Vehicle Description
To create the DS, Citroen's managers, engineers, and designers
risked everything on a wholly unconventional car that would turn
the automobile industry on its head. Just as it had with the
Traction Avant in the 1930s, Citroen shocked the world when it
unveiled the revolutionary DS at the Paris Auto Salon in 1955. At a
time when a typical family car had a separate frame and leaf spring
rear suspension, and a live axle, Citroen's astonishing front-wheel
drive sedan featured four-wheel independent hydro-pneumatic
suspension controlled via a central hydraulic system, as well as
powerful hydraulically boosted four-wheel disc brakes. It also had
semi-automatic shifting, unibody construction, a fiberglass roof to
lower the center of gravity, and space-age styling 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." Yet for all of its space-age technology and avant-garde
styling, the DS was not some far-away concept car. Quite the
opposite, actually. It was ready for mass production, and Citroen
took 12,000 orders on only the first day of the show! Citroen
ultimately built more than 1.4 million DSs during its incredible
twenty-year run. Citroen offered several variants throughout
production, including the standard DS sedan, the stripped-down and
simplified ID, and the cavernous Safari wagon. Select outside
coachbuilders also embraced the DS, with none more prolific than
the great Parisian firm Henri Chapron. Limousines, coupes, and
convertibles emerged from Chapron's workshop, initially as private
commissions. Citroen was so impressed with the quality that they
contracted with Chapron to produce an officially sanctioned
cabriolet. To turn a four-door sedan into a
two-doorDecapotablecabriolet, Chapron substantially reworked each
car, including reinforcing the floor pan to improve rigidity and
building new panels from the windscreen back. Chapron stretched the
doors, made new quarters and boot lid, and revised the rear bumper
to accommodate the turn signals, which had to be moved from the
standard location on the C-pillar. Thankfully, the conversion cost
the DS none of its drama. Hand-built in small numbers, the Chapron
Decapotable is among the most exclusive and collectible variants of
the DS, with exceptional examples coveted by collectors for their
achingly beautiful lines as much as for their rarity. Beautifully
restored and comprehensively upgraded without regard to cost, this
1964 Citroen DS19 Chapron Decapotable offers much more than
initially meets the eye. On the surface, this is an exquisitely
restored and finely detailed DS Chapron, finished in a gorgeous
shade of metallic indigo blue with a blue canvas roof and tan
leather interior. However, a look under the bonnet reveals a big
surprise in the form of a turbocharged, fuel-injected, 2.5-liter
inline-four from a Citroen CX. The initial restoration occurred
around 2004 while the car was in The Netherlands; parts of the
project are photo-documented. In 2011, the Citroen came to the
United States courtesy of an enthusiastic new owner who immediately
had it serviced and prepared for touring and rallies. After one
event, he decided that the car needed more power but wanted to
respect its rarity and importance. They called upon an
Indiana-based prototyping/engineering firm to source, rebuild and
install the late-model CX GTi Turbo engine. The transformation,
taking place between 2011 and 2013, involved much more than a
simple engine swap. An incredible amount of engineering took place
to adapt the transverse CX engine into the longitudinal DS platform
and still have it fit under the stock bonnet. Before installation,
the engine was rebuilt for additional power, refinement, and
longevity. The 2.5-liter "stroker" crankshaft is micro-polished,
lightened, balanced, and paired with custom billet pistons and
balanced connecting rods. Additional features include a
ported-polished head with stainless valves, a specially designed
cam, a custom CNC-milled flywheel, and an updated turbo. Fueling
and ignition are controlled via a standalone Motec M400 ECU,
adapted with a hall-effect distributor, crank, and cam sensors. A
custom alloy radiator by Ron Davis keeps things cool, and the
5-speed manual gearbox has been suitably upgraded with new gears
made by the respected Hewland Engineering in the UK. Countless
other details of the seamless installation ensure that when the
bonnet is closed, this DS is virtually indistinguishable from a
standard car. The most recent owner elevated it further via a full
respray in the same shade of indigo blue. The paintwork is
gorgeous, the panels are crisply defined, the fit is precise, and
the exterior trim and brightwork are exceptional. Lighting consists
of lovely Cibie headlamps and S.E.V. Marchal fog light pods,
specifically designed for the DS and appropriately fitted with
yellow bulbs. To maintain the "Q-ship" appearance, the DS rides on
standard wheels finished in cream and adorned with full stainless
steel wheel covers. Vredestein Sprint Classic radials provide ample
grip to handle the additional output of the new driveline. In the
opulent and stylish cabin, supple tan leather is in excellent
order, displaying light creasing from use. The fully-lined blue
canvas soft-top is taut and beautifully ties the color scheme
together. Luxurious carpets and other trimmings are fitted with
care and precision. Appointments include a rare factory-optional
Jaeger round-dial instrument panel and a correct factory radio that
was fully restored and modified with an equalizer and
Bluetooth�/Aux/USB connectivity. This DS Chapron is restored to
concours quality while also thoughtfully and meticulously updated
for enjoyable cruising in today's conditions. Great care was taken
to ensure it operates as it should, which includes the hydraulics,
which are converted to use the widely available and non-hygroscopic
LHM fluid. Putting the project into context, the engine conversion
cost over $200,000, with a further $100,000-plus spent on recent
cosmetic work and servicing. Should the next owner desire, the
original driveline components are available to accompany the sale.
With just 184 DS Chapron Decapotable models built in 1964, this is
indeed a rare and highly collectible classic. It is also one of the
finest examples we have encountered, and the exhaustive,
beautifully engineered upgrades make it an absolute pleasure to
drive. Elegantly presented as not to spoil its beautiful lines, yet
with at least double the original power, this gorgeous Chapron DS
is sure to bring much joy to its next keeper. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7474-1964-citroen-ds19-decapotable-by-chapron/
