Citroen DS 21 Pallas Driving

[@oliverw3646]

Long ago I had a '66 DS21 Pallas and absolutely loved the semi-automatic shifter

[@mohamedinox5437]

DS avec le meilleure Tableaux de bord sortie an 69 magnifique 👍

[@wadeeb]

Thank you for the drive. Great viewing angle that allows us to see the shifting. Great job

[@citroenfan8930]

Nice overview. Of all of the Cits I have owned including an XM my two favorites are my 72 DS21 Pallas BVH and our 85 2CV :).

[@stephenberry1205]

In Australia I progressed from a 1968 DS21 Citromatic to a 1970 D Super 4 speed manual, a 1972 DS21EFI 5 speed Pallas with leather to, a 1975 DS23EFI 5 speed with jersey trim, and lastly a DS crossed with an SM in the form of a 1978 CX2400 EFI 5 speed Prestige with leather. My first car was a 1962 Aussie assembled ID19 followed by a 1964 ID19. While I had the 1972 DS21 I also owned a 1965 DS20 Safari. My favourites were = 1) 1972 DS21EFI Pallas - 21 motor was sweeter and freer revving than 23. 2) 1978 CX2400 EFI Prestige - far more refined than DS and amazing DIRAVI power self centring steering from the SM, plus fabulous finger tip control pods instead if stalks. (I did miss the turning headlights). 3) 1965 DS20 Safari - amazing beast of burden with jump seats in rear seating 7 plus an aerodynamic anti whistle building in roof rack...even at 80 mph. I should also mention 3 new 2CV6s including my current 1990 series Charleston. 3 x GS, Xantia Turbo Diesel, C4 Cactus (currently). Citroen addicted since age 17.

[@1preccp]

Magnific car, beautiful. 👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@cb4675]

Shifting gears very smoothly!

[@christopherhunter2892]

Like others , this dash is my favourite. Suits the car more than the universal dash that followed. I bought a DS21 aged 18.. Magnificent car and so easy to drive. The only thing I did not like was the parking brake( mine was a manuel ). I would like to drive one now to compare it to modern day cars.

[@meadmaker4525]

I've always wanted one of these. It's not only beautiful, but a marvel of engineering given the time. My only concern is I'm 6'2 and I wonder if I'd have enough room in it. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[@citroenfan8930]

You would not have a problem. Have owned and driving the D's for some 60 years. As to the engineering. A marvel, even by comparison to anything being build today. Steering -absolutely no play. Tap the wheel and one gets reaction at the wheel. Anything hitting the front wheels transmits nothing back through the steering system. Rear brakes get their braking pressure via the rear suspension circuit. More weight in the rear, more pressure available. Hit the brakes hard and as weight transfers forward, braking force decreases. And this was from when the cars were introduced in 1956 :). Suspension automatically adjusts height - add more weight it compensates. A great feature with the Brakes (wagons). One could go on and on - but literally requires a book.

[@jourwalis-8875]

What an amazing dashboard! Only available in the 1969 year model!

[@viktorlundberg3857]

It sure would have been nice to hear some more about how the clutch works from standing still and how the brakes works, if ever possible!

[@davidpaterson2309]

What wonderful cars they were! One thing I always loved about early Citroens was the eclectic approach to the gear shift. Shall we put it on the dashboard in a kind of umbrella handle apparatus? Or maybe just sticking out sideways? Or on top of the column, just for laughs? Four-on-the-floor? Bof, non!

[@chrisperyagh]

My CX 25 GTi Turbo 2's steering wheel also made 'whoosh' noises - a friend said it made 'Darth Vader noises'. Although that had the fantastic DIRAVI steering which would power back to centre if you let go of the wheel if it was turned (only 1 and a half turns from lock to lock on that car). And all this happened in a time when all these features and systems were purely mechanical instead of being computer controlled or assisted. The two DSs in my family were both manual - my D Special (ID19B) was LHD and 4 speed whereas my dad's D Super 5 was RHD and 5 speed manual - the column change meant the gear shift pattern was mirrored which took some getting used to on the RHD version.

[@jourwalis-8875]

Thanks for the drive! Next time I would like to see more of the exterior and also of the Canadian spec rear seat heater! Why didn´t we have that heater in Sweden? We have the same cold winters here as in Canada!

[@jonathasfigaro4992]

So modern ❤

[@jourwalis-8875]

"Canadian spec rear ventilation heater". Not bad!

