Citroën DS21 EFi Pallas
Discussion
Just purchased this beautiful one owner RHD 1970 Citroën DS21 EFi Pallas. It's only done 500 miles a year for the last 14 years!
Picked it up yesterday and I've driven it 200 miles in two days, without a whimper. Cruises at 70mph on the motorway just fine and everything works (except the main dashboard lights).
Unbelievable comfy to drive and the semi-auto 4 speed box is a delight!
Rust free, but could do with some paintwork.
Very happy with my purchase! Think I got a good deal!
Picked it up yesterday and I've driven it 200 miles in two days, without a whimper. Cruises at 70mph on the motorway just fine and everything works (except the main dashboard lights).
Unbelievable comfy to drive and the semi-auto 4 speed box is a delight!
Rust free, but could do with some paintwork.
Very happy with my purchase! Think I got a good deal!
FlatTwin said:
I made this a few years ago :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX6oe10fdq8
My rims had rust in it so with tube type tires it was regulary deflated...
I sold the problem by respray them.
Funny that the DS always had these tube type tires whereas the little 2cv passed to tubeless during production in the 60's.
The "klong" you can hear is the pin adjusting when the car goes down.
https://webimg.secondhandapp.com/w-i-mgl/58a1bacc9...
There are also 4 standard jack stands, because the firts months of production there was no level lever, so the car was comming with a standard jack. And it also allows it to be lifted by a lift for maintenance.
A good website for informations about ID/DS : https://www.nuancierds.fr/DT%20levier%20hauteur.ht...
The 2 first pictures are about this first type of jack, for cars producted between October 1955 and January 1956.
Excellent. Thanks for posting the links. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX6oe10fdq8
My rims had rust in it so with tube type tires it was regulary deflated...
I sold the problem by respray them.
Funny that the DS always had these tube type tires whereas the little 2cv passed to tubeless during production in the 60's.
The "klong" you can hear is the pin adjusting when the car goes down.
https://webimg.secondhandapp.com/w-i-mgl/58a1bacc9...
There are also 4 standard jack stands, because the firts months of production there was no level lever, so the car was comming with a standard jack. And it also allows it to be lifted by a lift for maintenance.
A good website for informations about ID/DS : https://www.nuancierds.fr/DT%20levier%20hauteur.ht...
The 2 first pictures are about this first type of jack, for cars producted between October 1955 and January 1956.
Edited by FlatTwin on Wednesday 5th February 19:04
Edited by FlatTwin on Wednesday 5th February 19:04
Thankfully I haven't had need to jack the car yet but I'm sure that day will come!
After 2 months of refusing to start (after the engine cut out during a run and I had to call for recovery) I finally identified and fixed the issue and have been using my DS for the daily commute to the railway station this week.
It turns out that the previous owner had mended a break in the wire from the coil to the condenser by twisting the bare ends of the broken wires together. This join wasn't insulated and the wire had fallen down onto the alternator where it was grounding.
Thankfully all of the wiring is being replaced mext month so no more electrical gremlins after that I hope!
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Thursday 6th February 13:22
Well.
My DS ended up having more of an overhaul than anticipated and spent 2 months in COVID19 'Lockdown' at the specialist!
Main Loom
2x injector looms
Upgrade to 1-2-3 Electronic ignition
New coil
New fuel pump
New pump heatshield
All new fuel lines
New injector seals
Radiator power flush
2xrear suspension spheres
Replacement of missing parts for swiveling long range headlights
2x replacement ventilation blower motors
Repair to dashboard instrument circuit board (backlights and warning lamps now all work)
Reconnection of sensors that had been mis-wired
Replacement of front disks and pads (6 hr job, as the disks are inboard)
Full service inc. consumables (inc new LHM)
50+ hrs of labour!
It runs and drives beautifully now though and those swiveling headlamps on main beam at night, Wow! Mesmerising.
My DS ended up having more of an overhaul than anticipated and spent 2 months in COVID19 'Lockdown' at the specialist!
