An idiot bought a non-running Citroën DS21...

[Nunga]

I made a deal with an older colleague years ago that I’d buy his restored, but presently* non-running, 1974 Citroën DS21 when he retired as he intended on moving to the UK with his English wife and two kids. I really like the DS and its technological prowess given when it was developed, and when the time came to finally put the money where my mouth is, I wasn’t all that reluctant, even though I knew it had been parked up in a (very dry and secure) garage for the last six or seven years.

And that’s the preamble for the last two years before shït got serious and a colleague of mine (who is really the car whisperer) went and wondered why it wouldn’t start.

How it looked before it stopped driving:



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oWUQioX5gGZYtBwm...



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/4c79jLU_d2D1Xs-9...



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y8INY-7gB5weKFqM...

It was a complete, fully restored car. It had had extensive rust removal done, was repainted and, since looking through the receipts, lots and lots of maintenance stuff as well. The DS’ former owner (my old colleague) parked it up one day, went to drive it again and it didn’t start. And that was that. It had electricity, with a dash that optimistically lit up, but there was no life from the starter motor. I assumed a solenoid might be the culprit, but I bought a new battery, loaded up a few basic tools, and spent most of this morning with my colleague getting it going.

Pleasingly, with the new battery hooked up the starter motor whirred to life! Engine didn’t, though. And then Sam aka the car whisperer started working through the checklist to eliminate problems. Distributor looked like it was fine, we removed the plugs and checked there was spark (there was), and took off the carb’s air cleaner to see if there was fuel (there wasn’t, but a bit of sucking, and a mouth full of fuel for poor Sam, eliminated what was potentially an air lock that the fuel pump was unable to deal with).

I’ll add a few videos of attempting to start it, and while it took a bit of time and a lot of help from Sam, it was a profoundly successful day, to give the game away somewhat.

Attempt #1 https://youtu.be/dPnm6xqeYog

Attempt #2 https://youtu.be/9nBpB1kZraY

Attempt #3 https://youtu.be/KGz6gDsY1cY

Attempt #4 (finally started) https://youtu.be/8B1XXXt_XHg

• now running!!!

Edited by Nunga on Tuesday 27th August 00:05

Edited by Nunga on Tuesday 27th August 00:20

[SHutchinson]

Nice that. Good work!

[tobinen]

A very cool car. Top man

[Cylon2007]

Very cool cars, would love one myself

[CAPP0]

I was sat outside a very rural pub early evening on Saturday when one of these pottered around the corner and stopped outside. It was black, in very good condition, but I don't know whether it was original or restored - it "looked" original though. It was a really lovely thing, brought a smile to my face.

[XOcette]

Absolutely gorgeous. These are beautiful to drive & quite unlike anything else.

[Paracetamol]

What a beauty. Looks like your older colleague was someone who wanted you to have this car...what a great colleague!

Which country are you in ?

[magooagain]

Paracetamol said:

What a beauty. Looks like your older colleague was someone who wanted you to have this car...what a great colleague!

Which country are you in ?

Belgium I imagine.


Very nice car op.
I'm in a similar position. As in I've been promised one that's in bits but all there.

It sounds callous but I have to wait until someone has to not be around anymore.

[Nunga]

I live and work in Germany; the DS was originally registered in France. It has old French number plates on it and trying to find out where it was registered exactly is on my never-ending list of things to do. Need to decode the VIN as well but it isn’t a 17-digit one so as it predates the modern VIN system I need to work out how I might find out its more substantial details.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z3C-QmCvFWsSf2f3...



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eoCv_dn2UC8gnrtc...

It cleans up very well. I have to say I think the paint has less patina than my 2003 M3.

[james_TW]

I have a deep love of these things - I'm both jealous and impressed

[AWG]

Same, these are full of character. Look forward to updates.

[Nunga]

Paracetamol said:

What a beauty. Looks like your older colleague was someone who wanted you to have this car...what a great colleague!

In fairness, he and I are both quite lazy, so he had neither the huge inclination to push, nor did I have the huge inclination to decline! But as I’ve gotten older I have come to appreciate older metal. The mother of a friend of mine some 25 years ago had a DS, and it was fascinating seeing the suspension rise after it started, and like many I get a real kick when I see a DS on the road being driven. There’s a handful here in Karlsruhe and seemingly in excellent condition to boot.

I would love a 2CV at some stage, not phased really on a decade of production (though a super early Duck like Chris Harris’ would be a delight). Another colleague has a lateish model Duck but she reckons it is too unreliable to be a daily.

Anyway, back to the Goddess. Pleasingly, the hydraulic system seemed to work as well, and its glorious backside lifted itself into the air. Sam noticed however one of the front spheres was leaking, which means probably all four need to be replaced. He had a mid-90s CL600 V12 with hydraulic suspension, which hasn’t evolved too much since the DS days it turns out and operates on the same principles.

[carinaman]

Beautiful.

[carboy2017]

Lovely car

When I was a kid I had 2 of these as scale models

[si_xsi]

Lovely car. With the French plate indicating 25, suggests a region close to Swiss boarder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departments_of_Franc...

My grandfather had one of these when they were new as a company car, he was head account manager for Peugeot Citroen advertising in the 70s and early 80s.

[LordGrover]

Automotive art/porn. Love it.

[Zombie]

Brilliant, you're completely Mad though OP.

Having said that, I think I'd have bought it as well given the same set of circumstances. Good luck!

[Bogsye]

That is indeed lovely - good choice OP!

Count me in!!

[magooagain]

Strange! The first photos are on Belgium plates!

Mmm edit to add I'm not sure now. Did Germany have red letters on a white background? They look Belge.

Edited by magooagain on Tuesday 27th August 19:21

[Krikkit]

Even when it breaks down you can admire it. Gorgeous machine.