The Citroën DS - a car from the future?

The Citroën DS seemed to have come through a time portal from the future when it launched. Maybe it had, when you consider it was used as a car from 2015 in Back to the Future Part II, even though it had been launched 60 years earlier just a month before Marty McFly originally time travelled to. Over the years it’s taken on a mythic status, especially in its native France. It’s the car that saved their beloved President Charles de Gaulle not once, but twice. The current owners of the brand thought so highly of its status that it spawned an entire range of cars in 2009, “DS Automobiles”, although the company was maybe trading on the name rather than creating anything truly innovative like the original.
Why did Citroën decide to make such a radical car when post war customers were happy to have any car at all? And with such a hit on their hands, why did Citroën take 20 years to replace it?
Music:
The imaginatively titled "String Quartet Piece" by Big Car: / string-quartet-piece
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Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenta...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenta...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organis...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DS_Auto...
www.dsautomobiles.co.uk/insid...
www.Citroënet.org.uk/prototype...
www.Citroënet.org.uk/passenger...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre-...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_24...
www.Citroën-ds-id.com/index.ht...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_C...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard
www.windingroad.com/articles/...
#bigcar

[@BigCar2]

Erratum: I mentioned the hydraulic suspension was powered by "oil and water". Water wasn't involved. I don't know how that slipped in there.

[@jjlasne]

Hydro? It is oleo-pneumatic for an oil and air suspension.

[@ccooper8785]

But, but this is the interweb !!!! Never admit you have made a mistake; NEVER admit someone else is right; If necessary TYPE IN CAPITALS - this proves beyond doubt that you are right... 👍👍👍👍👍

[@NinoCotonato]

I will unsuscribe from your channel for that... LoL...

[@BigCar2]

@@NinoCotonato Darn!

[@martintaper7997]

@@jjlasne You're right, but "hydro" is generally used with any fluid now, such as in "hydraulic".

[@rafthejaf8789]

In 1962 when I was a child and living in south London we had an exchange student come to stay with us for a week. At the end of his stay Patrice's parents came to pick him up and they arrived at our house in a Citroen DS! Wow what is that I remember thinking! His father invited us all to go for a drive and so off we went around central London in a spaceship from France! I remember thinking how cool his dad was because he steered the car with one hand while the other dangled outside against the door. It was so cool and I had never seen anyone drive like that before. I also remember how smooth and comfortable the ride was and how how everyone stared at the car as it shared the road with Ford Prefects, Rovers and Austins etc. I never forgot the DS and years later I bought one in a French village for £800. I got to to drive my own DS around central London parking it where I wanted because it couldn't be towed or clamped and had French plates so the tickets just went in the glove box! It is without a doubt the coolest car I've ever owned and I really regretted selling it! The French philosopher Roland Barthes wrote an essay about the DS in which he compared its impact to that of the medieval cathedral and likened it to a spaceship from another planet. No other car mass produced car has ever achieved such iconic status nor ever will!

[@ProvisionalFunkExperiment]

I was a child in 1962 in London, when I pooped, I pooped good yo on da street, errday

[@rafthejaf8789]

@@ProvisionalFunkExperiment Oh no, I hope you're feeling better now! 👍🇵🇸

[@grandicellichannel]

"A Spaceship fallen from the Sky". That's what the DS really is.

[@t.b.g.504]

Was David Bowie in one, based on that description?

[@freefallin6871]

The DS 21 was, far and away, the car I wanted most as a kid. While I loved muscle cars and pick up trucks, it was that futuristic and quirky Citroen what really intrigued me. Been a fan of French cars ever since.

[@leokimvideo]

I was lucky enough to be driven around in one of these cars as a teenager. It's an incredible car with so many innovations that were not being used in the 70's. It'a the most comfortable car I've ever been in, literally a lounge chair with wheels. Things I remember is aluminium body parts, inboard disk brakes with wear sensors, unusual floating steering wheel design, button foot brake and a style inside & out that was unlike any other vehicle on the road.

[@MrDoggydog68]

My neighbours in Santa Clara California USA had one . The most unique car in the area .

[@pierrechristian6767]

My younger brother and I had 6 of them between us, mine was a 1958 id19, with no power steering. My brother's cars started with 1 1969 id20 then a 1971 DS20 safari, his last Citroen was a DS 20 Pallas. My mum had a 1972 DS 21, it was the first Citroen with EFI and had the quirky gear change using a hydraulic brain to shift the 4-speed manual without a clutch pedal, the gear lever did all the clutch work.

[@michaeldelisieux]

They could also be lowered ( in the rear half of the car) or raised up, depending on the environment/terrain you were in. Cars with " personality "; what we lack nowadays in ALL meanings that word may have.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

@@michaeldelisieux This was also the system that made it able to change the wheels, and at first made the car sink when the engine wasn't running. After the start the hydraulic system became pumped up and the car got its proper height for driving. It also centered the front wheels to neutral after being stopped. And on DS20 the extra lights turned with the wheels, pointing in the intended direction. For many years the French used yellow headlights, believing it gave better light in fog, I think?

[@556johny556]

Whether you are obsessed with traditional Citroens like I am, or if you're completely indifferent to what they've done over the years, you gotta admit the DS is truly a car like no other. Its design, and engineering behind it is something that will never be repeated again.

[@johnwaga3702]

The DS is quite simply THE car of the 20th Century.

[@VinDieselS70]

Was just about to say that as no car has ever been designed like a DS so it is quite unique and very modern looking despite being a 60 year old design.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

The DS was quite futuristic and ahead of its time.

[@truthseeker8483]

DS is a car that makes every other a disappointment

[@carlgeorgtsigakis498]

@@truthseeker8483 Except as mentioned, the engine was always a let down. I've owned a DS23iE and it was a very rough running thing.. The best engine was the 21iE I think.. Less power, but ran a bit smoother. The DS never got the 6 cyl engine it deserved.

[@mjmonjure]

My father was a Porsche mechanic in the 60's in New Orleans. Occasionally someone would bring him their DS for repair. I will never forget the first time I saw this beautiful, futuristic car. I was instantly mesmerized and fell in love with it. I have spent a lifetime with my secret affair but unfortunately never able to obtain one for myself. C'est la vie.