Main Loom
2x injector looms
Upgrade to 1-2-3 Electronic ignition
New coil
New fuel pump
New pump heatshield
All new fuel lines
New injector seals
Radiator power flush
2xrear suspension spheres
Replacement of missing parts for swiveling long range headlights
2x replacement ventilation blower motors
Repair to dashboard instrument circuit board (backlights and warning lamps now all work)
Reconnection of sensors that had been mis-wired
Replacement of front disks and pads (6 hr job, as the disks are inboard)
Full service inc. consumables (inc new LHM)
50+ hrs of labour!
It runs and drives beautifully now though and those swiveling headlamps on main beam at night, Wow! Mesmerising.
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Tuesday 19th May 22:41
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Tuesday 19th May 23:09
I'm still very happy with my purschase. It was always going to be a car that required investment, given its age and owner maintained history.
It's a joy to drive and own.
I had a lot more done in one go this time round than I'd orginally planned for so the final cost reflected that. I have much more piece of mind having had it done though. I still need to have the rear engine mounts replaced, headliner replaced and some bodywork attended to (minor) to prevent deterioration but other than that any further improvements will be vanity driven, rather than necessity, so spend can be controlled accordingly.
It's a joy to drive and own.
I had a lot more done in one go this time round than I'd orginally planned for so the final cost reflected that. I have much more piece of mind having had it done though. I still need to have the rear engine mounts replaced, headliner replaced and some bodywork attended to (minor) to prevent deterioration but other than that any further improvements will be vanity driven, rather than necessity, so spend can be controlled accordingly.
Replaced the main hydraulic pump on my DS this week using an excellent instructional video from YouTube. Had great fun doing it and learned a lot more about the car in the process.
No more LHM fluid making a mess of my driveway now!
Taking the front wing off provides both access. . .
. . .and a modern art installation!
[br][br]Complicated bits of metalwork these wings!
Anyway, managed not to c@ck the job up.
You can see why you need to ensure that you've got good access though - that's the reconditioned exchange pump fitted (below the centrifugal regulator), in it's nice new green paint! Lots of bracketry to remove and three belts.
It all went fine*
No more LHM fluid making a mess of my driveway now!
Taking the front wing off provides both access. . .
. . .and a modern art installation!
[br][br]Complicated bits of metalwork these wings!Anyway, managed not to c@ck the job up.
You can see why you need to ensure that you've got good access though - that's the reconditioned exchange pump fitted (below the centrifugal regulator), in it's nice new green paint! Lots of bracketry to remove and three belts.
It all went fine*
- Still got to attach the air filter housing back to the chassis in this pic
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Sunday 5th June 14:40
Well, it seems the last few bits a pieces under the bonnet thst I'd not already replaced decided it was their time! A week after replacing the main hydraulic pump, the battery regulator fused and the resulting short circuit prevented me driving the car as it took out my indicators. That was sorted by replacing the alternator with a 'period look' uprated 70A alternator with an incorporated regulator.
Then the week I was due to take the car on its first long roadtrip in my ownership (from Bucks to North Devon) the water pump bearing gave up the ghost, causing a significant coolant leak! I managed to source and fit a new one within 48hrs and the car subsequently transported my youngest son and I on our camping trip as planned!
Here she is in the National Park near Lyton
For reference - this is what you can fit in the boot of a DS!
Then the week I was due to take the car on its first long roadtrip in my ownership (from Bucks to North Devon) the water pump bearing gave up the ghost, causing a significant coolant leak! I managed to source and fit a new one within 48hrs and the car subsequently transported my youngest son and I on our camping trip as planned!
Here she is in the National Park near Lyton
For reference - this is what you can fit in the boot of a DS!
FiF said:
Two things on the TV with lovely old DS21s featured.
Murder in Provence (3 episodes just finished on ITV)
Coupling ( all 4 series reruns on Gold)
+ The Mentalist (Amazon Prime). The lead character, Patrick Jane, drives a pale blue metallic one Murder in Provence (3 episodes just finished on ITV)
Coupling ( all 4 series reruns on Gold)
Edited by OnePaintedMan on Friday 5th August 14:33
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff