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French Goddess: 1971 Citroen D Super

If you have never looked at one of these amazing cars, you should. Not only was the styling futuristic, but the mechanicals were downright space-age! They featured front-wheel-drive and a “magic carpet ride” hydropneumatic suspension. This one came from Holland and a ton of money has been put into it. Find it here on craigslist for $20k. Special thanks to Jack M for this submission!

Comments

  1. Avatar fstedie

    I know some folks really like these cars but to me they are one of the ugliest things on four wheels – ever. Right down there with the Pontiac Aztec.

    Like 4
    • Avatar scott

      The Pontiac Aztec wins the ugly contest by a landslide. They are definitely at the bottom. The Aztec was definitely designed by a committee. What amazes me is that people bought them…The Subaru Tribeca from a few years back with that awful front end is in that bottom group too.

      But this car is at least streamlined.

      Like 6
      • Avatar JimH

        I think the Aztek loses by a nose to the Fiat Multipla.

        Like 2
    • Avatar duaney

      Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

      Like 4
      • Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

        Very true. And I can’t speak for everyone here, but I like the Pontiac Aztek.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar peter r

    find it here not working –

    Like 3
  3. Avatar CliffS Member

    No link! Please fix!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

      Sorry about that. It’s all fixed.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar CCFisher

    Maybe someday, my inner engineer will kill off my inner accountant and I’ll buy one of these fascinating machines. Hard to believe they were introduced in 1955!

    Like 13
    • Avatar redwagon

      glorious explanation of the pull — push we all experience with these cars.

      Like 3
  5. Avatar ken tilly Member

    I nearly bought one of these many years ago and found it to be a really wonderful piece of automotive engineering, however, I figured that if it broke i wouldn’t know how to fix it so I chickened out and have regretted it ever since.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Russell

    Anyone else remember (way back) when the Citroens were used as camera cars at horse racing events … the hydro suspension was so smooth that the camera was able to deliver a stable/non-jarring image.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Frank D Ciliberto

      It’s a nice ride but not worth the $20,000 asking price

      Like 0
      • Avatar Keruth

        Um, it’s actually almost a bargain. Good ones pull closer to $30k at auction.
        EU models kept the engineering that we didn’t get here.
        Those spheres look green, better oil in the pneumatics?
        If it had a sunroof, I’d be thinking about it more!

        Like 3
  7. Avatar Grey O’Brien

    My dad owned one. He says that this was the best riding car he ever owned. This is a man who only owned imperials and Cadillacs

    Like 3
    • Avatar Bob Morris

      Guess you are not an engineer. The most aerodynamic mass produced car ever. Some folks just don’t get it.

      Like 7
  8. Avatar bob yeager

    How do you pronounce that anyway?

    Like 0
    • Avatar MikeH

      cit [as in citrus]-row [boat]-en, emphasis on the first syllable. The seller calls this a Citroen D, then later calls it a DS. To the best of my knowledge, there never was a D. DS, pronounced day-ss, means goddess in French [deesse], hence Jesse’s play on words.

      Like 7
      • Avatar Gay Car Nut

        ROFFL! I know how it’s pronounced. It’s perhaps the best looking car Citroen has produced, at least until the CX, and then the Citroen XM.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Keith Johnson

        ID, DS, D Super, D Special, all colloquially known as the D models.

        Like 1
      • Avatar Koen Leeman

        Hello Mike,
        there were two basic versions, the ID and the DS.The DS version was much more luxurious.My mother had 3 of those over a period of 12 years.Those cars were way ahead of many other cars.
        ID as in English: Idea ( in French :Idée) and your info about the DS is absolutely correct.
        When the car was first presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1952,the president of the “Republique Francaise” walked away.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar Keith Johnson

    At age 16, I bought one of these as my first car. I wanted something different than the Trans Ams my friends worshipped. I got what I wanted! With a set of metric wrenches and a service manual, I learned how these cars worked. They’re not that hard to keep running. Citroen (and other French makes) just does things their own way.

    Like 6
  10. Avatar Del

    Nice cars, but like every French Goddess there is too much up keep.

