Citroën DS: A Mid-Century Modern Goddess

The Citroën DS is a vehicle that represents ‘50s luxurious and a degree of nobility that was unheard of in its era. It is a car that will generally be in style, as is the circumstance with any great style and design.

The DS’s tasteful insect-like form was disclosed at the 1955 Paris Motor Display. Citroën cleverly named the auto as a play on the French term déesse, which means ‘goddess’. Its heavenly curves seduced the crowds, and Citroën experienced received just about 20,000 pre-orders for the DS by the conclusion of its initially working day on display.

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Nine times afterwards, at the close of the show, more than 80,000 folks had pre-ordered the car. That number may well not seem to be outrageous in today’s online purchasing age, but in this more straightforward period, it was unheard of.

1 detail is very clear: the Citroën DS may possibly not be the speediest or the most expensive auto ever produced, but it is a little something exclusive.

The DS became a symbol of French innovation, many thanks to advanced tech like its famous hydropneumatic suspension that provided a self-leveling functionality. The suspension could be lowered, giving the auto a extra sleek and intense profile, or it could be lifted to allow for for far more ground clearance.

It also came with a modernized electric power steering program, a semi-automated gearbox and a lightweight fiberglass roof. A broader track at the entrance lowered understeer.

All of these characteristics were unheard of in 1955. For viewpoint, we didn’t have colour television and even the contemporary fridge was a luxury at this time.

Citroën’s tech history is dotted with improvements that created it famed, and the DS is one of the most seasoned of the automaker’s lineup.

Extremely several cars have made these types of enormous leaps in development in a solitary product, and for that explanation, the DS remained in output for a staggering 20 several years. Virtually 1.5-million automobiles had been generated in full, each and every of which is a beacon of French mid-century ingenuity, style and structure.

Sara Ryan
Instagram: pockowokosara