Lot 638: 1973 Citroen DS23 Pallas EFI Saloon

Just as it had done 21 years previously with the revolutionary ‘Traction Avant’, Citroën stunned the world again in 1955 with the launch of the strikingly styled ‘DS’. Beneath the shark-like newcomer’s aerodynamically efficient, low-drag bodyshell designed by Flaminio Bertoni, 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. By the time production ceased in April 1975, more than 1.3 million of these wonderfully idiosyncratic cars had been built.
This left-hand drive DS23 has enjoyed just three owners from new. The first - a Citroën agent - sold it to one of his long-term customers who had the car rebuilt by the same agent in 2002/2003 when the work carried out included installation of a new cylinder head. The vendor advises us that the odometer reading of 99,000 kilometres appears to be genuine and that the vehicle is in generally excellent condition. Finished in Vert Argenté (green metallic) with matching velour interior, the car is equipped with electronic fuel injection, Citroën’s four-speed semi-automatic transmission and the Pallas luxury equipment package, and has the correct Michelin tyres (new at the rear) and a new battery. Offered for sale in this, the 50th Anniversary year of the model’s introduction, this superb example of a late DS comes with restoration invoices, current MoT/road fund licence and Swansea V5 registration document.