When I was in Europe, many years ago, Citroën DS 19s were a fairly common sight. They had a unique hydro-pneumatic suspension system, pressurized by an engine-driven pump. For older models, at least, the pump couldn’t maintain pressure at idle, and the car would slowly settle lower – way low. Then, when the traffic light turned green, the car would rise up before proceeding. I thought it was comical. The car had other unusual aspects too:

Its steering wheel had a single hub-to-rim spoke.

Its turn signals were short arms, one on each side of the car, that could be raised by a knob inside the car. A mechanical hand signal, in effect.

Then there was its, ah, interesting appearance.

You have to give the French credit: they weren’t copy cat designers. I haven’t seen a DS 19 in years and years though.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_DS

I had one 1972/3. Best riding car I've ever owned. Could bore with anecdotes. If there were parts /trained mechanics available I'd buy one today.

My mom had one when I was a kid, she loved that thing. Also cool, if you battery died you could crank start it.

Great cars, great ride.

BAT always seems to have one for sale. The guys on BAT speak about a shop in California and another in New York.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-citroen-ds-6/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-citroen-sm-16/

And if you have never been on BAT get ready for the huge time suck.

I remember one feature was if you have to replace a flat tire, you don't need a jack. The pneumatic suspension would just raise that wheel up and you were good to go.
Then came the Citroën SM (for S/M I guess) which was futuristic decades ago and still is.
I shouldn't complain about Citroëns. I drove in one across the Sahara back in the late 60's. Amazingly good off-road, as long as you held the gas down when you hit sand. If you chickened out you were toast, otherwise known as "Jackie", one of the French teachers in our group who was a little on the timid side.
One of the cars broke down, it's differential had to be replaced. Of course there was a used on in a Moroccan town somewhere, the shop sent it down on a truck, the French guys replaced it, and we were on our way again. But that French Tin Lizzie was in a different world from the DS and SM.

Mine was a 1972, it was a DS-21. Similar to the DS-19, but the 21 was a bit more of a luxury car in terms of trim, options, etc.

I was run over by a guy driving one while I was in in France. I was lying on the ground half under the car and watched it slowly settle down towards my body.

Not a pleasant memory.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:

Then came the Citroën SM

The SM was a sporty coupe (two-door hardtop, 5 seats), the offspring of a marriage between Citroën and Maserati, with pieces and parts from both families.

I had traded my DS-21 toward a Porsche 911T, which was stolen about six months after I got it. I looked at the Citroën SM as a possible replacement for the stolen Porsche, test drove a few SMs, and ultimately decided on a Mercedes 280 SE 4.5, instead.

The SM just begged to be driven fast! It was way ahead of its time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: V-Tail,

What I think of whenever French cars are mentioned.

FWIW, years ago I dated a young woman (I was a young man) who owned a Peugeot 404 with a 4-speed on the tree. I don’t know anything about Citroens, but that Peugeot was kind of fun to drive. Sorry

Burt ran from the law in a Citroen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4QyK6Xp_k8

A episode burned into my memory banks...the Citroen driving on three wheels.

quote:

Its turn signals were short arms, one on each side of the car, that could be raised by a knob inside the car. A mechanical hand signal, in effect.

semaphores is what they were called IIRC,

volkswagens had them too on the early Beetles

Ah, the French.

Great Wine, good food, fast trains, beautiful women and damn ugly cars.

I'm a french car fan, and await their return to the US market.

quote:

semaphores

Trafficators, which are a form of semaphore signal, but the common use name was semaphore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafficators

I had a friend in high school who had moved to Texas from Canada. Their “second car” was a Renault Dauphine. It made my 1963 VW seem like a very substantial vehicle in comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Burt ran from the law in a Citroen

You beat me to it. That's what I remember about the Citroen too.



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quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
The SM was a sporty coupe (two-door hardtop, 5 seats), the offspring of a marriage between Citroën and Maserati, with pieces and parts from both families.

That finally solves the mystery for me. In the 1974 version of The Longest Yard, Burt Reynolds' girlfriend warns him not to take her Maserati, which you know he is going to do. The next thing you know, he is driving away in that Citroen model. I thought it was bad editing; a failure to acquire a Maserati to wreck and no reshoot of the girlfriend's line. Thanks, V-Tail!



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