Citroen DS - World Of Classic Cars -

Citroen DS21 1968

After 18 years of secret development, the DS 19 was introduced on 5 October 1955 at the Paris Motor Show. In the first 15 minutes of the show, 743 orders were taken, and orders for the first day totalled 12,000 cars. To a France still deep in reconstruction after the devastation of World War II, and also building its identity in the post-colonial world, the DS motor car was a symbol of French ingenuity. The high price tag, however, hurt general and a cheaper model, the Citroën ID, was introduced in 1957. The DS was the first mass production car with front power disc brakes. It also featured hydropneumatic suspension including an automatic leveling system, variable ground clearance, power steering and a semi-automatic transmission and a fibreglass roof which reduced weight. It also sported inboard front brakes as well as independent suspension. Different front and rear track widths and tyre sizes reduced the understeer typical of front-engined and front-wheel drive cars. As with all French cars, the DS design was affected by the tax horsepower system, which effectively mandated very small engines. Unlike its predecessor the Citroen Traction Avant, there was no top-of-range model with a powerful six cylinder engine. Despite the rather leisurely acceleration afforded by its four-cylinder engine, the DS was successful in motorsports like rallying, where sustained speeds on poor surfaces are paramount, and won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1959 and controversially in 1966, after the disqualification of the BMC Mini-Cooper team. The Citroen DS placed fifth on Automobile Magazine's '100 Coolest Cars' listing in 2005. It was also named the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car magazine after a poll of 20 world-renowned car designers.