How This Acid Trip on Wheels Came to Life: The Citroen DS - BTS with DTS - Ep. 18
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- The most advanced production car in the world when it was introduced, the Citroën DS is an icon. On nearly every axis, the car innovated. Not just a little, but outrageous, futuristic, psychedelic stuff which is still outlandish today. The DS is full of clever and weird features, yet somehow, Citroen sold almost a million and a half of them.
In this video, Derek Tam-Scott explores the history, development, and impact of the DS and the men who contributed to it: André Citroën, André Lefèbvre, and Flaminio Bertoni. He also describes the roles of Citroën’s iconic preceding models such as the Traction Avant and the 2CV, in addition to the extraordinary, unmatched driving experience that the car offers.
0:00 - 0:37 - Cinematic Intro
0:37 - 1:33 - Introduction to DS
1:33 - 2:19 - Andre Citroen
2:19 - 3:43 - Citroen's Early Years
3:43 - 4:12 - Andre Lefebvre
4:12 - 5:23 - 2CV
5:23 - 6:18 - The DS is Born
6:18 - 7:52 - The DS's Obscure Mechanical Systems
7:52 - 9:06 - Citroen's Hydropneumatic Suspension
9:06 - 10:56 - Driving the DS
10:56 - 11:32 - The DS in Motorsport
11:32 - 14:17 - Derek's Closing Thoughts
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70 years old and it still looks like it comes from the future.
I had a friend in the early seventies who owned a DS21. It was a phenomenal vehicle. Nothing on the market could come close to it for driving comfort. And once you got used to cornering on your doorhandles, it handled surprisingly well.
Met early one on regularity rally and my 15 years newer Mercedes coupe looked pedestrian compared to it. People do not realize how large it is from video. It is presidential limousine and it is probably more roomy than RR Silver Shadow or Mercedes 300SEL W108.
For a second I thought you talking about Derek😁
@@romkobo Hyphen is 90+ 🙂
And the car is real neat too!
As a French, you cannot understand how much I wish french cars now were as innovative, interesting and luxurious as they were before. Now they’re pretty much like any other cars on the market. If even the french cars are boring now then it means we have a serious problem
No-one really thanked Citroën for doing any of this. Non-french car people see Citroën as a French institution, but that was always the Renault 4.
Second generation Citroen C5 with hydractive suspension was in my eyes the last true French cars. Quirky interior, sleek exterior and comfort first. I had older first generation C5 in almost top trim and it was amazing car for long distance travel across Europe. Unbeatable comfort for the money.
I've got that one, so I kind of agree but I still hope Citroen (or any of the French brands) may still give us something in the future.
Yeah. There were so many cool French cars back in the days. Now, the only truly cool one I can think of is the Alpine A110.
Citroen might be back, if they can produce someting in line of their Oli concept car, they might just rise from the dead and make french cars frenchly glorious again
"As if there was a distant event that you only learned about later via a polite letter in the mail" sounds like a line straight out of Hitchhikers Guide. Brilliant writing!
Totally agree.
Well researched and delivered with style and gusto
Well done, the DS was futuristic in 1955 and in some ways it still is.
I remember the introduction in 55, so I am old. Still have a Citroen, so that was a love affair that lasted.
Now we are both slowly rusting away, I spent a lot of time showing and driving people around in my car.
A lot of young kids are just as thrilled as I was when the car "Comes up" and the 1 spoke steering wheel is still a hit.
Now its Stellantis, end of an era.
The best car ever.
Greetings to all Citrophiles all over the world,
Bas Vancouver Canada.
My grandfather was a "Citroen guy" and did own a few DS and its successors (GS). Everywhere he did go with his DS, I was there in the back seat. I almost totaled his last DS by playing in the driver seat and releasing the parking brake by mistake, letting the car roll backward with me at the wheel, crossing a busy road, and going into a ditch. No harm was done, but it was a big scare for everyone.
Cheers to Derek and ISSIMI for letting us all live vicariously through them to experience these wonderful machines. Great job!
