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6월 11, 2026

Citroen DS, star car of the 1955 motor show

Citroen DS, star car of the 1955 motor show A French innovation in the automotive industry. Two key aspects were central to Citroën’s management: road handling and suspension. This model,…

Citroen DS, star car of the 1955 motor show

A French innovation in the automotive industry. Two key aspects were central to Citroën’s management: road handling and suspension. This model, successor to the Traction Avant, was a great success. 1.45 million units were sold. A rolling saucer

Presented at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, the Citroën DS eclipsed all other cars of the era. With its flying saucer-like shape, it captivated everyone. On the first night of the show, 12,000 orders had already been placed. With its exemplary aerodynamic silhouette, a vast glass area to improve visibility, an aluminum hood, a fiberglass roof, a single-spoke steering wheel, and roof-mounted turn signals, it was a revolutionary car. The Citroën DS was sculpted by the stylist Flaminio Bertoni.

Pre-war project

After the Traction Avant, Citroën’s management planned to produce a model that would inherit its glory. Michelin, which acquired Citroën just after the war, successively appointed Pierre Boulanger and Pierre Bercot to head the company, both of whom worked to replace the Traction Avant with an equally innovative car. But the idea for this new model had been circulating and germinating among Citroën engineers since 1938, under the name VGD (voiture à grande diffusion – mass-market car). When the project was revived after the war, the main focus of the studies, led by André Lefebvre, was on road handling and suspension. A hydropneumatic suspension system was adopted for the rear of the DS. As for its remarkable road handling, this was due to the unique geometry of its wheels.

Despite the engine, 1.45 units were sold

The DS was a technological innovation in every aspect: it was equipped primarily with hydraulic power steering, braking, and suspension. The wheels were secured with a single nut, it had front disc brakes, and a semi-automatic transmission. However, the 4-cylinder engine that the Citroën DS received was not the one originally planned, a flat-six. This 1,911 cc 4-cylinder engine only produced 75 horsepower. It struggled to reach 140 km/h. Despite its disappointing mechanics and reliability, this innovative car was a source of pride for its drivers. It even saved the life of De Gaulle, who drove with two flat tires in 1962.

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