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-door Decapotable
cabriolet, 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. We are
delighted to offer this lovely DS21 Pallas Decapotable by Chapron;
one of just 40 Usine Cabriolets built in 1970. Bearing Carrossier
Number 9346, this is a genuine example and was originally finished
in Swan White with red leather. This car was shipped to Chapron on
October 14, 1969, and delivery to Citroen took place on November
25, and included in the file is a copy of a letter from Madame
Henri Chapron, dated June 18, 2011 confirming its build. As the car
was to be exported to Canada, a heating system capable of
withstanding sever frost was installed. Included with the car are
photos of its restoration, some service invoices, copies of its
original factory specification and documents from Citroen and
Chapron attesting to its authenticity. This DS21 was purchased new
at Carrier Motors in Montreal in 1971. The first owner used it
regularly before putting it in storage for a number of years. In
1988, Arnold Korne of the province of Ontario bought chassis
00FA0662 from its original owner. Mr. Korne recommissioned the
Citron and performed a partial restoration. In 2011, he embarked on
a six-year rotisserie restoration to original specifications.
Original Citroen factory parts were used, and great pains were
taken to achieve authenticity in the smallest deal. The livery was
changed to Metallic Red offset by tasteful tan leather, and a new
brown Haartz cloth top was installed. The mechanicals were
refurbished, and the DS21 has been used sparingly since completion
of the work. Today, this DS presents in beautiful condition
throughout. Typically for Chapron, the quality of the coachwork is
outstanding, with doors that shut with vault-like solidity and
precision. The paintwork is gorgeous, and the body fitment is
exemplary. Stainless steel bumpers and sill trims are in
exceptional condition, and the chrome body fittings are excellent.
For 1970, the DS21 was equipped with the 2,175 cc inline four,
mated to a Citromatic hydraulically assisted gearbox which was
operated via a column-mounted lever. This example is fitted with
the optional Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection which was newly
offered in 1970. The four-cylinder engine makes a very respectable
139 horsepower: plenty to whisk the DS along with minimal effort.
The engine compartment is beautifully detailed, and it runs very
well, returning respectable performance. The DS has famously been
named by journalists and designers as one of the most influential
and beautiful cars of the Twentieth Century. Its groundbreaking
design redefined traditional ideas of comfort and style, while the
masterful work of Henri Chapron serves to further enhance the
beauty of Le Deesse. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7785-1970-citroen-ds21-decapotable/
