Citroën DS. Seventy years unmatched. Part 1: the report with the DS 20 Break

De Citroën DS is celebrating its 1955th anniversary this year. In October XNUMX, the French manufacturer turned the world upside down with its ultra-modern Citroën DS to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Under the large domes of the Grand Palais, crowds of people gathered to see the Goddess. Seventy years later, the DS and the models inspired by it still attract admiring glances. In the coming period, we will regularly pay attention to the beautiful model series of Citroën, and to the derivatives. In addition, you can read an extensive story about the history in the next AMK edition. The same report also focuses on a beautiful ID 19 P from 1965. Today part 1: reports with the D-model series.

Three years ago, photographer Spijker and I visited Geert Oosting. I got in touch with him through my good friend Salvatore Tundo. Geert had a DS 20 Break from 1974, one of the last years of construction. And he turned out to be a passionate Citroën-fan, with a disproportionately large weakness for the Break versions from the D-model series. The report was a success in advance, the weather conditions ideal and the chosen photo location was sublime. Of course we were allowed to experience for ourselves what it was like to drive this Citroën-type on the road. The ID F (internal name for the combination car series) versions were sold for years as ID Break or Break. They therefore also fell under the ID series, which was simplified compared to the DS, but Citroën did install the DS high-pressure brake system. That was more complex than the ID brake system.

The installation of the system from the DS meant that the brake mushroom (instead of a regular pedal) with the ultra-short stroke was part of the pedal section. It is still fresh in my memory. It was a long time ago that I had driven a D model. I cherished certain memories of a DSpécial (the ID of the seventies, so to speak). However, I had never driven a D model with original DS technology before. The mushroom was tucked far away, and I wanted to initiate a deceleration. Although I remained calm in appearance, a certain amount of panic took hold of me.

Fortunately, my right foot made contact with the mushroom in time. The occupants and I were not treated to a sudden and certainly not gradual braking manoeuvre. The owner laughed at the incident and said with a sense of understatement that 'braking is a matter of getting used to.' And that was true. The following deceleration actions went smoothly. But it was clear that the DS 20 Break also showed its idiosyncrasy in this area.

The configuration with the sympathetic strapontins in the back was also special. These are (in the Break version, in the Familiale they are centrally placed) two seats that can be sunk into the floor and folded open in the luggage compartment. And the memory of the majestic and stately seat in the Citroën is still alive. I became aware again of the fact that in no other car do you sit that typical seat that feels deep at the same time. And when shifting, steering and using the buttons and levers you have the idea that you are acting a touch above the power, and that feeling was and remains special. That also applied to the comfort, which was achieved by that wonderful hydropneumatic suspension system.

Geert certainly did not consider the system to be complex. I can still hear him say: "The stories about how difficult it is to tinker with a DS can be put into relative perspective. The only part that causes headaches is the so-called bully snake, a dragon to replace.” The best of all: the one sprayed in Blanc Meije Citroën (with the DS 20 plate on the back, one of the proofs that this example was a very late built ID F) was not only used by Geert Oosting for recreation. He also used the DS 20 Break as a workhorse. For removals, as a means of transport for building materials, and of course also for small jobs.

That is also why the title of the story in AMK 4-2023 was “Goddess in work clothes”. The development of the story was an intensive exercise, with a lot of detective work, checking of data and matters that later turned out to be Citroën had not yet revealed certain details. But it worked, and the eight-page report was the crowning achievement of a work that I am still very proud of. Work that managed to wrap itself in an atmosphere of mystery down to the last letter written: a qualification that fits no other car as well as this one CitroënAfter all, it is not for nothing that she goes through life as a goddess.