[@andrewemery4272]

To be honest, you were lucky not to own one. When they went wrong, they really went wrong! I had Citroen 2CVs, and loved them. The two cars couldn't be more different.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

A good few years ago, my Dad wanted to replace the R21 he had and liked the look of the newly launched Citroen Xantia. At the dealer, on the forecourt was a metallic brown shark nose DS. It was about the same price as a mid spec Xantia at the time. I urged Dad to at least test drive it ( I was 16 and a massive car buff) and got firm 'No'. I wish he had bought it, but I think the upkeep costs scared him off if nothing else.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

One friend had a Citroen GS and had to change the tube for the brake fluid in the center of the swingarm in the back! It was a nightmare with hardly any room around. But in Denmark several 2CV got taken apart for a full body rust-treatment being galvanized, so they most likely still exist?

[@davidelliott5843]

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 Rust was THE problem. Today you fix the body panels and zinc metal spray before painting then use AN type braided hoses for anything complicated with straight pipes or at least simple ends between.

[@yankee2yankee216]

It’s (almost) never too late!

[@ODINS_daughter]

My Father owned one of these 1973 beauties when I was a teenager. My favorite story about the car is this. • I was sent to get it washed at our city's local Scrub-a-Dub touchless car wash. The line of cars waiting for a wash was unbelievably long, so I turned the engine off. Suddenly the car wash attendant came over and said to me, " Miss, I'm sorry but you can't take this car into the car wash, it's body is sitting on the ground." 😂 I turned on the car, and the hydraulic setting lifted the car to proper driving height and I replied, "Will this do?" He immediately called his co-workers over! They excitedly wanted to know everything about our beauty! You felt like a movie star driving it around my US town. PS: I must mention her Maserati engine had a distinct purr and once you drove it nothing else compared. ❤❤❤

[@StephiSensei26]

Having experienced the ride of the DS (France, 1965), unlike many Americans, I can vouch for the mind - blowing firsthand experience. It was a dream to ride in! It looked so strange, but after you rode in it, you didn't want anything else. and the 2CV was a trip all its own! Hysterical, but the same great ride.

[@davidelliott5843]

Renault 4 was their version of the same idea. Soft ride with so much body roll that it scraped the door handles (;-0) but they stayed on the road.

[@lvoldum]

I've had a range of the DS's successors - BX, Xantia, C5 - all with the hydropneumatic suspension. Extremely comfortable. And I once had a 'de Gaulle-esque' moment, where Citroën saved my life. I was going 160 km/h in a BX on a motorway, when the steering wheel started to vibrate discretely. After some 5-10 minutes of driving, I decided to stop to check if something was wrong. It turned out that I had had a flat tyre on the left front wheel - and had driven with it for so long that the rubber had left the wheel and I was driving on the rim... 160 km/h! Thanks to the hydropneumatics, it took only a couple of minutes to change the wheel, and I was off again - very thankful towards Citroën!

[@anthonyperkins7556]

The famous Citroën hydropneumatic suspension gave a comfortable silky smooth wafty magic carpet like ride.

[@LadyAnuB]

In a way, this suspension didn't help you to realize the problem. More feedback would've gotten you to pull over and check out the issue. The question is how to provide such feedback with this suspension system?

[@Perkelenaattori]

My town has cobblestone streets and I got my 2nd generation C5 to go 100 kph over them and I didn't feel a thing. I also loved since it was the first car with double laminated windows that I had so all the evil sounds of the outside world were far away when I drove it. It was an excellent car.

[@lvoldum]

@Perkelenaattori I've also had a 2nd generation C5 with double laminated windows! Fantastic car! And with the biturbo V6 diesel, it was like a rocket 😉

[@mw8653]

I had a CX estate with its long wheelbase and suspension it was a fantastic towing vehicle.

[@nekite1]

I remember riding as an 11 year old kid back in 1965 getting a lift home from school by one of my classmate's dad. He had the DS 7 seat estate and I sat in the back and still marvel at how smooth the ride was. This was in Malawi, where the roads were terrible and full of potholes at that time.

[@jonwatson9765]

That reminds me, in my friends estate version the floor in back opened into two full length bench seats.

[@willcoleman2014]

Same here - but in Kenya….

[@harveysmith100]

It must have seemed like the future back in 65. Leave springs were the norm in Africa back then. I remember seeing an estate version in a safari park in Zimbabwe in 88. I went to Malawi in 91, what a lovely country, I have promised myself that after Covid I will go back for a holiday.

[@nekite1]

@@harveysmith100 It did indeed - my father had a Vauxhall 101 deluxe estate at the time - not a patch on the DS at all.

[@whatthedeuce47d68]

Had a CX version in South Africa..

[@toneyeye]

The "bug eye" Citroen was the reason I became a car design buff as a kid growing up in the 1970s. I must have sketched that car a thousand times from all angles. It is still my favorite car body design today.

[@lornespry]

Decades ago, I had many chances to drive DS models, as well as the Maserati powered SM. These were astonishing automobiles and the most comfortable I've ever driven. Electronics, fuel management systems and engine design and manufacturing techniques have pushed automotive engineering a very long way forward since these cars were built. But, I cannot help thinking that in some ways the DS and SM - fully analogue of course - have still not been matched or equaled today. To the uninitiated, that may seem like an extreme statement, but that's because most of us have never driven one.

[@michaelheimbrand5424]

Me and my 1973 DS 23 Familiale thank you a lot for this episode. It´s by far the best and most comfortable car ever made. And I say that as an owner of a Mercedes w140 S-class. In 30 years of driving DS´es, I have never had a single breakdown. They are crazy overbuilt.

[@neilwalsh4058]

Try a series 3 Jaguar XJ. I've owned a couple of W140's but the Jag was a slightly better ride. Hard to believe but true to me

[@nigelclark7360]

Built to a standard, not down to a price. Which is a very good standard .

[@davidelliott5843]

Those that had extensive rust treatment (eg Zeibart tm) lasted well. Anything left with factory finish just evaporated. They were no worse than anything else of the day but a shame all the same.

