1975 Citroen D23 Safari

Lot details
Registration No: LGH584N
Chassis No: 00FF8184
Mot Expiry: None

The postwar DS19 streamliner with its unique air/oil suspension was way ahead of its time when unveiled on the Citroen 1955 Paris Salon stand. Indeed, even by the end of the first day of the exhibition, an amazing 12,000 orders of the Andre Lefebre and Flaminio Bertoni penned design had been booked.
The DS20 replacement with 1985cc engine arrived in 1968. The 1970 DS21 had a 5-speed gearbox. Whilst, from the 1972 model year, the DS23 was offered with engine capacity increased to 2347cc and with the fuel-injected version producing 130bhp. Such non-stop innovation was costly, however, and the loss-making marque was happily rescued by Peugeot's 1975 takeover-merger.
The estate is the rarest and reckoned to be the most desirable version of the classic DS. Offered here is a 1975-manufactured, left-hand drive example of the 23. The still futuristic-looking bodywork, which is painted white, is reportedly in fair condition, whilst the interior is trimmed in brown. The 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine is said to be in fair order.
Interestingly, and when carrying the French registration 64038592, this particular DS Estate was employed in period as a service car by the winning Matra-Simca marque on that great sports-racer and GT classic, the Tour de France. For as confirmed by a copy of an event photo in the history file, this vehicle would appear to have been the `DS Break d'Assistance' for the Fiorentino-Gelin Matra. Thus would make a most appropriate paddock vehicle for any historic competitor.