Citroen DS Feature | Gears and Gasoline

Oh, the French. In 1955, Citroen brought us the DS, by all accounts the weirdest, most awesome car ever made. Our friend, Liam Kenney, by all accounts one of the weirdest, most awesome car guys ever, gave us the chance to drive this piece of automotive eccentricity.
Music:
Stryv- Movin On [JombaMusic Release]
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Spotify: tiny.cc/SpotifyStryv
Poolz- The Friendly Falling Rain
/ the-friendly-falling-rain
/ poolz

[@robincasady8298]

My father had a DS 21 Palace. Great car. I drove it a fair amount as a teenager. Dad loved to show it off to friends. He would drive along Sunset Blvd in West Los Angeles at 45 mph and suddenly move over to a long stretch of dirt shoulder near Paul Revere Jr. High. The unsuspecting passenger would grab for something to hold onto-expecting to be thrown around as the car hit the rough dirt. They were very surprised when the ride remained smooth.

[@chrwl007]

Think you mean DS 21 Pallas, but that said... would love to own one myself one day.

[@mantabond]

The reaction of the unsuspecting passenger is always a joy to know. Cheers.

[@g00dfeeling]

I love big Citroëns. TA, DS, XM and C6 are all beautiful but CX is my favorite to restore and own.

[@fabrisse7469]

A couple of years ago, I saw a bunch of people standing and talking about the new car in the Trader Joe's parking lot. I said it was over 25 years old, and was told that I obviously knew nothing about cars. I said flat out that I recognized the logo as Citroen, that it was a CX, and I thought it was from 1984. People just shook their heads at me as they discussed who was making this new style of car. When the owner came out, he told everyone that it was a Citroen CX from 1983. I tried not to be too smug.

[@jourwalis-8875]

And, again: To remove all doubts: The Citroen DS is, in all other respects, a truly wonderful, loveable and amazing car! There is only one DS! (And that´s the original)

[@Neonthon]

agreed the DS 19 looks worlds better than the later models

[@PhilippeMarchand-xw1zp]

When you consider the cars on the road when the DS was released in 1955, you realize how much creativity it took to design such an engineering masterpiece.

[@rafthejaf8789]

Apart from the engineering marvels it is also a work of art on wheels. I think it's that combo of art and science which is why we love it. I bought one in a French village and drove it in London for two years. It was great taking it to the centre. They couldn't clamp it, they couldn't tow it and it had French plates which meant no parking tickets! Once this beautiful woman on a motorbike pulled up next to me at the lights and said, "nice car mate", it made my day! 😎 They don't make em like that any more!

[@jourwalis-8875]

It´s important, however, to notice that it was not André Citroen personally that was experimenting with different suspension systems. The hydropneumatic suspension was developed by Paul Magés in the late 1940:s. Andre Citroen died in 1934....

[@ericnutt9355]

As a former owner of four Citroens in the 1970s I look back with regret at not keeping one of them. They were: 1970 D Special (purchased new), a 1969 wagon (loaner), a 1970 DS 21 Pallas and then a 1972 Citroen SM. I miss the Pallas the most.

[@mr_nice.]

Everyone I talked to (who had an old citroen) told me the same So I desided not to make the same mistake and I kept my old 1979 GS along with my 2011 C5. Roadworthy, insurance and all. Full of rust but no worries.

[@HiroshimaSpirit]

I've always been fascinated by the Citroen DS, and I hope to be able to drive one in the future. Liam, by the way, is quite a character, and suits the land boat perfectly. Seemingly everyone who owns a DS is somewhere on the quirky scale, and that's not a bad thing. Wonderful piece!

[@johntechwriter]

A charming portrayal of "The Goddess" as the car is still known in France, despite being out of production for 47 years. I was born in Canada, where Citroën made a semi-serious effort to export their cars, and in my teens my Dad owned three successive DS-21s, the last of them a top-line Pallas model, the interior wrapped in pigskin, the softest of leathers. So with some justification I can declare that if you've had a Citroën DS in your life, it will be the standard against which you judge all your other cars, even far more expensive ones. In my 30s I caved to nostalgia and bought a well-maintained 1970 D-Special, the base model. With a friend I did a road trip around all the Western states, and it was a wonderful experience. The big car cruised effortlessly at 75 mph and delivered 30 mpg on regular gas. But alas, though thoroughly reliable in their early lives, Citroëns were not built to last. Despite the attention of an honest and competent Citroën specialty service shop, my D-Special car rusted relentlessly and small bits were constantly failing. So with great sadness I sold it. Like having had an intense love affair with a great beauty, the memory of my Citroën experiences will continue to keep me warm despite the advancement of age.

