This blue Citroen DS wagon looks like the sort of cool French classic that makes you stop and take a second look – but don’t let that beautiful body style fool you. Based on the photos from the eBay listing, this one is far from a drive-away collectible and much closer to an unfinished project or parts car. Take a look and let us know if you think this project might be worth taking on.
The body appears complete, but the paint shows oxidation and scratches. The DS was wildly advanced for its time, with aerodynamic styling, a fiberglass roof panel, and bodywork that unbolts in sections. These cars are notorious for hiding structural rust, and with no underbody shots provided, anyone bidding should assume there’s work to be done. Did you know the rear fenders are held on with a single bolt? They had to come off to change a tire, but at least Citroen made it easy.
Under the hood, the engine bay looks dusty, but there’s more innovation hiding in there. Front-wheel-drive, inboard front disc brakes, and a hydraulic system that operates the suspension, brakes, steering, and even the semi-automatic clutch on some models. Without hydraulic pressure, the suspension won’t float, the brakes won’t function correctly, and steering will be heavy. When working properly, though, the DS delivers one of the smoothest rides of any car from the era.
Inside, the DS continued to push boundaries with its single-spoke steering wheel and futuristic dash layout. Even decades later, the design feels different from anything else on the road. The seats and interior trim here are worn, and the carpet is dirty. This is going to be a big project, but judging by the active bidding, at least a few people think it’s worth taking on. The engineering is fascinating, the wagon body style is rare, and the look is unmistakable but complexity comes with a cost.
Does this rare DS wagon sound like a dream project to you, or more like a nightmare?
This car reminds me of a girl I dated in college. She was nothing but trouble, but I still wanted her.
I have a migraine after reading that ad. But, thankfully, the gas tang was flashed during the corroboration. 😳🤯
It puts me at ease that there is no rest and very little cat on driver seat.
One must always place one’s maid upon one’s car, when having it serviced.
This should be a mineral fluid car – a big advantage over the brake fluid cars (prior to 1969 or so). I own a DS brake fluid car (not a wagon). Tough to get it worked on. The mechanical systems (engine, transmission, etc) are very robust. The suspension hydraulics are a challenge on earlier (brake fluid) cars, but should not be too bad on this mineral fluid car. When I had mine running, it would cruise comfortably and pretty much forever at 103mph (top speed). They are a little noisy there though.The car listed is somewhat of a unicorn, as it’s been in a dry area and appears not to have rusted. The Citroen is a car like no other, that also rusts like no other (in moist climates).
Green blood rather than red blood, you mean?
I also gave myself a headache reading the owners add. But like he said the hydrohilic oil has been changed and the corroburator has been serviced and a full service has been maid.
I did a spit take on the corroburator.
Think of the rust as mold on a fine French cheese. I wonder, if a person had enough stupid money, about a Honda vtec conversion with some sort of PTO or separate electric motor to run the spheres. I would go all-out “Jetsons” with 4 bucket seats, full length console, rear fender skirts…
Perfect 4WD conversion candidate
Slap it on a Blazer chassis and hit the beach!
Funny you say that. I had a kid working for me that was a Citroen freak and had a 2CV. He also had a rusty old military Jeep.one night a drunk hit the Jeep parked at the curb. And it blew the body almost off the frame. The Jeep had the same wheelbase as the 2CV. So the 2CV now had 4WD! And it looked particularly strange with
31-10.50/R15 Goodyear Wranglers on it.
Not understanding why one has to take a fender off to change a tire. Looks completely accessible. Also, I don’t understand why sellers can’t take 15 minutes to empty junk out of a car and run a vacuum over the interior. And at the price they’re asking, it’s just dumb. The photos leave something to be desired.
You don’t jack up a corner to change the tire. My understanding is you put the suspension in full “up” mode, install a stand on the corner to be removed and lower the suspension. That pulls the rear wheel inside the fender, necessitating its removal to remove the tire.
I am sure I am going to take some heat for this comment but with that said I can just absolutely NOTHING appealing about ANY Citroen I have ever seen! I hear and appreciate the comments about it’s very advanced ride and assorted technology but I am just plain stumped by how damn ugly I find these cars and I just can’t get past that.
Don’t feel bad, Karl. Me also! I’ve owned British, German, Italian, American, Swedish, Japanese and Canadian cars. Never any French ones and don’t have any reason too. You can take a rear wheel off of one of these and the car will balance without it! I don’t know if that is a selling point or not. Some people really love these. They are just not in my wheel house.
Joey thanks much I was very hesitant to say one word because it’s not my place to deliberately offend others. Thanks again!
Fair enough. The sedan is more appealing and, IMHO, up there with the 53 Studebaker and 54 300 SL in terms of designs that “broke the mold”.
If you think they are strange to look at. Just work on one. I did a front brake job (including front inboard rotors) on a DS21. And I will never work on another. I’m not anti French cars. (Owned a Dauphine, 4CV and an early Spec Racer) They are quirky, and that makes them interesting. But all that quirky “technology” in one package is just frustrating. And when something goes wrong it is mind boggling.
Again, it’s funny how tastes can vary. I was going to say that this is on the short list of most beautiful cars ever made.
I like the 70’s SM model styling the best.
im leary when the advertisement is full of misspelled words. over priced.
You’re leery??
I read the ad before I read comments, and I certainly agree that the photos are horrible, both for the junk left inside and the industrial setting. The misspelled wording in the description throughout. HOWEVER, the ad does state what has been done to try and bring this rare wagon back for sale. I think that English may be a second language here, understandable, or maybe there is a disability. That said, I do not see a misleading or dishonest seller. Of course, the car needs to be inspected. I would rather see an ad like this than one with photos in a beautiful background, professionally taken, and few words or AI generated ones. An offer here may work.
You have to take the back fender off the sedan to change a tyre, not the safari (wagon)
Good catch. If you compare the rear fender cutouts on the sedan and the wagon, you can clearly see the difference. Makes me wonder if the wagons even had the one bolt fenders. I’m guessing not.
“corroborator was service…very little cat in the driver seats.” At least the cat kept mice out of the wiring.
A similar but nicer wagon sold on BringATrailer recently for something over $30,000, but these cars require steady maintenance. Parts are not a big problem, but good Citroen mechanics are few and far between, and you’re going to need one.
As of today, there is a bidding war on eBay with two bidders at $15,100 so far with bids not enough yet for seller. Might be fun to watch.
That is one ugly car.
Quel fromage!!
The DS is interesting but the CX in the background is even more PHAT. Even if it’s more of a nightmare.
Ah, an old Citroen, zut alors!