While it is a small contingent here in the United States, Citroen fans are known to be extremely loyal (if not slightly fanatical) about their cars pretty much everywhere. The distinctive designs, the truly innovative engineering, and the long-term production run have also made the DS one of the most recognizable models from the French automaker, even if you’ve never paid much attention to any other vehicle in its lineup. The 1960 DS19 shown here on Facebook Marketplace is an early model, and came to the U.S. with a returning service member.
The seller is asking $15,000 for the DS, and thanks goes to Barn Finds reader Zappenduster for the find. The asking price may seem ambitious for a project-grade DS, but the early models tend to fetch a bit of a premium. This car also seems to have always been more or less complete, even with some disassembly work started by the current owner. It’s hard to connect the value of an unmolested car to someone who may be a casual fan of a vehicle like the DS, but given the complexity that lies underneath, finding a car that likely hasn’t been wrecked or previously restored is a terrific starting point for a restoration.
There are also numerous small details that can go missing in a car like this, or otherwise be lost/misplaced. That would be the area of greatest concern for me if this vehicle were on my shopping list. Citroen fanatics will be able to share all sorts of insider knowledge related to year-by-year changes that would be difficult to create if lost on this car. These earlier models were known as the “Goddess” cars and when it debuted, it shocked the world with its many engineering feats. Front disc brakes, power steering, and hydropneumatic suspension were just a few of the innovations the DS brought to the mainstream despite being anything but standard in appearance. The distinctive single-spoke steering wheel thankfully remains in place.
The seller had begun a mechanical restoration of this original paint DS, and its current condition is shown here. The 1.9L inline-four engine has been rebuilt, so it likely has reclaimed all of its original 75 b.h.p. and 102 lb.-ft. of torque. With just 41,844 original miles, I doubt the engine was in rough shape, but the seller clearly wanted to do this survivor DS justice and have all of the mechanical bits functioning correctly. Sadly, it appears he has stopped midway through the part of the project with the greatest complexity, so hopefully he has a clear log of his progress to date.
It appears the seller has done much of the easy work. The task ahead for the next owner is making sure the high-pressure pump, accumulator, regulator, all the various spheres and the lines that connect them are in good nick. Otherwise, the DS will not turn, stop, steer, change gears or have either ground clearance or suspension. As a former DS21 owner, I can attest getting those right is no easy — or inexpensive — job.
That done, painted and reupholstered, the DS is magic. All those hydraulic assists make driving (and changing tires) simple and easy. It is also one of the few automobiles designed by a sculptor, and looks it. To me, it’s gorgeous.
The early DSes showed the French love for weird plastics. I don’t think anyone makes replacements, but when clean and unbroken, they add to the car’s otherworldly appearance. Oh, and there are a couple of areas prone to rust, so that would need to be addressed if present.
Owning a DS is worth it, though. No other car, vintage or modern, looks or drives like it. Even though a bit underpowered in the early days, aerodynamics and relatively light weight made them relatively economical long-distance cruisers.
I don’t know that I’d drop $15K on this one — finishing the job could absorb that much again — but of all the cars I’ve owned, the DS is one of three I miss the most.
I’ve seen a few Citroen DS near where I live. I’ve had people insist that they’re poorly built cars that fall apart on owners. I disagree. If there’s a problem, it’s that there aren’t enough service places that specialise Citroen cars, or French cars in general.
Price is optimistic at best. Looks like a $3-4k Citroen to me, but I have only had 6 of them so what do I know……..
How much would you say it’s going to cost to restore this beauty?
Ugly POS
A basket case Citroen. Yeah. No.
They’ve been described as “a Mercedes on acid”. I’ve wanted a break (wagon, estate) for decades, but finally decided a diecast would be cheaper and easier to maintain.
What is hydropneumatic suspension. Does it have water in it somewhere,and how does it help with tire changing ?
Hydropneumatic suspension consists of a pressurized chamber at each wheel (the “sphere”) with the pressurized fluid — brake fluid in early cars, LHM mineral oil later — acting against nitrogen. There is, I believe, a membrane between them. As each wheel moves up or down, the fluid/nitrogen compresses/decompresses, smoothing out bumps in the road. Citroen ad copy (at least in the U.S.) called it “air-oil suspension.” It works. Wonderfully well.
Jacking is simple: There is a lever allowing the driver to raise or lower the suspension based on road conditions. To change a tire, raise the suspension to its highest position (there are three) and insert a brace on the side with the flat. Then lower the suspension completely. The side with the brace will have both wheels in the air. For the rear wheels, the fender comes off. This involves loosening a bolt (conveniently, the same size as a wheel bolt) and sliding the fender off two pegs. It’s faster than it sounds.
That suspension saved Pres. De Gaulle’s life.
Technically, it’s oleo-pneumatic, operating on oil and air. Water in the system indicates a problem.
many of the make’s mid/upper level models are amazing in my mind ( not entry, altho the trucks R a ‘trip’ too). The ability to ride on 3 wheels, the ‘advanced (?) engineering’, sports and luxury models. Heck, call me a weird but the top level peugeot were pretty good too (504/5 world renown for durability). May B it was the renault dauphine (’56/67) we used for: school, camp, sports’n church buggy that twist my pea sized brain to frenchie? Naw – italian’s got my yester yr vote (along w/that 6th gan F250)~
Looks like there’s an old Mercedes-Benz O series bus in the background of the picture with the Citroen on jack stands