[@CitEnthusiast]

I too grew up with the DS/ID. I now have CXs and SMs, the SM is a wonderful example of the same technology used in the DS. The SM was better built, so does not (usually, if cared for) rust away like the DS can. The CX is an even better car in many ways, quiet and almost as quirky. The SMs have become quite the collector car, as has the DS, so there are many fine examples of both still going strong.

[@peterbateman8018]

Hold onto that car Liam. She will be your retirement package. These wonderful vehicles just keep appreciating in value every year. What was a $1500 average old banger back in the '80's is now $25K here for the same old unrestored runner. My almost pristine ID19 cost me a motsa a few years ago, but will keep growing in value as these collectables become more appreciated. Also, we have the pleasure of driving them, which as you know is the best thing since your first head job. Maintenance is not much, insurance is bugger all, their a pleasure to look after really.

[@harshsatam9480]

You can't put a price on something as beautiful as this

[@anthonyxuereb792]

People can't stop talking and marvelling about the DS and who can blame them, there is no car like it and will never be. Well done and thank you.

[@alexkean8245]

Wow, I bought this very car from Liam 2 years ago... didn't realize it was famous! Don't worry it's in great hands now. This is fantastic hahaha!!

[@nic7nic]

Why did he sell it?

[@alexkean8245]

@@nic7nic He needed the money to finish restoring his 72' Citroën SM. I still have the DS though! I love it incredibly.

[@jncg2311]

@@alexkean8245 This is what's great about the KZbin car community, you find things and read about things on a 5 year old video that tell a story and add more than was ever envisaged when the video was published. Great to hear this car is still loved. If ever there was a reason to sell a nice DS, is is an SM, restoring one of those is truly a labour of love.

[@jawkneekat]

I still miss my 67 DS 21 decades after I sold it. It gave a great ride and had the most comfortable back seat I've ever sat in. Total luxury.

[@TheAvenger62]

There's a cool anecdote about this car, the French President Charles De Gaulle survived an assassination attempt by the OAS who didn't want France to give independence to Algeria. De Gaulle credited the unusual abilities of the DS vehicle with saving his life -even though the shots had punctured two of the armoured tires, the car escaped at full speed

[@benjamincharlin6770]

I don't think the tires nor the car were armoured

[@mgtowp.l.7756]

I forgot to say that the DS save the life of President Charles de Gaulle from a assassination attempt by the O.A.S. on 22 August 1962.. The was a movie made in 1973 "The Day Of The Jackal."

[@merlin5476]

And also in " Mr Jolly lives next door (Someone wrote on the back window of my car "Mr Lovebucket is a wanker !!"

[@jennydonne8946]

Andre Citroën died 3rd July 1935 so when world war 2 started, he had been dead 4 years. Also the hydropneumatic suspension was designed by a man called Paul Magés. Otherwise good video

[@eagle00008]

My father had four of them during his life.. DS means goddess in French, and it really the goddess of road. all my childhood!

[@Boz1211111]

Beginning of this was so emotional for me

[@paulmeahan7327]

There is a conventional clutch. It's just that a hydraulic servo is pushing it in just prior to a hydraulic "brain" changes the gears for you. Very complicated, yet elegant when their set up correctly. The high pressure hydraulic pump and accumulators mean that there's endless possibilities with these D's. "Semi-Automatic" gear changes are one of them. A power take off shaft (PTO) for the gentlemanly farmer perhaps?

[@marccan1190]

Very complicated maybe, but very reliable too...

