Citroën DS and ID: Books - History and Models

Citroën DS, monumentale (Collection Prestige)

Sixty years. A certain age. Especially for a car. A car born in the 50s may seem today an obsolete, collector's item, from which we would no longer dare to extract the quintessence, and which we would appreciate with a nostalgic eye and use only for some event of enlightened amateurs while crossing our fingers that the machine does not break down...

There remain, fortunately, a few exceptions among these venerable cars with characteristics of another time. And among these exceptions, the Citroën DS still holds a special place. Above. Elsewhere. In another automotive galaxy.

Revealed to the public in October 1955. Produced in 1, 455 million units, including 1, 331 million units for France from 1955 to 1975.
It is often said that it was twenty years ahead of its time when it was launched in October 1955. In fact, it was not ahead of its time: it was simply another vision of the automobile.

More ingenious, more intuitive, more interactive with the driver. A sort of machine designed by a Jules Verne of the automobile, the engineer André Lefebvre, and a Leonardo da Vinci of design, Flaminio Bertoni. Led by an entire team, the management of the brand with the Double Chevron and the spirit of André Citroën, these two men would be the fathers of one of the most emblematic machines of the 20th century. Here, sixty years after its appearance, is the entire legend of the Citroën DS...

Summary of the book (in case):
1) The idea of the DS
2) The career of the touring saloon 1955-1967
3) The career of the touring saloon 1968-1975
4) The career of the "estate" version of the D range 1959-1976
5) The career of the convertible version
6) Special bodies
7) The DS in competition.

Information

Author:	Thibaut Amant
Details:	304 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	450 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:	Collection Prestige
ISBN:	9791028300630

Citroën DS - Histoire d'une voiture de légende

Few cars have had as many admirers as the Citroën DS. After a spectacular appearance at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, the "Goddess" became one of the great divas of the automotive Olympus.
This book tells the story of this extravagant car and its new kind of technology, hidden under a futuristic design. It also features special models (the presidential DS), estate and convertible versions as well as the sporting exploits of this innovative saloon.

Numerous period photographs and illustrations from the company's archives depict the fascinating life of this revolutionary icon, the sight of which still makes every car enthusiast's heart skip a beat today.

Information

Author:	Björn Marek, Immo Mikloweit
Details:	144 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 1.5 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.59 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Editions L'Imprévu (F, 2020)
ISBN:	9791029509032

Citroën DS, l'avant-garde française (Autofocus)

Over sixty years old. A certain age. Especially for a car. But the Citroën DS is from another time, it still holds a special place. Above. Elsewhere. In another automobile galaxy.
We are used to saying that it was twenty years ahead of its time when it was launched in October 1955. In fact, it was not ahead of its time: it was simply another vision of the automobile.

More ingenious, more intuitive, more interactive with the driver. A kind of machine designed by a Jules Verne of the automobile, the engineer André Lefebvre, and a Leonardo da Vinci of design, Flaminio Bertoni.
Supported by an entire team, the management of the brand with the Double Chevron and the spirit of André Citroën, these two men will be the fathers of one of the most emblematic machines of the 20th century.

Information

Author:	Rogé Rémond, Etienne Crébessègues
Details:	160 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	250 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2019)
Series:	Autofocus
ISBN:	9791028303822

Citroën DS : La déesse de l'automobile - Coupé, cabriolet, découvrable

Talking about the DS convertible is only partly evoking the mythology of the DS itself, the myth of the Citroën with the shark nose comes essentially from the original saloon, the one whose style shook up all the codes at the time of its release.
Exhibited for the first time at the Motor Show in 1955, the Citroën DS caused a sensation by revealing all its technological beauty at the time, bringing a revolutionary touch in terms of comfort, safety and design.

This grand tourer stands out with its very attractive lines, amazing comfort via its hydropneumatic suspension and several remarkable innovations such as power steering, the hydraulically controlled gearbox, the installation of electronics, and the single-arm steering wheel.

Produced from 1955 to 1975 in more than 1.3 million units, the Citroën DS enjoyed phenomenal success and was released over the years in several other versions: saloon, estate, convertible and special bodies.

In his book, Olivier De Serres focuses on the prestigious convertible, cabriolet and coupé models of this legendary car.

Information

Author:	Olivier de Serres
Details:	192 pages, 29 x 24 cm / 11.4 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2014)
ISBN:	9782726897669

60 ans de DS

When the DS was presented in 1955 on the Citroën stand at the Motor Show, its very bold design for the time was enough to scare people: a tapered nose, a "carp tail" exhaust pipe, a futuristic dashboard...
But it was also a real concentrate of technical prowess, and visitors to the Show were not mistaken: in one day, 12 000 copies of the new model were sold. The DS saga could begin.