[@robertusga]

@@neilwalsh4058 I have had DSs and XJ's. They both have a different great ride. Loved the 6 cylinder smooth jag engine. But in terms of carpet like ride over rough roads, the DS beats the XJ by a country mile.

[@evoste]

In my top 5 best designed cars of all time. An absolute all time classic.

[@jakestilson1947]

Every Monday morning when I left the rail station ar Cambridge there was DS parked a few yards down the street. This was around 1958. I was in love with her and was gratified to learn that Brigitte Bardot was enamoured too and had said that when you enter a DS it whispers, "I love you". Sensuary Suspension.!

[@DavidHall-ge6nn]

"The Goddess" was such an apt moniker for this timeless car. It looked nothing like anything else on the road, and still doesn't. Wonderful presentation of this iconic, futuristic fusion of design and technology. Citroen was wise to delay DS production until they'd gotten it right, otherwise the teething problems would have doomed it, relegating it to a footnote in automotive history. Instead it became a legend. Thanks. Really enjoyed this one.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

In some European countries, la Déesse was known as 'the shark'

[@antigen4]

It was actuallly called ‘Diane’ I believe ….. no?

[@pashakdescilly7517]

@@antigen4 No, the Dyane was a slightly more stylish version of the Deuche - the 2CV. Fun fact - the cheaper version of 'la Déesse' was 'l'Idée' (in English, 'the IDea') - to make the DS a little more accessible, and easier to get used to, drop some of the power hydraulics

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

@@pashakdescilly7517 I have had a few of both over the years. Not sure there was any difference in the hydraulics. But base models 19's were IDs for sure.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

@@ForeverNeverwhere1 The DS had power hydraulics to operate the gearshift, the ID lacked that

[@gtrulez]

In the Netherlands you can still see alot of DS/ID's on the road, almost on a daily basis too! This summer on a 45 min trip on the freeway i spotted 6 of them in total😎 its amazing how many of these cars still last to this day. Especially if you consider all the new tech that it had for the time and they DO use salt here to de-ice the roads in the winter season. In 2019 there were still 5145 DS and ID models registered on a dutch license plate!

[@weedmastersr]

Incredible that so many are still on the road for such an old car.

[@algrayson8965]

@@weedmastersr First thing I saw from the tour bus window as we crossed from Germany to Denmark was a pre-67 DS sitting in the weeds by a barn.

[@OmmerSyssel]

@@algrayson8965 must be a while ago you visited Denmark. Hopefully you didn't confuse much else with the Netherlands... ;)

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

Yeah, none left in France though as they have all been bought up by cloggies.

[@robertusga]

The Netherlands is DS heaven 😃

[@NicholasSadlier]

The dipstick story - one of the best WW2 stories I've ever heard.

[@BigCar2]

A very brave bit of defiance. Some people in the war took big risks.

[@billolsen4360]

@@BigCar2 French technical ingenuity from a patriotic executive "accomplir un sabotage!"

[@bobschenkel7921]

In the late summer of 1967 my Grandmother took me to Europe, on a three week "tour". I was nine years old. When we got to France, I was stunned by the look of the Taxis we rode in. They were Citroen DS's, and after initial apprehension about getting into it, I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice and comfortable they were, and was sad when we left France for that reason. I didn't know the total history so thank you for all that info. Very well done.

[@alanstarkie2001]

1976, I was driving through Croydon - south London UK and I spotted a DS21 Pallas in Bleu Andalou colour, in immaculate condition - only £450. I had to have it. What a fantastic car. Totally ahead of its time. I wish I still had it.

[@JakobKsGarage]

I love my DS! The only old car, where - if all else is in good working order - you can change the "springs and dampers" in all four corners in under half an hour. Cheap also: 4 green spheres cost me around 130 GBP last time i did it. It of course has some french laisez-faire solitions also: The rear suspension pipes joint together in the left rear fender, where it, though covered with an aluminium plate, can catch quite a bit of mud... And the overrun hose from the radiator ends right above the right front disc brake! Also you can, like on a Land Rover, get quite some galvanic corrosion, where the aluminium and steel parts meet. Thanks for a nice and well researched video, Andy 👍

[@grumpycalenzana7514]

" ... you can change the springs and dampers ..." Mr. Walter MItty, wake up, there are NO springs or dampers in a DS . LOLOL Better be soner when you npost. Thanks

[@JakobKsGarage]

@@grumpycalenzana7514 The spheres ARE the springs and dampers. That was kind of the point, mr Grumpy.

[@caileanshields4545]

Been waiting for this one; one of my all-time favourite cars and one of the most beautiful in my view. If ever I won the lottery, a all-over black DS would be one of the first cars I'd pick up.

[@545i44]

Same!

[@JakobKsGarage]

Prices havent skyrocketed that much, like on many other classics, since I bought mine in 1999. You can get a decent one, without the rust issues of northern european cars, for around 10K eur in southern France. The inline four engine is really oldscool and simple, almost like a Ford Cortina or a Volvo Amazon. So does the hydraulcs work and it hasn't any serious rust issues, I would say go for it! I'll never forget the first time I drove mine: I had "sea legs" afterwards, due to the floaty ride.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@JakobKsGarage I'd love a safari. We call them The Toad in sweden.

[@onelyone6976]

If I won a significant amount from a lottery, I'd get an SM instead, simply because that's the only way I'll ever afford one

[@Richard_Turner]

1973 DS23 Pallas in black 😍😍 and that's coming from a guy who loves all things Speed! I wonder how smooth this would be with an EV motor 🤔

[@Kingwoodish]

My first car at 17 was a 1959 Peugeot 405; this was in Amarillo, Texas in the USA. It had been brought back from Vietnam by a soldier. It was a rare car in America, gave me good service. I wanted a Citroen DS but never saw one in America until 1980 or so. It wasn't running and the owner wouldn't sell it to me. I settled for a Saab 99 then and had a succession of those, culminating in a Saab 9-3 turbo Coupe. It was destroyed in a crash but protected my wife as it was designed.

