Citroen DS23 Pallas EFI

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Launched onto an unsuspecting public in 1955, the Citroen DS was an overnight sensation that had the whole world gasping at its futuristic looks, amazing hydro-pneumatic technology and other far-reaching innovations.

A quantum leap for car design, it still ranks as one of the greatest industrial designs of all time and even today, cars as technologically sophisticated as this are few and far between. So right was the initial concept that it remained in production substantially unaltered until 1975. 

The hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension had first been tried on the top-of-the-range Traction Avant. It used clever nitrogen filled spheres and hydraulic oil (rather than water as its name might suggest) and through a system of valves and pumps kept the car at a constant height, giving fully independent suspension and effective damping all at the same time. As if this wasn’t clever enough, the hydraulic pressure was used to power all sorts of things, from the brakes to the steering - even assisting with the gearchange on some models.

But what really catapulted the DS onto the front page of every newspaper were the futuristic good looks. Designed by a sculptor and an aeronautical engineer, the slippery shape looked (and still looks) totally ‘Dan Dare’ compared to literally everything else on the market. As late as 2009 it was voted 'most beautiful car of all time' by a panel of 20 world famous car designers including Giorgetto Giugiaro, Paul Bracq, Ian Callum and Leonardo Fioravanti.

The power units were carried over from the Traction Avant and so were not quite as ‘state of the art’, but the whole driving experience was so fantastic that it was an instant hit. On day one of its debut, more than 12,000 orders were taken, confirming that the bravery of the management to introduce such a technological ‘tour de force’ was fully justified.

Remaining in production until the arrival of the technically similar and equally radically styled CX in 1975, late model DS versions gained bigger more powerful engines, while adding yet more unconventional items such as headlights which turned with the steering wheel and automatic beam adjustment on the outer pair of headlights, taking account of the change in aspect of the car when accelerating and braking.

First registered in April 1973, this stunning DS has the last and best engine, the fuel-injected 2,347cc unit that produced 141bhp and gave the car the performance that it had always deserved, being happy to thunder along in top gear at 115mph all day long. A semi-automatic model, it was first owned by the supplying dealer, SO.CA.AR Citroen and Autobianchi Concessionnaires of Arras, who sold it to its first private owner a few months later, Monsieur Lalou Gerard, who was to keep it for almost two decades before selling it to Monsieur Jean Scherpereel in 1993, to whom it has belonged ever since.

Cossetted throughout its life, it has covered only 114,000km (70,000 miles) and comes with a large maintenance history comprising many sheaves of invoices, a service book, the original bill of sale to M Gerard and even the supplying dealer’s key fob. Riding on the correct Michelin 185 XAS tyres, it also retains its original Continental Edison radio and Gradulux rear blinds.

The white paintwork (Blanc Meije AC 088) remains in fine condition with first class panel fit and an excellent black vinyl roof. The red velour interior is original and virtually unmarked, including headrests and front/rear arm-rests, and speaks volumes about how well-cared-for the car has been throughout its life. The engine bay is also astonishingly clean, further testament to long term loving ownership.

With an MOT until February 2016, the car has not yet been UK registered but all duties have been paid and the papers required to complete the registration are included so it will be just a simple matter of sending them off to DVLA and paying the £55 fee.

So much more than just a means of transport, any DS is a fascinating machine on many levels (technical, aesthetic and cultural) and this time warp example will no doubt keep its fortunate new owner happily entranced for years to come.