I've owned DS21 Break, a DS21 Pallas & an SM 3.0L. After 50 yrs of driving, they are still some of my favs. The Break was a daily, for 10 yrs
Really fabulous presentation of an exceptional automobile.
In Australia my first car at age 18 in 1971 was an Aussie assembled 1962 ID19.
Progressed through 4 more Ds until reaching the pinnacle - a 1972 DS21 EFI 5 speed Pallas with reindeer hide leather and headrests. (later a 1975 DS23 EFI Pallas)
The most sublime high speed rocket eating up the Aussie distances at 140-170 kph.
My replacement was a similarly miraculous new 1978 CX 2400 EFI 5 speed Prestige with leather.
It had the same wheelbase as the DS, same brakes and suspension but had a pedal instead of a mushroom button.
Its power streeting was the DIRAVI rack and pinion speed sensitive with power self centring of the SM and 2.5 turns lock to lock.
It also had similar performance, reaching 170 kph in 4th gear and 195 in 5th.
It had a more controlled ride than the DS. Fabulous control pods and rotating drum speedo and tacho...
No turning headlights but a single wiper and concave rear window which used aerodynamics to clean itself.
A really worthy quirky successor to the DS.
I also succumbed to the charms of the 2CV6, with three from new that I bought back to Australia. 1978, 1982 & 1990 Charlestons.
Currently I have a C4 Cactus with air bumps as well as the Charleston.
Motoring Paradise - Sensational character and fun across 52 years... and 17 Citroens...
Great call using the music from that iconic commercial for the intro!
Those slightly-overexposed videos showing a fleet of DSs driving on 3 wheels and driving over spikes were from a big press day in South Africa. The most important part was at 1:05, driving over the spikes to puncture tyres on one side to demonstrate that the car could brake in a straight line with no hands on the steering-wheel, in fact with both arms held up to the camera. It wasn't just the hydropneumatic suspension but also the front end steering geometry with its centre-point steering that provided such straight-line stability at any speed over any surface that made the DS so safe and easy to drive.
As a grand son of French DS Owner this is actually of these cars that have a genuine presence. When you get in these comfy and welcoming leather seats you don't want to get out anymore. It is such an experience in itself
We rarely go out in ours without someone commenting "my father/grandfather/uncle used to have one of those". What other car has made such an impression on generations of kids? And it is always amusing to see a small child tugging on a parents clothing to gain attention whilst pointing at us driving past.
as a french citizen I really like how you use french words and pronounciation ! + the gran turismo style background music it's make me apreciate this content even more ! Thanks for your passionate work 🙏🏾
I love that Gran Turismo have this car ;)
In an exhibition at Turin's motor museum a few years ago, they had a showcase of 15 influential car designers form history, also listing their favourite designs by other people, that they wished they'd done. Over half of them stated the DS as #1. It's worth clarfying to the uninitiated that Flaminio Bertoni is *not* related to Nuccio Bertone or the design house that shaped the Stratos. IIRC he was a sculptor, trained in fine art, before entering industrial design - which might be why it's such an open-minded, out-of-the-box approach to sedan design. As a sign of Citroën's commitment to the resulting shape: the heavily curved rear window couldn't be mass-produced in that shape... but rather than tell him to do a different shape, Citroën (or its supplier) *created a new production process* to get what they wanted and avoid any more mission creep (meanwhile, early cars used plexiglass). They'd already lost the battle to finish an all-new engine for it, which would've been a flat-six (derived from a 2CV boxer design multiplied by three) ahead of the front axle, but underperformed in too many ways. So they had to reshape the nose and put the engine-behind-axle TA layout back in there instead, hampering front legroom.
Of course, one could go on for hours or in books' worth... but I do wish we lived in a time where it didn't feel like the buying public would snort derisively and run a mile from something so revolutionary. Those order-book records at the 1955 Paris show went unsurpassed for 60 years, beaten by the Tesla Model 3. But Tesla only tangibly changed the game in one area: powertrain. The DS changed the game in _every_ area... except, ironically, the powertrain. There are DS features that luxury brands still pretend they are innovating in these days. There will never be another moment in time like it.