[@aftonline]

My Dad owned a 1968 ID19B back in the 80's. Great car to drive but unfortunately it broke down and sat in his garage for ages before being sold off. You really need to be able to invest money and/or time in these classic cars to enjoy them. I owned a 2003 Citroen C5 until recently which is the modern descendant of the DS with an electronically controlled version of the hydropneumatic suspension. A really great car but again you have to spend money on them to keep them going. The transmission was my car's weak point and was on the way out but in the end the car got written off in an accident, sadly.

[@patrickodonnell4109]

Beautiful video. Thank you.

[@mildlydisappointing8021]

Love to see these two millennials being madly enthusiastic about the DS.

[@Tact-Mack0397]

Great video guys keep it up

[@riejurv50]

Nice video, i own a '64 DS and a '66 ID, both in deep need of complete restoration, hope that sooner or later one'll be on the road.

[@alexandremoisy8256]

Great video, nice story !

[@roberttaylor7462]

First radial tyres were fitted on the Citroen 2CV not the ID/DS saloons

[@dado380]

Great video for the greatest car ever,chapeu Citroen.

[@paultremmel5995]

what a nice guy the owner is.

[@vladimirprovotorov580]

Beautiful car !

[@danielvanhorn911]

Most car ever. Beauty, design,so sweet to drive.

[@crandis1690]

I love these obscure cars, keep doing it!!!

[@saxbruce]

Not so obscure, as almost one and a half million were made.... Just not so common in some countries.

[@russcattell955i]

There are sill quite a few in use by collectors here in France, however they still turn heads.

[@themagicboy6548]

My favorite car ever, tho I can't decide if I like the sedan or the break better. Also had adaptive headlights that turned the corner ahead of you and could drive on three wheels because of the self leveling system

[@iivaridark6850]

Good video, useless music. Engine is the music I like and the silence of that car! Silence is underestimated these manic times...

[@robertbaratheon9289]

You know it's a video about a car when you hear that shitty electronic music.

[@Roucasson]

Yes, useless and shitty music!

[@Gogogordy1]

Great video and a wonderful tribute to an important and unique vehicle. Great to see such youth appreciate this type of thing. One question....the shoulder belts don't adjust?

[@1KJRoberts]

These fellas are lovable, dorks. "Dude, you just got chopped by a Geo Prisim."

[@josdesouza]

Timeless superbly designed.

[@PoolzOfficial]

[@jemma_19988]

As an owner of one of these cars I like that the owner loves the car but is not an expert on them history wise because I am exactly the same

[@siegfriedwurth5928]

Fantastic car.

[@mattw8332]

I'd love to own and drive something like this one day.

[@desalpagesgator4988]

When we watch the videos on the DS, SM, CX, GS, we see that the presenters love to play with the suspensions, but they forget to say that each level of suspension had a specific purpose, the lowest was used on highways or main roads. traffic, the second was used when you loaded the car a lot, and the third was used to change the wheels and to do offroad. It was not advisable to drive on the motorway at the maximum height, it could be dangerous because the car lost its handling.

[@CitEnthusiast]

Well, speaking from 50 years of owning Citroëns, this is incorrect. The DS has 4 selectable positions, SM, GS, CX have 5. Lowest is for maintenance only, you are not to drive in that position because you are against the suspension stop. Each model has a clearly marked normal position, one up from the bottom. The intermediate positions are your choice when to use them, but never has weight played a role in that selection. The top is for clearing high rocks, deeply rutted driveways, and deep water (since the front brakes are inboard they raise with the car, so stay out of the water). The suspension is self-leveling, so when more weight is added the ride height adjusts immediately and keeps the car perfectly positioned. Since it's a hydropneumatic system the nitrogen is compressed as more weight is added, resulting in a higher spring rate effectively, aiding in the ability to control the car with heavy loads. The DS has a load capacity of 3/4 tons, CX is 1/2 ton. The adjustable suspension also allows the car to be jacked up with little effort, just place the car in high, put the provided stand under a post on the frame, then drop the car to the lowest setting. Viola the entire side of the car remains up, both wheels come up and wheel/tire changes are simple.

