DS/ID after facelift
The Citroen DS/ID was produced almost unchanged from its introduction in 1955 until the model year 1968. Then it received a facelift with new headlights that followed the wheel turns, as well as a new dashboard. The facelifted model was produced right up to the 1975 model year.
DS or the slightly more affordable ID?
It is not always so easy to know. It can actually be very difficult. The differences are of a technical nature, for example the braking system on the DS is more advanced than on the ID. Otherwise, you have to look for decals, for example "DS20". One tip is to study the Citroën angles on the boot lid. DS must have golden angles, while ID has glossy ones - but this does not have to be authentic on a 50-year-old car.
DS/ID before facelift
The biggest changes to the facelift were the dashboard. After the facelift, it got regular, round instruments and a more general design. The original dashboard was more timeless, and very much ahead of its time when it was introduced in 1955.
Break
Convertible
The coachbuilder Henry Chapron converted sedans into 2-door convertibles and hardtop coupes. The models were given designations such as Laugh Caddy, The Dandy og Croisette. The model with a hardtop got the name The Paris. The first convertibles retained the front doors from the donor cars. Le Croisette got extended doors, which makes the bodywork more harmonious.
Cars with a short wheelbase
The DS was made with a shortened wheelbase and 2 doors for rallying. I think the model in the photo was called the Rally, but I don't remember it ever appearing in Citroen's regular model range. The car looks really tough with its shortened rear and free wheel arches.
Model name with meaning
Incidentally, the designation DS (actually "D Super" or "D Spécial") is pronounced in French as déesse - "goddess" - and ID becomes "idea". Typical French. If you want to know more about DS, you can follow the link below.
About the pictures
The burgundy-red, French DS with black plates was photographed in France. It is original from 1971 and has been in the same family since new. The current owner is the son of the original owner. Another white French DS with black plates is photographed at a car meet outside Perpignan. Two other DS's – one white and one black – are pictured on the occasion of Cars & Coffee at Øvrevoll gallop outside Oslo. All are facelift models. One of the cars is from last year before the facelift. A champagne colored 1967 model DS21 Pallas. It is pictured at the Ekeberg meeting and was for sale when the photos were taken. The Norwegian-registered burgundy DS is a DS23 Pallas photographed at Ramstadsletta outside Oslo. The video of the convertible cars was taken at the Citronnade 2024 exhibition in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer. There are also pictures of the station wagons taken, - so also the gray ID before the facelift, the blue car in the main picture, and the red DSs below. The short-wheelbase car participated in the 2023 "Roue libre" car event in Perpignan, France.
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See
Read more about Citroën DS under "Long live the goddess" here