I crow on about this but the editing in this is just sensational, special mentions to 6:19 and 10:00 shots; nice to see the story of the "frog" as Greeks called em and the short mention of the "goat" 2CV, I reckon that deserves an episode entirely on its own. I saw a 2CV, a once regular sight here, parked next to a 00s Yaris and it just reminded me how far we've strayed. The Concorde comparison sticks in that respect yet these cars had their own unique character and temperament, I don't find it odd people wanted to take this creature home.
I laughed at the brakes causing "much larger decelerations than the driver intends" typically French 😁, most I've driven feel like the brakes are either on or off with no inbetween whatsoever!
Derek- I am SOOOOOO glad that you put out a video on the DS - one of the most beautiful and fascinating cars of all time.
Hands down one of the best "reviews/tributes" I've seen. I daily drive a successor of the DS (the XM, with electronic gestion of the hydropneumatic suspension), and I exactly get the way you describe the feeling of that suspension. You get the information with a small delay.
The father of one of my close friends had an XM when I was a kid. I rode in it a couple of times, it was really confortable.
But at the time I thought they looked awful. My father once considered buying a used one around the same time. I told him not to do it because it was horrible and "an old people's car".
Now, many years later, I totally changed my mind. I think they look incredibly cool and I'd love to own one...
@@AxLWake I'm in the same boat, having disliked the XM for many years. What can I say, everyone gets old right? :)
This was an art piece. A fitting tribute to the wildly innovative DS.
I’m so happy to see new content being posted again
As a DS21 owner, I say, 'good job!' Accurate & well-presented. There were several clips I paused because I hadn't seen them before. 'Psychedelic' and 'outlandish' aren't verbs I used to describe the DS but I believe Andre Citroen would approve.
This thing just takes my breath away, I love these, I have never interacted with one IRL but oh do I love it, DREAM car right there!
My grandparents had some French cars in the 80's and early 90's, really liked them when I was a kid, so different and interesting!
We all have cars in our past we regret selling. For me those two cars are a 1969 Porsche 911S and a 1974 South African-built Citroen DS 23 Pallas with it unusual 5-speed manual on the steering column! Fabulous car and you did a great job of capturing the essence of the “Goddess”. Tres bien.
This is the best writing about the DS I’ve ever read. Love to see a feature on the 2CV.
Amazing video. I grew up in luxembourg in the late seventies and early 80s. There were still many of these in daily use at the time locally. The DS was already out of production at the time, but I remember thinking how futuristic this car looked as a boy. That’s how futuristic this car was-it’s stil looked outlandishly futuristic five/ten years after production ended. What a triumph this car was!
These videos are always uniquely excellent, Derek.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this, I recently bought a 1982 GSA in New York and have been a long time citroen fan. Thanks for keeping the spirit alive, and I love your citroen episode you did with Jason Camissa
The 21 Cabrio by Chapron is one of the most exquisite examples of industrial design ever, a truly work of art in motion.
I don't know how this car manages to exude so much class while looking like something from outer space. The design madness is so high that no one has tried to copy it. Driving this is a sign of great refinement... a sort of French Jaguar E Type. I just love it!
I've always loved that car, since the first time I rode a Citroen DS taxi in 1968, from the airport to the center of Paris when I was 15 years old, I've always described it as "ridding in a cloud". Wish I had one!!
Wonderful film, beautifully made and you can tell by the huge smile on Derek's face, it was as much a joy to make as it is to watch.
Absolutely love the smile from ear to ear you have Derek. I always look forward to seeing a BTS, because it is always going to be a phenomenal introspective into the anthropology of the automobile industry. Bravo
That’s the perfect road to showcase that car’s ride. I catch air on those bumps as often as I can in my bouncy lil sh*tbox:)
This is the most intelligent review I have seen in the past few years, of any car. The suspension response is delayed, "as though there was a distant event that you only learned of later, via a polite letter in the mail". Wonderful. Please keep going.