[@desalpagesgator4988]

@@CitEnthusiast I don't see the contradiction with what I wrote. The first level does not have to be indicated because it is not used for driving, the second level which I say is the first is used for highways and main roads, the second level is intended for country roads that can be in poor condition and for the transport of goods on this type of road, finally, the third level is made for off-road traffic in order to avoid impacts with stones and other large leveling defects.

[@thatcopenguy]

Sometimes I wonder, will citroen a ever remake the DS?

[@CARPB147]

@Steve Edward: Wow, I wish they did. It would be awesome.

[@Boz1211111]

I dont know, but this is just stunning and i want to get a chance to drive it at least once in my life i just cant describe how I feel about that car

[@sylvainassalit3539]

I confuse : this citroen ds is from 1970, so the door handle should be not this model. Handle door show in the video are from model 1968. Millésime 1969. After they were squares rectangulaire. The dash board is a plastic model, from model after 1970. And finally, in the custode , no sign DS is writing ( as was the id )...but the rear cover is writing ds20... This car may be was rebuilt from one ds, and one id ( economical model of the ds )

[@aisubaru1740]

She is beautiful!

[@paulmeahan7327]

12 people didn't like seeing this. I feel sorry for them.

[@danielvanhorn911]

Like it,its a Godess Merci

[@heribertofuentes1284]

please do a video of an 08 acura tl

[@aaron___6014]

Whoa, balance the audio levels!

[@bretthayworth9446]

only problem with that story is that Andre Citroen died in 1935....so he could not possibly have destroyed his factories during WWII...

[@MICHGO1]

THE GUY DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE CAR.

[@kylesoler4139]

If i owned one of these i would know the car inside and out since I'm that kind of person.

[@trankgrappa]

Beautiful car, nice shooting, funny laughing :)

[@zagyex]

it got fuel injection in 73, top speed 195 km/h

[@jemma_19988]

I own a blue citroen ds like this one and a 2000's toyota harrier When I visit my sister she says are you bringing the cool car ? or the stink one?

[@briannumme9337]

Why isn’t the owner driving it?

[@barenstil5525]

9:02 "fast cornering car" try a xantia activa, that car is fast in corners, faster than a porsche or any other sports car

[@kevindreyer5316]

Not driven a Xantia but owned a 1974 GS 1220 club for 10 years and would happily out drive and out corner anything on a windy road. It only had a max speed of 98 MPH but man it stuck to the road like glue regardless of what you did with it.

[@kenramonet]

André Citroën died in 1934, well before World War II and could not have forseen that Germany would invade France. He knew nothing about the the development of the DS as this program was started years later and in secret during the war when the company's engineers were supposed to be developing military vehicles for the German war effort. He also could not have been involved with the development of the 2CV either, as this program was only begun after Michelin became the owner of the company following his death. Also, your car is not a DS21, it is an ID21 ("DS" is a play on the french word for goddess "deéss". "ID" is a play on the french word for idea, "ideé"). The DS and DS Pallas models were the higher optioned versions that had more chrome embellishments, leather seating and greater power (fuel injection) than the more affordable ID line.

[@richardwelzel4610]

Let me just put things right here. The simpler ID cars all had manual transmission and a regular brake pedal. Besides, the body colour "beige agate" - offered only in 1970 - was not available for the ID range, and the 2.175 ccm-engine either. Only the DSuper 5, introduced in 1972 as an upgraded ID model with manual 5 speed-transmission, inherited that engine from the DS 21. So the video shows an original DS 21 from 1970, there's no doubt about that - apart from the seats perhaps, which should be golden ("or") instead of red as far as I know.

[@poldercannabisolieteam2874]

Very pity Citroën did choose for that quite ugly plastic steering wheel, also later for the 21 serie. The original one poke steel steering wheel is very beautiful. The one with a gray poke is my favorite.

[@normandiebryant6989]

The DS is a fantastic car but most of the info is totally wrong. Do more research and you'll appreciate the car even more!

[@jorandarholmy2856]

its not a DS its a dsuper or dspeciale.

[@gil7555]

Jo Randar Holmøy : non monsieur..! c'est absolument une DS , & non une dsuper ou une dspecial. car, ce véhicule possède une boite hydraulique.

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Sorry, Andre Citroen died in 1934. Before the company started developing the 2CV...