[@karhukallio]

What an angel !

[@gralykmeno]

Smooth ride, swoopy looks but the rough noisy engine - oh dear!

[@p.r.e.p.p.y_vlogs_5313]

Beautiful car but I am glad that they have improved the gear shifter as it seems quite annoying to always grab over the steering wheel

[@georgiodegrenoble8675]

I dont know why the,driver is using the shift that way... No need to grab over the wheel. I just use one finger without moving the hand from the wheel. No more mouvement neither effort than using turning signal.

[@ColinGarner-h1t]

You can also drive it on three wheels or with a couple of tyres shot out .

[@MentaClassics]

Lovely to see!

[@carloscosta253]

Great looking car. It's indeed a fenomenal example of how timeless these machines are... Bought myself one (1969 ds 21 pallas, like yours) a few weeks ago, which has been parked for a couple of years and suffered some cable corrosion due to it. Right now I'm repairing it and hoping will finally drive in a few days from now. Have a couple o questions: couldn't find any place to fit the radio speakers (it didn't have a radio installed, as far as I can see, it never did). Can you please point me to the speakers so I know the best solution to fit them? Looking forward to see how the citromatic works... was looking for a 5speed manual, but this was the best deal I found...

[@jourwalis-8875]

There is a place for a speaker in the rear hat shelf

[@CitroenDS23]

How did you get on Carlo?

[@jourwalis-8875]

The picture quality gets real bad when you drive, and the camera is subjected to vibrations. Despite the 720p specifications.

[@Charles06051969]

A very lovely car. What do you say about that very low mirrow ? Is it really effective? I consider it was a mistake because your right shoulder must cover the vew.

[@georgiodegrenoble8675]

Need to be there. The rear window is quite low'and you wouldnt see well the road if he as higher (like on post 70 DS). If you dont have rear passenger, you see well and i cannot see my shoulder on it.

[@bikdav]

Do have to push a clutch in to upshift (or downshift for that matter)? I know very little about Citroen.

[@normandiebryant6989]

No. His car had the standard Hydraulic Gearchange. It is a standard 4-speed gearbox and clutch but with hydraulic control. You move the lever and hydraulics operate the clutch, release the old gear, push in the new (gently at first until synchronised, then full pressure), then re-engages the clutch. You have to release the throttle a bit or the change will be delayed for a few seconds until you do or it will start to push the accelerator pedal back up. A fully-manual gearchange was a lower-cost option.

[@bikdav]

@@normandiebryant6989 Wow! That sounds innovative on Citroen's part.

[@henridornancourt9786]

For me, DS 21 has THE real DS sound, much more than a 23 or a 20. Don't know why, but I feel that way ;-)

[@almaximo4065]

how do you honk?

[@MentaClassics]

There is a lever on the left to turn signal. If you pull it towards yourself the car honks!

[@goodfodder]

thought it was a button under the seat on that model year 😊

[@jourwalis-8875]

You drive too fast, but of course the DS handles beautifully!

[@bobhenry6159]

Citroen was great in many ways, plain dumb in others. One example is how they cleverly designed the steering wheel to give you an unobstructed view, then they put the shifter in the dumbest place and ruin the view with hand and stick. Why?

[@peterfitton4529]

Fair point, but it was changed to a different position, by the side of the wheel, on later DS's.

[@christopherhunter2892]

The manual shift was column mounted .

[@normandiebryant6989]

Most people just use their finger-tips to flick the lever while still holding the wheel. I've never seen anyone reach over with their full hand like this.

[@bobhenry6159]

@@normandiebryant6989 While holding the wheel 10 and 4? They must have very long fingers. lol Citroen changed the lever position for later models. Nuff said.

[@presspound7358]

@@bobhenry6159Got a great laugh out of that one.

[@BS-and-Rich-united-6]

ya

[@paoloettorepapia4929]

the gearshift is not original from 1969

[@paoloettorepapia6894]

I❤ this dashboard

[@paoloettorepapia6894]

My favorite bifaro

[@MP-hi3og]

That gear selector is really uncomfortable !!!

[@alunhoskins4513]

You very quickly get used to it. Absolutely no problem😃

[@bikdav]

@@alunhoskins4513I like how the shifter is somewhat sequential (according to the video).

[@citroenfan8930]

Have to drive one to appreciate. Actually the BVH shifting lever is nicely placed. Can shift without ever taking one's hand off of the steering wheel.