I have such a love for Citroen, I learned to drive in a CX 20 at 16, owned a CX 24 Pallas after that. 1983 models both, before their speedos became normal. I always felt it was the natural evolution of the DS. Wonderful cars. Ran the 24 at 160 Km/h on bumpy roads once; stable as all hell. And the pinky servo was magic.
Watched 3 times so far and wish I could give it more than a thumbs up. Well done as always.
Derek you knocked it out of the park with the DS intro. Such a brilliant car design. I wish I had one in my garage.
I drove a DS21 with the semi automatic transmission. At the time my daily was an Alfa 156 Selespeed. You changed gears similarly by lifting off a little. Loved both cars. Another great video, thanks Derek!
Damn always a great video by you guys. Great narration, great story, great video shots, and relaxing to watch. Thank you for making this video!
Hyphen, most excellent & thanks not just for this video but for buying this car and sharing your experiences. Living with a vintage car is just different than driving one for a day with cameras on and it shows in this video
Absolutely stunning mini documentary on the DS as well as the time period it was conceived in.
I might add that a French president's DS managed to outrun pursuing assassins while having a blown out tire, meanwhile in Italy the police gave chase to a DS using their Ferrari 250 and broke it after they followed the DS down a set of stairs.
Can't wait till the Alpine gets the same quality treatment.
This video better get a million views this week.
Excellent video! I like how you incorporated the drums (like in that DS headlamp advert) in your intro. Your closing remarks, especially the 'Concorde on wheels', were beautiful.
Greetings from Lake Tahoe 🌲Wonderful piece - thank you very much.
saw this exactly car in champagne gold today driven by a gentlemen at his 60's, a true masterpiece of automobile, truly l'art de l'automobile
Glorious! Tres bien fait.
Yes, finally see one of my favorite cars on the show!
You really nailed the essence of the DS and the ethos that went on to produce so many quirky, practical and unique cars with a focus on comfort and lapping up the miles.
Traction, 2CV, ID/DS were followed up with the GS, CX, BX, Xantia, XM, C5 and the last real Citroens - C6 and C4 Cactus with airbumps...
Only real modern Citroen that could excite would be the Oli if it comes with Hydraulic Cushion Suspension.
When the first of these cars were driven through the streets of Paris in 1955, crowds ran after them shouting, "Voilà la DS!". Can you imagine any modern vehicle generating that level of excitement?
I’m usually a man for German machinery, along with a bit of Italian stuff, but I’ve always had a soft spot for old hydro-pneumatic Citroens
I'll forever be in awe of the DS.
Our neighbor had one growing up in Italy; I loved that car as a kid, and would always admire it. She had it in a really pretty bronze color. In 1998, she sold it and got a Daewoo. 😭
Glorious!! It’s probably one of my favourite cars in existence.
The open top versions are pure class to see on the road.
I bought one, second-hand, in 1986 and still use it.
The brakes with the pressure sensitive mushroom pedal is the best in the world! They also adjust brake power in accordance with the load, front and rear.
I had 2. A sedan and a break. I LOVED THEM.
Fantastic!
One of my all-time favorite cars.
Outstanding video. Loved every moment! 2cv owner here, I'd love a DS some day...
Always a treat
Available not only for the rich but for the masses.
That's what france automible indusrty is all about (giving you a beautiful design with well put together and well crafted interiors for the masses).
They don't make the biggest engines but they make spectacular designs for all the people to enjoy.
a genuine leap forward that I will never stop marvelling since the first time I saw one in 1966
Excellent episode. Amazing car. Bravo to its creators!
Researching Citroens led me to your channel. I don't watch too many automotive content creators except Jay Leno, but yours is very well done. It reminds me of Petroliscious, which i enjoyed but haven't seen in a while. I had a Swiss friend who was in the United Nations troops with me who lived across the street from a Citroën garage. They had a black Traction Avant on the showroom floor; gangster car.
Fantastic BTS as always DTS
Excellent presentation, thank you for sharing.