[@truthseeker8483]

Makes modern car makers efforts look pretty useless.....

[@robertfayette4877]

The Soy Boys got themselves a 1970 DS21 dressed up as an ID (D Super - a downgraded version). Was the car originally purchased in the Netherlands where they have a tendency to mix all the parts from different vehicles if they come in handy ? All doors, except for the inner handles are the ID, as well as the distinctive aluminum covers for the B- and C-pillars, same goes for the interior vanity mirrors. The car had a poor respray during which somebody had to tear off the roof lining (it never sags, it never comes off easily on an ID, but the roof is made of plastic and somebody removed for a respray and to exchange the seal around it ). The car had an extensive, but not thorough renovation. Lack of basic knowledge of the Citroen car company and the European history makes this vid very misleading especially for the young enthusiasts. As a matter of fact the Germans used Citroens BL during WWII in occupied Europe as well as did the members of the Communist secret police in many enslaved countries afterwards. I can't imagine incorporating a prototype of a 2CV into being a useful military vehicle. The Germans had their KDF 82 Kubelwagens, why would they want a primitive 2CV ? ! It could've been a good basic presentation of one of the greatest cars in history, but you had to spoil it with your show-off, I'm such a cool guy manner - Liam !

[@CitEnthusiast]

The roofs were fiberglass, not plastic. Very early models had no roof liner (this car obviously did) so the roof was translucent, making the interior quite bright in daylight. I agree, they get too many factoids wrong, and don't give much useful info about the cars. I do like to see young people enthusiastic about these cars, but please won't they actually learn something? We need smart young people interested in maintaining these cars, our mechanics are aging out or dying off! Lots of money just waiting to be made by an entrepreneurial young person.

[@jemma_19988]

I own one of these but to be honest like the owner I am no expert on the cars I just love it for what it is

[@theneil007]

How much does he want for his car? I'll buy it.

[@jourwalis-8875]

And, also: The Citroen DS is not a silent car. It is very noisy! I own one myself.....

[@sundar999]

Fix it! They used to be quiet inside

[@CitEnthusiast]

@@sundar999 Not much you can do to quiet them. I've owned several DSs, including a 1966 Chapron cabriolet that I wish I still had. But I had a 1975 DS23 and test drove a 1977 CX (in 1980) and was sold immediately on the difference in noise levels. At high speed the windows of the DS (say, over 100 MPH) would pull out, increasing the noise (I'd even put in exhaust ventilation under the rear window - it was something we did back in the day - with no change). They are noisy cars for sure, especially by today's standards.

[@sundar999]

@@CitEnthusiast It's subjective but by today's standards they may sound a bit noisy. Interesting that the windows were pulled outwards ay very high speed. It could be caused by body shape, not so much inside pressure maybe?

[@jamdown1ify]

Where is the car, all these silly close up.

[@SCRABBLE888]

What sort of colours is it ? The very rare Beige Agate AC091 ? I like it, i also have one: citroen.page.tl/G-A-L-L-E-R-Y/kat-20.htm

[@ET-vl2jr]

What I am more interested in is that S30-z in the background at 0:55

[@SuperMoo17]

+Swag Police It's an Alfa Spider

[@freddyfrediere8275]

A-TA VA

[@Sergio_Loureiro]

You got some facts wrong. André Citröen died in 1934, way before the nazis invaded France in June 1940.

[@MICHGO1]

START AT 1:42 TO AVOID THE OVERLY DRAMATIC MUSIC AND GET TO WHY WE'RE HE...THE CAR. WHEN MASERATI BOUGHT THE COMPANY THEY PUT ONE OF THEIR ENGINES IN IT IMPROVING THE POWER SIGNIFICANTLY. CARS DON'T NEED WINGS, AIR INTAKE ADD-ONS AND NOISY MUFFLERS TO BE INTERESTING.

[@mrt4248]

wrong

[@CitEnthusiast]

Haha, you get this all wrong. Citroën bought Maserati and the engine was put in the SM, not the DS (although there were prototypes using the DS).

[@garyparkkonen8986]

music sucks

[@dudlydewright8132]

Wow those are ugly cars. Looks like a dung beetle with wheels.