DS is certainly making headlines in 2015. It has formally split from parent company Citroën, launched its own bespoke model in the form of the facelifted DS 5 and is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.
It's for the last of those reasons that the collection of historic DS models you see above is gathered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. The six models on show stretch from the earliest version of the DS, to the model’s glory days in 1960s and the facelift that produced the famous swivelling headlights, as well as the final fuel-injected versions.
Though highly sophisticated, the DS, and the less complex ID, were also hugely popular, with over 1.3 million examples over its 21-year life.
A star of films and fashion shoots alike, the DS not only impressed critics with the clean beauty of its highly original design, but also an engineering approach that reinvented almost every aspect of the car apart from its engine. With that in mind, it's no wonder PSA Peugeot Citroën is keen to rekindle the brand, complete with its new 'Spirit of Avant Garde' tagline.
1957 Citroën DS 19 Berline
The original DS 19 was unveiled at the Paris motor show in 1955, with its reveal to the media timed to coordinate with dozens of examples being driven onto the streets of Paris. The marketing stunt worked, and over 12,000 orders had been placed by the end of the car's first day on sale.
Featuring advanced technology including hydraulic self-leveling suspension, semi-automatic transmission, aerodynamic bodywork, powered steering and disc brakes, the DS's sculptured lines earned it the title of "the most beautiful car of all time" from Classic & Sports Car magazine.
1958 Citroën DS 19 Coupé Le Paris
Another example of the DS 19, this Le Paris model is the hard-top version of the La Croisette Cabriolet. Notable features include the verticle chrome strip which runs from the rear of the roof to the floor. This covers a join in the bodywork, evidence that the car is in fact based on the DS 19 Berline. Only nine examples of the car were ever built, and just three survive today.
1964 Citroën DS 19 M Decapotable
The DS 19 M Decapotable was the first convertible DS model to be sold officially through Citroën's extensive dealer network. While most DS models came with a hydraulic transmission, the M designation on this car denotes that it has a four-speed manual gearbox.
1968 Citroën DS 21 Decapotable Usine
This DS 21 model features a new interpretation of DS's 'shark nose' grille, a change made for the 1967 model year. It features four lights mounted behind its front panels, two of which turned with the steering wheel, while the other two were linked to the suspension system in order to maintain a level light beam.
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Citroen History
I have owned a Dyane, three GS, a CX Familiale, A Visa with a 2 cylinder engine, a new ZX 1.9D which did 100,000 miles with very little trouble.
And I drove a borrowed DS 23 for several thousand miles.
The early cars were plagued by rust. But so was every other steel bodied car in the 60's and 70's.
I rate the GS as a wonderful small car for its time, complicated and difficult to maintain, but comfortable, excellent at cruising on main roads in the 80's (mph) and brilliant in snow with its narrow tyres. The Dyane an excellent cheap convertible!
DSK
DS BS