[@martinquerre9614]

The Peugeot 405 is a model which came to existence only in the mid-eighties. The car you acquired from this Vietnam veteran must have been a four door sedan 403 which indeed would match the year of its making. It certainly cannot be a 404 either as this later model meant to replace the ageing 403 did not roll out of its assembly line before 1960 .. Peter Falk is often seen driving a convertible 403 cabriolet in several episodes of his succesful impersonation of detective Columbo . I bet you will find similarities !!!!!

[@TomTom-xp2jb]

French Cadillac!!! A buddy had a '73 D24. Loved that car!!! Could take corners all day better than any other car I've ever driven. That hydraulic suspension is amazing and the Pirellis really gripped. 👍🌟👏

[@liamhithersay3120]

I was lucky enough to have had 4 DS’ when growing up in the south of France. Takes me back to my youth. Thank you

[@mafiousbj]

My grandpa had a friend who owned one of these and he would always, ALWAYS mention this car saved the French president's life. That was probably the best accidental marketing boost any car maker could get!

[@adamesd3699]

Thank you so much for this episode. I remember seeing this car or one of its successors in the late 1970s. I also remember a TV ad from back then, showing its height adjustable suspension (the ad showed barrels falling off a truck and all cars behind the truck have to stop, but the Citroen just rises up and keeps going). Definitely car of the century contender.

[@JoriDiculous]

Amazing that the DS is still a futuristic car today, closely followed by the brilliant CX (Had one our self, most brilliant car and so comfy! The only car you can drive for 8+ hours straight and by as fresh as when you started) Really, innovations in all dictionaries should just have a DS as example of what innovations is.

[@koyaanisqatsi316]

When an 47-67 year old car is still futuristic (which the DS is), then this says a lot about modern cars.

[@davidelliott5843]

Today's legacy car makers (all of them except Tesla) basically run a cartel with the government regulators where nothing advances any more than the regulations demand. This is why we still have water soluble brake fluid powered by a vacuum servo, McPherson strut front and twist beam rear suspension, engines covered in crap to meet emissions regs, etc, etc. There is zero innovation. The irtroen was not complicated it was just different. We can't have that. Oh No!

[@Rouxenator]

Incredible! I went to a car collecting mate of mine to convince my wife to be we should use his '69 SL280 but she saw a brown DS "which is so much more big and comfy" and so that was my wedding car. She was right, the 3rd seat in the Pigola was tight.

[@mpersad]

The remarkable engineering in this iconic car still astonishes me! A fitting tribute from your terrific channel!

[@markandrizzi9252]

…of all of the European cars I have owned including Benz, BMW, Peugeot, Saab marques and others, my DS was the most memorable of all by far!

[@Greg_Chase]

We had a neighbor from South America in the 1970s who owned one of these. It is a physically repulsive body design. Just breathtakingly bad, the styling. At least for the U.S. market. They did not sell well. Maybe in France, the styling tastes are *_RADICALLY_* different from the U.S. Surely it's good under the hood. But the styling is such a turn-off, it makes you want to drive it to the junkyard, maybe they'll take it. Our family owned Jaguar, Porsche, Corvettes, Lincolns, Lotus, but never anything like this. Don't get me wrong - the reputation for nice features is probably earned. But it reminds me of a realtor who tried to get us interested in a home. "It's old, but totally updated and modern inside." The house from the outside was just freaking awful, just unappealing. "I'm not inviting our friends over if we own a place like this." If you buy an expensive item, it better have some visual appeal. No visual appeal? Forget it. .

[@simeonjamison3034]

I bought myself a rusty old 1974 DS 23 Pallas in 2017 when I was still in high-school. I've spent the past few years restoring it little by little as I had the funds available. I still have it and often drive it long distances. I have never had any major issues and it turns any boring drive into an adventure. Based in South Africa.

[@steelframe]

My grandparents showed up at our house in one of the first Citroens in the late 1950s. It was truly a space ship for me at age 8 or 9. I just remember Grandpa claiming that this was "the car of the future" and that if you wanted to see what cars would be like in 1965, here it was TODAY! The suspension was truly amazing and he loved how the car would self level as they each sat in the seats (they were large people). Grandpa loved having the most unique cars, and had a string of unusual models including a Graham Supercharger, a bunch of Cadillacs, Mercedes, a Borgward, and the first VW bug on the West coast(he claimed). Always something new and different at Grandpas place.

[@shabbos-goy9407]

A great essay (as usual) The DS is an absolute masterpiece.

[@NeurodivergentSuperiority]

The intro is absolutely accurate and perfect

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

It’s quite funny. Seconds prior to pressing “play” i was thinking that to understand how amazing the DS was, you only have to look at what other car manufactors were offering at the same time.

[@percyvalle921]

I never had the opportunity to drive my dad's DS 21... it was sold to a collector. All this is so far away now... All is left is the legend and tears in my eyes. 🇨🇵

[@capang9555]

I saw one of the wagons in 2019 at the Maryhill car show. I knew it was a Citron but had no idea how revolutionary it was. I feel honored to have seen one.

[@MrMoelbach]

The ID/DS story is the story of the most beautyful car ever build. I totally adore the Citroën.🇩🇰

[@earlgrey9964]

I hitch-hiked around the States for part of the summer recesses when I was in highschool (yes, teens used to do that...), and got a lift from a French couple touring the U.S. in one of these marvels. Not sure what model it was, but was big enough that we had to raise our voices to converse between the back seat and the front. Talked them into letting me take the wheel for 10 minutes in a flat, uneventful road in northern Florida. Blew off the speed limit in 2 minutes and relegated to the back seat. More than 50 years later, I can still recall how it felt. This was a very special machine for sure....the road was just something you saw through the windshield, you were not attached to it. Truely unique to drive.

[@jackprick9797]

What a beautiful car! Even years later, it is stunning.

[@eriktempelman2097]

Brilliant car, great video. Jay Leno claims it's the most comfortable car he owns. And, unless he has stopped doing so in the meantime, musical genius David Byrne drives a DS every day.

[@billolsen4360]

Yes, a very luxurious feel

[@ndirugabuya5942]

A really fantastic and alluring car really provided comfortable rides even over rough and rugged African roads.CS Ds model is still the car presently in need and wish its repeat can come into production.

