At first
Have you ever seen a car that looked like it came from another planet, even though it was made way back when your grandparents were just starting to learn how to drive?
That's the citroen ds✨ for you.
I mean, seriously.
You see one rolling down the street today and it still stops you in your tracks.
It doesn't look old, it looks.... different.
Like it's from a 60s sci-fi movie about the future.
And honestly? That's because the future has already arrived, and the Citroen DS was already there waiting for us.
We need to talk about why this big French metal machine isn't just a regular car—it's real art and engineering that totally changed the game.
Get ready for an exciting journey through history.
The Day Paris Stood Still (and Started Ordering)
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The Paris Motor Show.
The Grand Palais is packed.
And then, bam.
Citroën removes the covers from the DS 19.
You have to understand, back then, cars were mostly... well, boxes on wheels.
Some were pretty boxes, but boxes nonetheless.
Then this thing appears.
It was sleek, low, and aerodynamic.
It looked like nothing else.
People lost their minds.
It is said that by the end of that very first day, they had already received 12,000 orders.
By the time the show ended ten days later? Nearly 80,000 people put down money.
For a car that cost more than most of its competitors!
That's insane.
That's rockstar level stuff.
They weren't just buying a car, they were buying a ticket to tomorrow.
Under the Skin: The Tech That Broke the Mold
Okay, so just looking at it would've made it a legend.
But the citroen ds wasn't just about looking good.
Beneath that spaceship's body, it had all sorts of advanced technology that made everything else look old and slow.
We're talking about things that wouldn't become common for another 20 or 30 years.
Let's take a closer look at this magic, because it's really amazing.
The Famous Hydropneumatic Suspension
This is the big one.
The DS used a system of gas and fluid-filled spheres instead of metal springs.
It was like riding on a cloud.
A magic carpet.
The car moved smoothly over bumps that would shake your teeth loose in any other vehicle.
It was self-leveling too, so even if you put a lot of luggage on it, it stayed perfectly flat.
And here's the thing—you could even adjust the ride height.
Need to take a rough dirt road? Jack it up.
Cruising on the highway? Drop it down low for less drag.
Some owners even used it to change their tires without a jack, just by cranking up the suspension.
It was witchcraft, plain and simple.
The Single-Spoke Steering Wheel
Look at the steering wheel.
Seriously, just look at it.
One spoke right in the middle.
It looked like something you'd find inside a plane's cockpit.
The design allows the driver to see the instrument panel clearly without their hands getting in the way.
It was brave, it was unique, and it became a symbol on its own.
Brakes? What Brakes? (But Like, in a Good Way)
The DS came equipped with power disc brakes in the front.
In 1955.
Disc brakes! Most cars still had drums all around.
But Citroën went further.
The brakes used the same hydraulic system as the suspension, and they had extremely strong stopping power.
There are stories about seasoned drivers almost slamming their faces into the windshield the first time they stepped on the brake pedal because they weren't prepared for how quickly the car stopped.
Turning Headlights That See the Future
In 1967, the citroen ds became even more strange (and awesome).
They added headlights that swivel and follow the direction of the front wheels.
If you were driving on a curvy road at night, the headlights would shine into the corner before you reached it, making the path ahead bright and clear.
It was a big safety feature that really helped make driving at night much safer and easier.
The Faces Behind the Goddess
This masterpiece didn't just appear out of thin air.
It took a team of geniuses to make it happen, and honestly, their story is almost as cool as the car itself.
| The Mastermind | Their Role | The Genius Move |
|---|---|---|
| Flaminio Bertoni | Designer / Sculptor | He was an artist, not just a car designer. He sculpted the body by hand, giving it that timeless, organic shape that still looks futuristic. He didn't just design a car; he created a sculpture on wheels. |
| André Lefèbvre | Aeronautical Engineer | He was all about aerodynamics and lightweight construction. He pushed for things like a fiberglass roof and aluminum panels, years before anyone else thought it was necessary. He treated the car like an airplane for the road. |
| Paul Magès | Self-Taught Engineer | This is the guy. The absolute hero. With no formal engineering degree, he invented the entire high-pressure hydraulic system from scratch. The suspension, the brakes, the power steering—it was all his vision. He made the magic happen. |
See what I mean?
A sculptor, a plane builder, and a self-taught wizard.
That's not your average car company committee.
That's a recipe for something crazy and amazing.
The Dark Side of the Goddess: It Was Complicated
Okay, look.
I gotta be real with you.
The citroen ds isn't a car for people who are easily scared.
It was complex.
Like, really complex.
The hydraulic system that made it so amazing was also its biggest possible problem.
The plumbing under the hood was... let's just say "quirky."
There were lots of pipes and round shapes and stuff that could break or mess up.
Early cars especially had some reliability gremlins.
Finding a mechanic who knew how to fix it? Good luck.
They were often left scratching their heads.
Also, like many cars from that time, rust was a major issue.
If you don't take care of them, they'll become a pile of orange dust.
Owning a DS is a labor of love.
It needs patience, money, and a good relationship with a specialist mechanic.
But for the people who love them? They say there's nothing else like it.
One owner said driving it felt "more like sailing than driving," and the front seats were like big leather armchairs.
