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A Citroën Celebration

By Karoline Cullen

Even goddesses have birthdays. And when one turns 50, a big celebration is in order. That’s just what the Citroën DS or la déesse, which is French for goddess, got in Paris last October.

The Citroën DS was introduced at the Salon de l’Automobile de Paris in 1955. It was an instant success with its streamlined styling, front wheel drive, and high-pressure hydraulic system controlling the steering, braking, suspension, and gear change. On the first day, twelve thousand people had to have one. Over the next twenty years, almost one and a half million followed suit.

Fifty years later, Citroën enthusiasts gathered in Paris to throw the goddess a party. Gary, who has driven Citroëns for 32 years, and I attended some of the festivities. St. Quentin des Yvelines, just outside of Paris, hosted a four-day DS meet. In a tree lined park, well over 1500 DS filled row after row. Some were beaters but most shone with the loving care of their owners. Every version of the DS was represented, from basic DS19 models to station wagons and rally cars to the lovely convertible Chaprons. There were tents with used parts, tents with new parts, tents with food, and the huge celebration dinner tent with tables and chairs for 4000. The highlight of Citroën’s display was a replica of the 1955 Auto Show presentation with a champagne coloured DS19 on a rotating platform. Surrounding the show car was a selection of special bodied models, photographs, memorabilia, and DS artwork. On the lake was the DS Ballons, a car with red balloons instead of wheels, representing how the hydraulic suspension makes the car feel like it’s floating on air. We also paused to drool over Citroën’s newest model, the snazzy C6, and lamented that it is not sold in North America.

Back in Paris, we went to Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie for the “Cinquantennaire Citroën DS” exposition. At the entrance, looking space aged and sculptural, was a silver DS standing upright. Several displays explained the technical aspects of the car, particularly its adjustable hydraulic suspension. One of the videos showed a series of Citroëns, each missing a rear wheel, driving merrily along and doing chorus line maneuvers. The DS was a design marvel, as another display illustrated. It was a cultural icon as well and film clips featuring the DS played continually on a screen. The highlight of the display was the cutaway car. With its inner workings exposed, we studied the intricacies of the DS hydraulics. “It’s not that complicated once you understand it,” I was told.

There was lots of hydraulic fluid pumping for the grand finale of the celebrations. Streets were blocked off and crowds gathered in the warm morning sun. Over 1500 DS paraded from l’Arc de Triomphe, across the gilded Pont Alexandre III, to the Eiffel Tower. Horns honked as people waved. DS after DS glided along the tree lined avenues. Cars were adorned with flags or had costumed drivers. Champagne corks popped; cameras clicked. On a narrower street, there was a DS traffic jam and throngs of celebrants walked amongst the cars. At the parade’s end, each car had a classic photo opportunity; Paris’s most prestigious car, the Citroën goddess, posed in front of the most French of icons, La Tour Eiffel. Bon anniversaire, la DS!

by Gary Cullen

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