[@MortyCapp]

This is THE ONE I was waiting for. There is the DS and there are cars. My childhood is mainly DS, CX and GSA. Brilliant cars to travel in. Thank you so much.

[@terencejay8845]

They used a DS in a 'Black Magic' chocolates advert decades ago. Jet black, it just seemed to float along. Stunning.

[@MrSebfrench76]

You disserve to be french 😉👍

[@corrbhan5138]

I owned a 1972 DS 21 Pallas IE as a daily driver during 2001-2004. Had to get rid of it because of the high milage I did at the time, and the car also suffered rust problems. But wow, I loved that car! The comfort, the styling, truly an all-time great! An absolutely revolutionary car. Hope to geat one again as a second car.

[@davidelliott5843]

In the mid 1980s, I had a Mk1 BX 1.9GT which had the satellite switchgear. One of the many cars I should never have sold.

[@buickboy92]

A great historical review of what made the DS (and its variants) brilliant. Absolutely one of my top favorite cars. I've wanted a 2CV, DS, and an SM for years now. French cars are, in my opinion some of the most innovative, daring, and gorgeous vehicles to ever grace the road.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

I had the chance to learn to drive on a 1968 Citroën DS and to have a DX when I lived in France. I like the cars we have in America but they seem to be so bland and similar in comparison. The engineer who created these were probably from the old school "école des beaux arts" when you have to be functional, esthetically pleasing, innovative and functional in the same time. The Citroën brand was very innovative. Even with their lower price model like the traction or the 2cv which is almost impossible to turn on its side. (English isn't my language,obviously)

[@ccooper8785]

Citroen using the DS name for todays offering is an insult to the engineers and designers of the original. When I look at the cars we are offered today, I find little of interest. In the unlikely event I ever need a 4WD then I would want a practical interior which would rule almost out all of the SUVs. The crossover fad cannot die out quickly enough for me.

[@cliveyboyb5770]

Similar Badge engineering to MG when they produced the Maestro and Montego etc

[@truthseeker8483]

In 2021 people are ignorant of engineering excellence and just want a television screen on the dashboard to stare at....unfortunately

[@cristovaogoncalves2479]

Totally agree!

[@Perkelenaattori]

I gotta say though as someone who actually testdrove a DS7, there's still quite a bit of the old Citroen "bonkers" attitude in the DS 7. Just look at the lights of the car. There's a good video here on KZbin showing how they work.

[@danielstefanovic2604]

@@Perkelenaattori Yeah but the lights aint that special audi has the similar matrix style headlights. But the ds9 is cool though, to bad its made in China.

[@terminal-velocity111]

Such a well researched post. You’ve really excelled yourself with a brilliant history of the DS. Your vids stand alone on KZbin.

[@RichardDCook]

Thanks so much for the excellent video! My father bought a Citroen DS around 1970 and it became my daily vehicle in Uni. Even in the late 1970s it was futuristic and far ahead of the competition. Did you mention that you could remove any one of the four wheels and still drive? The suspension was active, as you were going around a curve at speed you could feel one side pushing up to compensate. Likewise it would push up to compensate for an asymmetrical load. And you could set the suspension to various heights, from a low-slung aerodynamic highway car to a high-stance off-road vehicle. When the motor was off the car slowly sunk, and when started up the car rose from the ground, a party trick for those unaware. Another party trick was letting go of the steering wheel in a tight turn- the wheel stayed wherever you left it.

[@TheGearhead222]

I remember seeing up close a Citroen DS in the 1990's in Austin. Such a beautiful car-John in Texas

[@stevehallam0850]

One of the greatest car designs of all time. Utterly French in the best possible way.

[@jonnection]

Thank you for these videos. You have possibly the best design analysis of products I have ever come across on the internet. And now I am talking about design, not styling. Products are never born in a vacuum, there are always all sorts of politics, economic situations, mishaps and happy coincidences at play. Your car stories capture that background setting really well. Chapeau!

[@BigCar2]

Thank you!

[@ruppert5134]

@@BigCar2 Thx for the great analysis ...can you do this one just for fun ;-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIelYZmue7GsqpI

[@lakrids-pibe]

Yes. I agree.

[@shabbos-goy9407]

@@lakrids-pibe Me too. Excellent work.

[@karlpartridge9546]

I bought one recently can't get enough of those swivelling headlights, or the nifty suspension, or the out there styling, or the one piece wheel, or the way you can drive it on three wheels or the nifty jack etc etc

[@nickwebb9290]

The original ID/DS design is timeless. If like me, as a youngster when this wonder first appeared ,it was an absolute wonder. And still is. Shame on Citroen for using that name on the dreadful tugboat creation that carries that title now

[@tomarmstrong1281]

I am filled with admiration for these videos and others in the same vein. Or more accurately the people who make them. Research, graphics, rare photographs, commentary, time line, insights into the politics and individuals concerned, filming, editing. So many skills, and the wherewithal to knit them together in a totally entertaining, and professionally presented package. As good as, if not better than many studio productions from teams of specialists. I salute you all.

[@eugenetrollip751]

I had the little baby, GS Club, a 1220cc version in 1975, best car ever! Same pneumatic suspension on a small car - what a pleasure!

[@tomrees4812]

Have been fascinated by this car since I had a Corgi toy of one in the 60’s so thanks for making this documentary. Living in a rural backwater I think the first time I saw one in the flesh was on a visit to London in 1967.

[@quattroTorsen]

Also worth mentioning the disc brakes were inboard, reducing the unsprung mass on the suspension. Quite revolutionary back then too ✌

[@MrGrattou]

Still is very rare. Probably because of cooling issues. Maybe ceramic disks should all be inboard though.

[@davidelliott5843]

Alfa Romeo cars with inboard discs had no brake issues. It's all about airflow. It's rare today because car manufacturers refuse to innovate. They buy what's available and throw that on. Result is we all drive basically the same car with a different skins and cosmetics.