Derek, your narration keeps getting better & better. Lovely subject for this video. Bravo.
The DS is the greatest car ever made.
Another couple of Citroen surprises.
1925 the first car to circumnavigate Australia was a little 1925 Citroen 5CV.
Citroens have been sold continuously in Australia for over 100 years.
The IDs were assembled in Australia from 1961 to 1966, and were popular with country folk who had large distances on bad roads.
It is a common car for Architects and Engineers.
Two of the most famous were Jorn Utzon who designed Sydney Opera House and Harry Seidler who designed many office and residential towers in Sydney.
Both had DSs.
Bravo, excellent travail de recherches et de production cher Derek Tam tiret Scott x
Spectacular video!
1:17 That door slam sound is HEAVENLY.
…so glad you enjoyed the experience with this amazing French beauty. As a non car guy in my 50’s from the US where French cars are often frowned upon which made the DS my ultimate want. I still vacillate on buying one but having a great mechanic versed in it is an issue here in the SF Bay Area. I’m quite fortunate to now own a 2CV that Mother has driven us around Palo Alto and the Silicon Valley back in the day and my late Father’s baby, 1958 Facel Vega FV4 Typhoon plus a gaggle of old German and Nordic classics from my Grandfolks.
Great video Derek. I love the DS!
Top notch as always…👍👍👍
Huge thanks to the ISSIMI crew for making such fascinating videos on automotive Icons and presenting some unknown and legendary cars that had a huge impact in the automotive industry to people who have missed on some of them, So Huge respect for you guys 🫡🫡❤.
8:15 I think it was the other way around: you lift the car all the way up, then put a stand, then lift up the wheels for replacement.
Awesome tale told , thank you
Great story as always. Thanks.
Inciteful and wonderfully produced.
Bravo Derek!
Another well researched, insightful video. I love the avantegarde jazz at the beginning, then you cut to the Citroen advertisement and I realized where you got the inspiration.
I loved that you explained the source of the chevrons. Fascinating.
Go back and listen to your explanation of the tire change procedure. I think you may have misspoke.
Wonderful BTS, thanks Hyphen.
Well done, Hyphen.
You picked a good car. Hope you own it the rest of your life.
"Endless Weirdness" 😃. Great subject. Great presentation.
Hmmm 🤔
DS with electric drive…
Andre would approve 😊
What a magnificent machine!
One shot of that bridge and I automatically knew this video was shot in Vallejo CA on Mare Island. Beautiful place to shoot a car video.
The Citroen-Maserati SM was another exceptional car from this fascinating company.
In Spain, we call it Citroën Tiburón aka. Citroën Shark
i mean, i always wanted a DS. but after watching this video, i m convinced this is the next car to look out for^^
I'm snapping my fingers in approval Daddy-O......Love You Live Hyphen!
My experience with the DS is that it takes a degree of courage and brevity to drive, a typically French "I am indifferent to the consequences of driving, I just need to be elsewhere, and of course in style and luxury!" Don't be soft and gentle with the car, just drive! Not to be thrashed and abused like a 205GTi, or treated gently like a Rolls Royce, not precise like a Porsche or insulating like a Cadillac but to be driven with a "I don't care about the car! Let's just get there and drink good wine!"
They are an experience, and life is all about experience.
Bravo!!
My dad had ds station wagons when I was growing up in New Zealand in the 80s. They were one of the cars I learned to drive in, and I hope to own one someday.
Only Derek could review and love that car... similar quirkiness coming from a similar age of both :-)
Just plain cool.
two years ago I bought one of these I like it
There is nothing which can be said about the Goddess which has not already being said; yet we endured on account of your metaphors to describe the mechanics of the carriage. Well done, sir.
I learned how to drive in a 2CV, my dream car is a Citroen SM although I am quite happy with my Porsche 997.
A DS with a Maserati V6 basically, I would agree
Do you know there's a company in France that does to SM's what Singer does for 911's?
Really cool machines (horribly expensive of course, unfortunately).
DS were the Coolest most innovative cars ever made 😍😍
Iconic