    God forbid you need parts or a fender replaced. 😁

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Louis Q. Chen

    This DS Citroen represented the best French mechanical engineering at it’s best. It had front wheel drive, the super smooth suspension which was famous for one their commercial-the ability to run on 3 wheels! Not only that it later had the moveable head lights (Citroen Maserati) which steers with your steering input! This feature was later copied by Lexus in their RX series S.U.V. I had the good fortune of owning one through my living in France back in 1971. I remember French Presidents and other ministers used them. As I later learned how to repair cars, I found that this DS was very complicated to repair! It was very aerodynamic efficient thus the engine had modest horse power rating. VIVE LA FRANCE! Too bad Citroen and Peugoet are now owned by communist China.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Bob Morris

    I have learned a lot about Citroens since I owned one over 50 years ago. One has to be a real automotive aficionado to understand an appreciate their cars. As an example the Citroen SM is now one of the most sought after classic cars on the market. The Citroen D Super was named “the car of France” by Charles de Gaulle (like him or not). It is considered a forte of automotive engineering. So the put downs are viewed by me and many others as ill-informed remarks.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

      Among my favourite Citroen cars are the 2CV, the DS, the SM, the CX, and the XM.

      Like 0
  13. Avatar Bob Morris

    I also have enjoyed owning a Peugeot, another French car. I don’t agree with French politics but they have advanced automotive engineering far ahead of the US companies.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar John Manders

    Those spheres look green, better oil in the pneumatics? = better to upkeep.
    Best modification since introduction of hydraulic suspension.
    Some Benz and BMW even use components in their cars.
    When working with a REAL mechanic there is no problem whatsoever with the hydraulic suspension at all !!!!!
    Just have to understand the basics….
    Any part replacements are readibly obtainable.
    Even after all those years.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar Dominique Legeai

    Nice looking D but why is it sitting so low on all pictures? That’s the level when parked.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

    Maybe it’s because it is parked. :)

    Like 2
  17. Avatar Emil

    My father had one of these. A truly wonderful car. My father was not a mechanic. Getting someone to fix his Citroen was an expensive and excruciating experience.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

    I’ve heard that about Citroens and other French cars. They may be well-built, but they’re difficult to maintain. What’s always bothered me is why offer a car to a country and not offer a way to keep it running, service network throughout the country? That makes no sense.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar peter r

    They never generated the type of sales volume to interest enough people in becoming dealers to establish a viable large network. Really mostly only in or near large urban centres. However, even today there are a number of highly qualifed repair shops around the country who can keep these cars in tip top shape. I own an SM and count on on others for my maintenance work – not cheap but worth every penny.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

      It’s a shame that they didn’t. If you can afford to buy a Mercedes-Benz 600, I would think you could afford to buy a Citroen DS and possibly afford to have service done to it.

      Like 0
  20. Avatar T Mel

    futuristic design? how about… hideous!

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Bob Morris

    How about you have to idea what your talking about. Your comment is offensive to anyone who has an appreciation for automotive art and engineering. You probably voted for the Pontiac Azteck as the best looking car of the 20th century.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Gay Car Nut Tacoma

      I agree. I found the Aztek to be a good looking car. But then I’m more interested in functionality and utility than mere looks.

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Bob Morris

    It was functional for farm work.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Dik S

    Hi guys,
    as some of you know, I had 6 of these cars.
    And I can tell you, everyone who says, these cars are difficult and expensive to maintain, indeed beter can take their hands of from other cars also.
    Yes, you have to study a little. You have to understand how hydraulics work. And that is quite simple. When a line is rotten away, then just put a new one in.
    The engine is fantasic. No not a powerbank.
    But in their times, it was on distance the far most fastest car
    No problem to drive 1000 km (600 + miles) constantly on speed 180 km/h, as top speed is cruise speed too.
    Removing the front wing, just disconnect the wires of the headlights, unscrew one bold and voila, there it comes.
    back fender also, one screw.
    Flat tire? no problem. Use the hydraulic and the car does the rest. You only needed to change the wheel.

    Kind regards, Dik S from the Netherlands

    Like 1
  24. Avatar CONSTANTINO DEL-RIO

    men and women you have not driven anything for comfort like these cars so no use saying bad about only looks ,,to me it is state of the art in craftmanship and for its time,,i have has the 1220 club it was great as i was touring to italy from england i was waiting for the snows to stop but i soon remembered i had the gear shift so raise the car ,i was the only one driving to mount blanch ,,it is the perfect car i have had lot of cars but i find they are great and very comfortable,,

    Like 0

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