[@IronFreee]

My grandfather bought one and was still using it when I was a child in the 80s. I was never a car enthusiast but I remember liking the suspension system when the car rose as if it was some park attraction or sci-fi vehicle :D

[@stephenberry1205]

Great video about a great car. December 1971 began my 50 years of Citroen addiction with a 1962 Australia assembled ID19. It had manual steering and a conventional brake pedal disguising the high pressure brake value. Trying to not make is so weird Down Under. My 1964 ID19 had the more aerodynamic front end with rubber over riders and the 'champignon' brake button. So wonderful. Next the 1968 DS21 Hydraulic gearchange and power streering - with the wonderful turning headlights followed by a 1970 D Super and then the pinnacle DS - A 1972 DS21 EFI Pallas 5 speed with leather. Hurtling imperiously through the Aussie countryside age 23 at 100-110 mph (160-175 kph) - the supreme touring car... And the 1965 ID20 Safari with the roof rack set down into the roof form and knurled rubber on the leading edge... the only car ever to have an integrated aerodynamic roof rack... that did not whistle at 90 mph. Nothing surpassed the DS Safari as a beast of burden offering huge comfort, even fully laden with its self levelling suspension, fold away rear occasional seats that turned adults into big kids... with delight.. plus those turning headlights. It was also a fabulous tow car with the 123 inch wheel base (Same a LWB Silver Shadow), small distance between rear axle and tow ball plus self levelling with trailer. Exceptionally stable....

[@brianehni5918]

Dad was a neurosurgeon in Houston. He and my mother went to France for a convention and brought back a DS wagon. What a great vehicle it was! We had that thing for 12 years.

[@brianehni5918]

Ours was a blue & white Brake model. I remember the facing seats in the rear.

[@DominatorLegend]

So glad you finally made a video on the legendary DS. Fun fact: here in Spain the DS was nicknamed "Tiburón" (Shark) due to its shape vaguely resembling the animal. I've been lucky enough to find a couple of really well preserved models not even far from my hometown, but I shouldn't be surprised, DS owners really cherish their cars.

[@schmutzfabrikag5304]

Same in Serbia it was nicknamed "ajkula" (shark). Here in Slovenia it was called "žaba" (frog).

[@imtiredtoday]

In the Netherlands we called the DS a "snoek" or Pike for exactly the same reason..

[@Silver_o]

I saw one some years ago abandoned by the roadside (first time I ever saw or heard of the car). My dad told me it's nick named the duck because of it's shape.

[@ms-jl6dl]

Strange fact: in Yugoslavia too. DS was "shark" 2 CV was "frog".

[@schmutzfabrikag5304]

@@ms-jl6dl where in Yugoslavia? In Slovenia we never called it "shark", DS was "frog" (also nickname for CX), and 2CV was nicknamed "spaček" (meaning something like odd looking)

[@lakrids-pibe]

"A learned conversation about Søren Kirkegaard" Hehehe! While chain-smoking gauloises, no doubt.

[@BigCar2]

Indeed!

[@jerennicmeijerink5865]

I was lucky to be able to buy as a student several DS's, as they were quite cheap early and mid eighties. Not the most well preserved ones, but an amazing joy to drive. When I had my first jobs, DS was still my favorite car. I had a 67 DS 21 pallas (with finally over 500k km), a DS20 familiale (which never made it to a complete restoration project) and still have a very sound and solid DS 21 ie pallas semiautomatique. Not my daily driver, but so much fun on family weekends out or holiday in France!! Thank you for this wonderful and well documented story!

[@robertlondonse14]

We love our 1971 DS21ie Pallas semi-auto, wherever we are it makes people smile and the older generation loves to reminisce about their Father or Grandfathers's car. It's now done 175,000km still on its original engine. Thanks for the fun video.

[@annecy49]

Being French I am delighted to see your video about such an iconic car! My dad had many Peugeots, to name a few, the famous 205 GTi and a 604 he kept for 20+ years (what a comfortable car!). Therefore, Citroens were always like a foreign "thing" to me and I remember only once sitting at the rear of a DS, but for a short ride in town. Many years have passed and passion has grown for this car, a car I would love to at least drive once in my life, a car I could stare at and admire every day. Thanks for this brilliant and well-documented presentation, it is always a great pleasure to watch!

[@davidelliott5843]

Peugeot 505 was an excellent car but Citroen CX was head and shoulders better. The huge snag was corrosion. I think the less complicated 505 coped better against the dreaded tin worm.

[@peterwright4093]

My parents drove three Citroens in the 1960's and early 70's- two sedans, and the longroof, in New York State, where they were rarities. As you now know, these cars were the most innovative and advanced cars of the day, and Dad put them to good use, be it romping the roads in SCCA rallies, or hauling a load of railroad ties to the site of a scout camp that he was building, or pulling a little teardrop trailer as our family toured the 'States and Canada. We also had 2CVs and the occasional Mehari as loaner cars from the dealer, as at the time, getting a new set of Michelin tires was a weeks-long process.

[@palco22]

I have never felt the comfort level or the total ability to stay on any road as with the DS........in any other car to this day ! I would love to have the luxury to own one today ! The Citroen DS always makes for a great video ! Well done and thanks !

[@geraldweissburg8618]

I sat once in the rear seat of a Citroen in the 1960s. Nothing like it. So comfortable that I was stunned. Just a seat!

[@michaellinner7772]

It blew my mind that Citroën once actually produced normal looking cars before the 1960s. I once took a ride in one of these in Switzerland in the early 80s. It was like floating around on my living room couch. It felt like it was immune to gravity the ride was so luxurious and smooth. I would give just about anything to own one.

[@TheRodable]

The oleo-pneumatic suspension had some other desirable features: Citroen's system of a fixed mass of gas (nitrogen) with a variable volume of oil in the cylinder has superior spring characteristics to the pure air systems used by Mercedes and others that use a variable mass of air. I believe that early on, Mercedes wanted to use the Citroen system, but it was refused so they went to the inferior air system instead. Citroen, did however, licence the system to Rolls Royce for some years. Other ingenious features were that the oil allowed the wheels to be simply damped by small special spring washers at the base of the cylinder - no separate shock absorbers required. The brakes were automatically load compensated as the pressures in the front and back spheres were proportional to the load and these pressures were used in the ID for the front and rear brakes. (This may have been the first split braking system too). The DS used a fulcrum device under the brake button that distributed the front and back brake pressures dynamically according to the instantaneous loads. Being a poor student at the time, I rigged up my own turning headlight by using a wiper blade crank system connected to the steering transfer shaft to turn a front mounted spot light, in the same way as a DS21. It could turn each way up to about 75 degrees.

