Discussion
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I just rebuilt both headlamps on the blue car: not a job for the faint hearted believe me! There is no apparent function for the lines, but no doubt the French had a reason fro them being there. It could just be styling as you say. My first thought about this is that they were to reinforce the glass, but in actual fact they are painted or applied on the inside and not between laminates.Interesting point, though.
J
They beautiful cars and a good sentiment.
I noticed the lines on the headlights when I was a kid visiting France in the 1980s - there were still plenty of them about then. I also assumed they were heater elements. The DS is an altogether rather odd looking creation, but it works and there is great visual pleasure in the details.
I noticed the lines on the headlights when I was a kid visiting France in the 1980s - there were still plenty of them about then. I also assumed they were heater elements. The DS is an altogether rather odd looking creation, but it works and there is great visual pleasure in the details.
GoodOlBoy said:
OP can you please give us an idea of what they're like to drive ?
They're a car that I've long admired and maybe it's time to scratch the itch.
Thanks
To give you an idea of this, you have to understand that the car was originally designed to cope with French roads as they were in the '50s not long after the war; in other words seriously awful roads! Those of us old enough to remember the roads in Britain at the time were superb. We didn't have a huge motorway network, but what we did have was beautifully and safely maintained. My god, how things have changed!They're a car that I've long admired and maybe it's time to scratch the itch.
Thanks
The DS I reckon probably has the best ride quality ever made on any road car, and it does it with no rubber bushing whatever. It is beautifully engineered and the whole suspension, steering and braking system is powered by hydraulics. The brakes are like a commercial vehicle and the fronts are inboard discs. There was simply nothing like this in that era, and even now the braking power is phenomenal.
One reason for this is the way the suspension reacts under heavy braking. It prevents the car from nose diving and keeps the weight distributed evenly. The car's suspension was also designed around Michelin radial tyres and again this was state of the art in its day.
It is supremely comfortable even on the longest journeys and surprisingly good on fuel. Personally the one I would go for would be a late injected car with a 5 speed manual. Much more power, economy and reliable Bosch injection.
These cars are extremely mechanically complex, so I would spend a bit and go for a good one, and get it checked BEFORE you buy it!
A lot of people hate them; I love working on them because they are properly engineered and everything is available for them through specialists.
J
I've had the itch for a while so I got one a few months ago - It was very cheap as it had no MOT, but it's on the road now and it's great fun. The standard of engineering in these cars is amazing and they are very different to drive than anything else. The brake pedal has virtually no travel and is effectively a switch which takes a bit of getting used to and it really "floats" along. The rise of the suspension when the pressure gets up after the first start of the day adds to the sense of occasion.
Mine (not as tidy as the OPs!)
Mine (not as tidy as the OPs!)
I saw one in 1955 in the showroom in the Champs Elysee. It looked out of this world to me a 16 year old familiar with Hillman Minx Mk whatever & A50 Cambridges!And the Boot, so simply vast that kids were climbing in & disappearing into the depths!
If you can't afford a DS try a GS! probably harder to find, but same hydropneumatic suspension, push button brakes & vast square boot. Same rust too!
If you can't afford a DS try a GS! probably harder to find, but same hydropneumatic suspension, push button brakes & vast square boot. Same rust too!
Abbott said:
Blimey not cheap.
They were about ten years ago. Still kicking myself.My favourite 'affordable' car of all time, fascinated by them 40 odd years ago as taxi's in Paris. The rear coronet indicators, dad? Why are they there??
We have '58 2cv and a 1988 Cx in our family there's always a space for the DS.our wedding car was a DS, classy some may say!
Check out the beautiful Chapron convertible and take a seat before you see how much they are!
The chap who owns the black D Super 5 in the photos is a professional photographer and very kindly presented me with a copy of this excellent book on the DS when collecting his car from the workshop. The quality of the publication is superb and I think it's available through Amazon. Not to be missed if you're a Citroen lover. It's by Daniel Denis and Thibaut Amant and covers all the models from the DS19 all the way to the end of production including some strange variants and the fabulous cabriolet.
J
J
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