets are in fine
order, with thick, soft foam underlayment that adds to the uniquely
plush driving experience of the DS Pallas. The headlining,
switchgear and interior fittings present in fine original
condition, while a modern aftermarket radio is the only non-factory
fitment. The DY-series four-cylinder engine is in excellent running
order. It starts from cold on the choke with ease, and the
hydraulic system raises the car quickly and evenly. Shifting the
4-speed Hydraulique gearbox is an absolute joy. With just a lift of
the throttle and a flick of the finger, the car changes gears
without the use of a clutch pedal. Coupled with the power steering
and brakes that require the lightest touch of the "mushroom" brake
pedal, the experience is effortless and wholly unique to the
Citroen DS. The engine bay is clean and well-maintained, while
underneath, the solid original floor pans still have their
factory-applied undercoat. This is a marvelous example of Citroen's
legendary DS in a highly desirable configuration. It is extremely
well-sorted and not only looks gorgeous, but it drives superbly.
Lovingly cared for by a series of dedicated enthusiasts, this car
is ready for regular enjoyment and is certain to bring many miles
of joy to its next custodian.