[@sharan4700]

I loved the way Wheels on the outside, of turns would hydraulically jack itself back to Level. Brilliant Design !

[@deltavee2]

I was a 10 year-old Canadian boy living in Paris in 1956 and everywhere there were 2CVs and bubble cars then later the beautiful DS-19. It truly did look like something from the future and I've never lost my love for that car. Incredibly forward thinking went into it and it took the rest of the planet simply aaaaaaaages to even get close! I have always been an admirer of France's approach to engineering and style, not afraid to advance radical and sometimes beautiful pieces of work in architecture as well as industry. One humourous story I heard about the DS was of course the hydropneumatic suspension automatically returned to its lowest setting and a neighbour drove his up close to a bucket. When he returned to his garage the following morning the car had settled as it was designed to and the bucket was crushed.

[@davidmwood560]

I still have a '72 DS Pallas automatic. It's in beautiful condition and still gets regular use. I was fitted with fuel injection by its previous owner. An expensive upgrade but well worth it. The nearest thing I've known for comfort is my daily driver, a 2006 Lexus GS300. Long live Le Citroen DS!

[@syncopatedsteve]

YES! This is the episode I've been looking forward to. Such a beautiful car. 💙

[@ohgosh5892]

One of my favourite cars of all time. Stunning for its period, and still doesn't seem particularly dated.

[@colinfuidge8660]

I had one for a while; DS21 sky blue with a white roof. It truly felt like I was driving around in a boat. Hearing 'I LOVE YOUR CAR!' shouted very often was great too except for my daughter who was endlessly embarrassed.

[@kermitefrog64]

I rode in one of these cars back in the mid 70's and it was an incredible car. A friend had one of these cars. What a smooth riding car.

[@richardhalliday6469]

Wonderfully concise and informative Andy, this DS video would have been worthy of a 1 hour running time, your research into these videos is a credit to you. I as always look forward to the next one.

[@BigCar2]

It's a lot of work (the research that is). And I don't even go back to primary sources, which would make each one take an age.

[@moviebod]

@@BigCar2 I'm impressed as always.

[@COIcultist]

Richard I've just started watching and was doubting the quality of the research when he referred to de Gaulle as France's beloved president. Possibly over 30 assassination attempts, God only knows what would happen then if your country didn't love you?

[@philippehuysmans3159]

@@COIcultist : I wonder :p Macron is NOT beloved...

[@COIcultist]

@@philippehuysmans3159 I believe some worship the ground that is coming to him!

[@christopping5876]

A safe car for it's time too. My father and I had an accident at night when we crashed at 100 kph into the back of a Land Rover who pulled out in front of us with no lights and a great deal of beer inside him. This was in the days before seatbelts and while the front of our car was completely crumpled and the spare wheel "buffer" had a fist sized dent in the rim where it had absorbed the impact with the LandRover's ladder chassis, I walked away unscratched while my father had minor cuts on his knuckles where his hands slipped off the wheel and broke off the indicator and light stalks. Our family had three in total from the DS 19 to the 2.3l 5 speed . Great car.

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

I crashed one into a stone barn once about 20 years ago, then the roof collapsed on me, fell asleep at 2 am. Front right wheel was where the back seat was. I wouldn't say I walked away though, but any other car of its day I would be dead.

[@austrobok2958]

In the 80's I crashed my DS station wagon (fully loaded with logs) on an icy road into a pole. The pole and the sturdy front of the DS saved my life as it stopped me sliding further off the road into an oncoming train.. Sadly the impact did destroy the hydraulic system.

[@Texmotodad]

My bride and I miss our old Cit's. She always said the DS and SM are automobiles - not just cars. Thank you for the video!

[@PAINFOOL13]

As A Yank growing up in the UK early 60,s my dad bought one with flip out turn signals No hood ornaments for public saftey and hydraulic lift , I remember taking ferry to France and driving all around Paris. Thanks for this Vid.

[@crispycris]

As many say, this car was a wonder. I vaguely remember riding in the back seat of my grampa's '72 DS in Norway. So comfy. Just floated over any bumps in gravel roads. Not like my dad's W113 MB 280.

[@teamracing6]

I'm not a big fan of electrifying classic cars, but if I had the cash, a Tesla powered DS would be incredible.

[@newtonwhatevs]

Would it keep the hydraulic pump running?

[@teamracing6]

@@newtonwhatevs don't know. But I'm sure there is a way to make it work.

[@robertlondonse14]

It's already been done in the UK, and they use an electric Hydraulic pump from one of the newer Citroens.

[@davidrox4591]

The lowest pit in Tartarus for you.

[@dragospahontu]

@@teamracing6 you'd need an electric pump

[@paulantonio740]

My grandfather has a '66 DS. I remember driving around Northern California in that technological marvel. On occasion we'd come across another DS on the road and both Citroens would exchange that distinctive beep on the horns. Great memories.

[@hopeodyssey]

We had a Citreon DS, I loved the way it raised up, almost like a galloping horse, that's what my child mind imagined!

[@catjudo1]

I was riding in my folks' motorhome in Texas years ago and watched a red DS pass us. I knew what it was, but it was like looking at the Space Age all over again. It's a shame that in this age of look-alike SUV's and "me too" technology, we'll never see another car as groundbreaking as the DS again.

[@jacobzimmermann59]

I wouldn't be that pessimistic. The Tesla S was IMHO as groundbreaking as the DS in terms of radical technology. It many not necessarily be the best EV in everyone's book, but it was it and no other car that convinced the world that EVs don't have to be repellent to car enthusiasts. Many have happily forgotten it but before Tesla, EVs were synonymous with absolute vomit like the Mitsubishi MiEV, the electric Citroen AX or the little known electric version of the Skoda Favorit which, apart from being a then-obsolete and not very good car in its own right, has the dubious distinction of being the only EV with an actual 4 speed manual gearbox and a clutch. In a way, the Model S is maybe an even bigger milestone in automotive history than DS because while the DS was incredible, it remained mostly a historical oddity while the Tesla turned out to be the car of the real future. I'm saying that as someone who's not really a Tesla fanatic, I don't own one and if I were to buy an EV, I might look at other offers first. But still.

