Classic Van Auction Talk

Saturday 31 January 2015

1965 CITROEN DS19 CABRIOLET - BONHAMS, Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais

"CROSSING THE BLOCK"
Featuring
 Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
5 Feb 2015, starting at 10:30 CET with lot 1.

1965 CITROEN DS19 CABRIOLET
 
One owner from new
1965 Citroën DS19 Décapotable
Coachwork by Henri Chapron
Chassis no: DS19M4426040


'Never before in the history of the automobile had a mass-produced, mass-marketed car achieved so great an improvement in safety, comfort and performance in a single step.' – Sparrow & Kessel, 'Citroën DS', Osprey 1994.

Just as it had done 21 years previously with the revolutionary 'Traction', Citroën stunned the motoring world again in 1955 with the launch of the strikingly styled 'DS'. Beneath the shark-like newcomer's aerodynamically efficient, low-drag bodyshell there was all-independent, self-levelling, hydro-pneumatic suspension plus power-operated brakes, clutch and steering. No European car would match the DS's ride quality for several years, the fundamental soundness of Citroën's ahead-of-its-time hydro-pneumatic suspension being demonstrated by its survival in its present-day top-of-the-range models. The DS's original 1,911cc, overhead-valve, long-stroke engine was replaced in 1966 by a short-stroke 1,985cc unit, also available in 2,175cc and 2,347cc versions, while other DS developments included swivelling headlights, fuel injection and a five-speed gearbox.

Other models offered alongside the original DS were the ID (a simplified, cheaper version), the cavernous Safari estate and the two-door Décapotable (convertible), the latter boasting coachwork by Henri Chapron. (Chapron's first convertibles had been produced independently of Citroën but the factory eventually gave the project its blessing). Citroën's Décapotables were built on the longer, stronger chassis of the ID Break (Estate). In total, 1,365 usine (factory) convertibles were made with either the DS19 or DS21 engine between 1960 and 1971, while Chapron built a further 389 of his own, the last in 1973.

This beautiful soft-top DS was restored in 2009/2010 and has been fitted with the rebuilt engine and manual gearbox from a DS21, while the hydraulic system has been converted to use the modern (green) LHM fluid. Only some 3,000 kilometres have been covered since the engine rebuild and the car is described as in generally excellent condition. Accompanying documentation consists of the restoration invoices, German registration papers and TüV. It should be noted that the car was registered to the second owner listed for insurance purposes only. 
 
Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 Première main,1965 Citroën DS19 Cabriolet 1965 
All Text & Images: BONHAMS AUCTIONS 2015
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