The DS underwent many developments, both mechanical and stylistic: from the DS 19 to the very latest DS 5, including its convertible and estate versions, which were quickly adopted by shopkeepers and ambulance drivers. We saw it in the cinema, on rally tracks, but also at the Élysée, since it was General de Gaulle's presidential car.

While it remained popular and competitive throughout its career, it reached the peak of its production in the 1970s; it is still today the symbol of this carefree, free and optimistic France.
In 2015, Citroën launched the DS brand, the most elegant way to celebrate the exceptional heritage of this car. The DS or the embodiment of the French automobile industry!

Information

Author:	Jean-Pierre Foucault
Details:	167 pages, 31 x 26 x 2.3 cm / 12.2 x 10.25 x 0.91 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Editions Michel Lafon (F, 2015)
ISBN:	9782749926872

La Citroën DS de mon père (1): 1955-1967

The whole story of a car that marked its century. The DS, first generation, is described in this book, from its design to its sporting victories. A car for the greats, made for luxury and comfort, it also became the undisputed champion of the longest and toughest events in Africa and the United States. Taking over from the Traction, it had, from the beginning, its crazy lovers who easily forgave it the development of hydropneumatics.

The author analyzes twelve years of manufacturing, from the first 1911 cm³ engine, which earned it the name DS 19, to the DS 21 of 2175 cm³ 100 HP and 175 km/h. Bertoni, Opron, Magès have restyled, in turn, the front face, the headlights or the rear window, without ever changing its "sideways glance".
All aspects of series production, but also accessories and special bodies, are detailed in this album expressing, if need be, the genius of a brand.

• Richly illustrated, this book traces in detail the history and evolution of the first generation of the Citroën DS (the DS 19 with the 1911 cm³ engine and the DS 21 with 2175 cm³).
• This volume of the collection "La voiture de mon père" is not only a source of in-depth information for the owner, but also a concise guide to originality.
• The technology, variants, modifications and special versions are described in detail.
• Also deals with manufacturing abroad.
• Contains more than 200 period photos, often unpublished.

Information

Author:	Dominique Pagneux
Details:	120 pages, 21.5 x 24 cm / 8.5 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:	De mon père
ISBN:	9782726883600

La Citroën DS de mon père (2): 1968-1976

Presented in October 1955 at the 42nd Paris Motor Show at the Grand Palais, the DS would hold its place for more than twenty years in the double chevron range, bringing so many new techniques and progress that even today, some of its aspects remain revolutionary.

This book, dedicated to the second generation of DS, from 1968 to 1976, presents the changes to the range: new nose, directional headlights, electrical circuit, DS 20; but also its evolution, year by year, its daily life, its track record in competition, raids and rallies.
A genius of an unrivaled concept, the DS would experience, in the four corners of the world, a thousand and one versions: station wagon, convertible, ambulance, administrative or special bodywork. At the end of the book, a technical study specifies the chronological evolution and all the characteristics of each vintage.

• Richly illustrated, this book traces in detail the history and evolution of the DS19 (with a 1911 cm³ engine) and the DS 21 (2175 cm³).
• This volume of the "La voiture de mon père" collection is not only a source of in-depth information for the owner, but also a concise guide to originality.
• The technology, variants, modifications and special versions are described in detail.
• Also deals with manufacturing abroad.
• Contains 200 period photos, often unpublished.

Information

Author:	Dominique Pagneux
Details:	120 pages, 21.5 x 24 cm / 8.5 x 9 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2015)
Series:	De mon père
ISBN:	9782726883617

DS, la passion continue !

After receiving the prize for the most beautiful book awarded by the International Automobile Festival in 2006 for a first opus, "DS 50 ans de passion", the authors, Daniel Denis and Thibaut Amant wanted to continue their work with this second volume dedicated to this extraordinary car that is the Citroën DS. This ultimate icon of the automobile will have lived a thousand lives in one, as is often the case with the most legendary Citroëns.

In this book you will find standard models illustrating the entire evolution of the D range - ID or DS, saloon, estate, convertible - but also unusual models from independent coachbuilders, focused on luxury or utility vehicles, offering a multifaceted vision of a constantly renewed automobile. Competition has not been forgotten and the informed enthusiast will discover in these pages, magnificently illustrated with original photos, real unpublished treasures, installed in first-rate settings...

Information

Author:	Thibaut Amant, Daniel Denis
Details:	160 pages, 28 x 24.5 cm / 11 x 9.7 in, hardback
Illustrations:	270 colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2010)
ISBN:	9782726889572