Goddess of the Automobiles – the Citroën DS
February 28th 2008 02:43
A truly quintessential image of Frenchness (for me, at least) is one of their most famous cars, the Citroën DS. When you pronounce DS (déesse) in French, in a beautiful and fitting pun, it translates into English as goddess, and this car is certainly that.
Production dates: 1955 – 1975
Number of cars produced: 1 456 115
Goddess of design:
On its first appearance in 1955, people believed the car was a space vessel. Initial designs were created by the engineer André Lefèvre and the sculptor / designer Flaminio Bertoni. It looked like a car 30 years ahead of its time, and the design did not change over 20 years.
Goddess of Innovation:
In terms of innovation, the car was unparalleled – disc brakes, power steering, turning headlights, the precursor to automatic transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, an “alliance between water and air”. (Film-makers were able to use this car for filming moving sequences because of this suspension.) It was made from materials even the expensive cars of today use, such as aluminium for the body and plastic for the roof. Also, the natural “fall” of the car added to its sense of space.
(How abou
Goddess of Marketing
It was one of the first cars which had brochures printed to illustrate its features.
Goddess of Leaders:
The DS was the car of choice for official government business – black models often lined the Champs Elysées, and General De Gaulle was particularly fond of the car – thanks to minders and this car, he escaped a hail of machine gun bullets.
Although some might think the car looks like an old bomb, this design is the very essence of the Citroën brand, and people still love this car. In 2005 it celebrated its 50th birthday with an exhibition run by Citroën, along with private collectors proudly displaying these legendary cars.
Production dates: 1955 – 1975
Number of cars produced: 1 456 115
Goddess of design:
On its first appearance in 1955, people believed the car was a space vessel. Initial designs were created by the engineer André Lefèvre and the sculptor / designer Flaminio Bertoni. It looked like a car 30 years ahead of its time, and the design did not change over 20 years.
Goddess of Innovation:
In terms of innovation, the car was unparalleled – disc brakes, power steering, turning headlights, the precursor to automatic transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, an “alliance between water and air”. (Film-makers were able to use this car for filming moving sequences because of this suspension.) It was made from materials even the expensive cars of today use, such as aluminium for the body and plastic for the roof. Also, the natural “fall” of the car added to its sense of space.
Your text goes here
t this for a steering wheel?!!)Goddess of Marketing
It was one of the first cars which had brochures printed to illustrate its features.
Goddess of Leaders:
The DS was the car of choice for official government business – black models often lined the Champs Elysées, and General De Gaulle was particularly fond of the car – thanks to minders and this car, he escaped a hail of machine gun bullets.
Although some might think the car looks like an old bomb, this design is the very essence of the Citroën brand, and people still love this car. In 2005 it celebrated its 50th birthday with an exhibition run by Citroën, along with private collectors proudly displaying these legendary cars.
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