And honestly, when it's working, that feeling is probably worth every penny.
The Life and Times of a Legend
The citroen ds wasn't just one car.
It evolved over its 20-year life.
Here's a quick overview of the family tree from the years 1955 up to 1975.
- The DS 19 from 1955_The first one that started everything. The original spaceship.
- The ID 19 (1956)_A "simplified" version. Less hydraulic stuff, more affordable. Same killer look. "ID" is a pun in French, pronounced "Idée," which means idea. Clever, right?
- The Break / Safari (1958)_The station wagon version. Hugely practical, and still incredibly cool. They also created Family and Commercial versions.
- The DS 21 from 1965_had a larger and more powerful engine. More speed for the Goddess.
- The DS Pallas (1964)_The luxury trim. More sound absorption, softer carpets, and better quality materials. Pallas was the Greek goddess of wisdom, so the name matched her perfectly.
- The DS 21 with swiveling headlights from 1967_got a new look that made it look even more like the future. Rectangular lights and those amazing cornering lamps.
- The DS 23 (1972)_The final evolution. The biggest engine and the most power. A last hurrah before the end.
They also made a very long and extremely fancy version for the French president named the DS Prestige, which was built by the coachbuilder Henri Chapron.
Some of those were more than 6.5 meters long!
Over the course of those 20 years, Citroën made nearly 1.5 million DS cars.
The final one, a beautiful blue DS 23 Pallas, came off the production line on April 24, 1975.
The Goddess Lives On
What happened to the citroen ds after 1975?
Well, its spirit never died.
It became a classic instantly.
But here's an interesting thing—back in 2014, Citroën brought the name back.
Not as a model, but as a completely new brand: DS Automobiles.
They kept the original spirit alive—like the avant-garde design, the French luxury, and the idea of travel as an art.
Today, cars like the DS 3, DS 4, and the new all-electric DS N°8 continue to carry the tradition forward.
They have the same attention to striking design and a stylish interior.
The current design director mentioned that their dream is to become the "Louis Vuitton of the automobile industry," and they're always looking for artistic and avant-garde ideas.
They're also making a new version that pays homage to the original DS, and it's really exciting.
The family line lives on, but in a fresh, powerful way.
If you ever get the chance to see a citroen ds up close, whether at a car show or just driving by on the road, take a moment to look at it.
Walk around it.
Look at the lines.
Consider that it was made in the early 1950s.
It's a time machine.
It shows us that cars can do more than just work like regular tools.
They can be art.
They can be revolutionary.
And sometimes, they can be a Goddess.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Citroen DS
What does "DS" actually stand for?
It's a brilliant French pun.
The letters "DS" are said as "Déesse," which means "Goddess" in French.
Originally, they stood for "DS 19," a reference to the engine's horsepower, with the "19" showing the engine size was 1.9 liters.
So it's a goddess and a technical spec all in one.
Is it true that the suspension can lift the car off the ground?
Totally true!
The hydropneumatic system let the driver adjust the car's height by hand.
You can lift it up to go over rough roads or thick snow, or lower it down when you're driving fast.
It's one of the coolest party tricks in car history.
Are they reliable as a daily driver?
I really love the DS, but driving a 50-year-old French classic every day is like going on an adventure.
They can be dependable if they are carefully looked after by someone who knows what they're doing, but eventually, something is likely to go wrong.
The hydraulic system needs constant love.
Most people now use them for weekend trips instead of everyday driving.
As the saying goes, you don't actually own a DS, you just take care of it for the next generation.
What is the current price of a Citroen DS when buying it today?
Prices💰 have increased a lot because they are now more valued.
You can find project cars that require a lot of work for about $10,000 to $15,000.
A good quality car that's reliable for driving will cost you between $25,000 and $45,000.
A completely restored, high-quality model such as a Pallas or a Chapron convertible? That can easily cost $60,000, $80,000, or even more.
It really depends on the condition, the model, and the history.
Conclusion: The Timeless Future.
The citroen ds is more than just a classic car.
It's a statement.
It's proof that design and innovation don't have an expiration date.
Even 70 years later, it still looks like it's from the future.
It was a gamble, a piece of art, a technical marvel, and a presidential limousine all rolled into one.
It changed what we thought a car could be.
And that's a legacy that will never get old.
Want to dive even deeper into the world of classic French automobiles or maybe share a story about a DS you once saw? We'd love to hear from you.
Sources and Further Reading:
- Yahoo! Autos - The French classic car that's become a British obsession (2025)
- Thetruthaboutcars - Why the Citroen DS Still Looks Like it's From the Future (2025)
- DS Automobiles UK - DS, a 70 year history (2025)
- Magneto - Defining French design and the Citroën DS's rebirth with DS Automobiles' Thierry Métroz (2025)
- Automotive World - DS, a 70-year history (2025)
- Autoflotte - 70 Jahre Citroen DS: Schwebend der Zukunft entgegen (2025)
- Goodwood Classic Car Insurance - Citroen DS | Cars that were ahead of their time (2024)
- 7Car 小七車觀點 - 法式汽車工藝與美學的最佳代言人 Citroën DS 問世迎來 70 週年 (2025)
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