[@billolsen4360]

@@jacobzimmermann59 You've got to hand it to EV technology, very few moving parts stressing leading to mechanical break downs.

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

I'm loving the sketches you have used. They really show the spirit of the Goddess. Possibly my all time favourite car, it is a timeless classic. The very image of La Mode.

[@wighatsuperreggie]

When I was a teenager my friend had a DS. It is far and away the coolest car I've ever ridden in or driven. It feels like you're floating on air, with no give at all when cornering. Unbelievable.

[@ieslodzitais]

Growing up we used to get a lot of french films on TV, which all featured the DS to some extent, in my mind I still see this car when I think of France

[@joemclaughlin995]

The best looking car ever made! The reason why the word icon was created.Not a big fan of electrifying classic cars either.However I saw a De Lorean that had been cleverly converted to an ev by a wind energy company.The acceleration was phenomenal and over 100 mile range was possible.Ironically you had to join a queue to see the De Lorean while the supercars barely got a look.Brings a whole new meaning to 'Back to the Future'.

[@defyyourlogic487]

It’s hideous

[@fosterfuchs]

The DS Story released on the same day as the latest Bond movie. I've been looking forward to both very much!

[@toyotaprius79]

I would recommend "Deadly Cuts" a bit more than Bond

[@weedmastersr]

New Bond sucks.

[@michaelflinn7784]

This is the most beautiful car ever built. Not very powerful but ok. Attention to detail was phenomenal. From South Africa.

[@mrmestophilies]

Supremely enjoy this channel and feel giddy like a child opening presents on Christmas morning when a new video posts. This one though I've been waiting for. Living in the suburbs outside of Portland Oregon, I saw a 69 ds at a used car dealership. I was entranced and bought it as my first car while in high school. I think about it everyday and regret letting it go.

[@atatexan]

These cars were considered “weird” here in the US. We hardly ever saw them other than an amazing exhibition at the Neiman-Marcus French Fortnight in 1955. Moving to South Africa where the DS, GS, and BX were assembled changed my perception. Bought a 1974 DS23 Pallas 5-speed column shift. Fabulous car. Wish I never sold it. Did not like my CX2400 Pallas as much, however. Excellent video!

[@brianehni5918]

Our wagon was described as “a roach without legs”.

[@mattw8332]

A fantastic bit of design. The DS has a place in my fantasy garage alongside the CX.

[@annecy49]

And the SM, please :)

[@mattw8332]

@@annecy49 of course!

[@billolsen4360]

I was in a tour group in Berlin in 1969. Our professional tour guide owned a Capron convertible. Very sexy car.

[@harveysmith100]

Those Spheres that made the DS so smooth found there way into Rolls Royce's and Bentley's. I can remember the camera cars that used to follow the race horses where always DS's

[@camo8752]

Im a real german carguy, but i LOVE the DS design so much and also the technique

[@cvcoco]

We had a 71 DS for 13 years and in that time it never needed even one cent of repair. The ride is unique, its like floating on a cloud and you didnt have to slow down when entering the street from your driveway or in the road dips at street intersections. The car took care of everything. (This is an aside but should be said, we had a 81 Peugeot 505 turbo-diesel also for 13 years and that too never needed any repair.) Im glad you showed the 3-wheel driving. We never had to test ours but knew it would do it. There were many "firsts" with the DS, including the first to be underpanned. With the better aerodynamics you could be in the highway with the front windows down and not hear wind noise or be blasted with air. The downside of the hydropneumatic innovation was the high cost of maintaining it. The "spheres" would have to be changed, the fluid was expensive and, what was it, 9 gallons or something for the fluid transfusion (?) Like the Peugeot it never had a breakdown but it needed maintenance because all the systems relied on it. The DS had very thick, sound-deadening carpet and both cars had superior ride and seating comfort. The seats didnt have thin foam over springs, the whole seats of the cars were carved from solid seat foam. Consider the seats like sleeping on a 10-inch memory-foam bed. The problem today about owning either one, but especially DS, parts are very hard to come by and worse yet, very few people exist anymore who know how to work on DS. Both companies left the US although there are persistent rumors about both returning. DS are also renowned in Vietnam because it was a French colony. I saw virtually all types of the older Citroens when I visited, including Traction and the DS Chapron convertible. The SM shown in the video, those original headlights we take as normal today were introduced on the SM and the US wouldnt approve them. Sometime Id like to have a 2CV just for fun. That too had innovations like seats thats could be removed and used in your picnic. Last thing, we also had a Peugeot 504 and 404, both excellent and solid. French have a sense about cars --- or used to!

[@jonwatson9765]

The DS21 my favourite. Lots of great experiences. Borrowed my friends estate version which had an engine and gearbox plus loads of tools in the back such that it took a moment after starting for the suspension to compensate. Then I needed to make an emergency stop for a stray dog and stamped on that big rubber button that it had instead of a pedal. The suspension sat down and it gave an impressive stopping distance but all I could hear was the cargo sliding forward. The moment the dog was gone u floored it and was safe. Back to my friend and we went fishing, four people plus all that cargo still when he wound the window down to listen to a strange noise. We stopped. One back tire almost completely missing but it was the noise not the handling that alerted him. Just as well the spare was under the bonnet. Oh, and a turning circle a taxi would envy. Yes, I drove the later models and once had a C5 but if ever there was a car to be remanufactured, the DS21 is that car. Incidentally my friend suggested that it was Scottish engineers who helped perfect the hydro pneumatic systems. But he was a trained Citroen Mechanic and a Scot so not sure.

[@spacecowboy2483]

Awesome video. I've watched many on this car, none as detailed and comprehensive. The introduction showing pictures of other cars of the same age is an absolute hit, such simple resource yet so impactful. It really makes you see what all the fuss was about beyond specs. Great job!