1969 | Citroën ID 19 Break

The goddess of the road – the 1969 Citroën ID 19B

Citroën unveils the DS at the Paris Motor Show in the autumn of 1955. An incredibly smooth design without the chrome touches that are all the rage at the time, and the cool illusion of all-round windows. The car may as well have come from another planet as far as the audience is concerned. Passengers are delighted as the interior reflects the exterior's futuristic design. At the time, the dashboard was the largest single-piece plastic part in the world. Not to mention the unusually elegant single-spoke steering wheel.

The new Citroën is an out-of-this-world experience in more than its shape and capacity – it's also in the way it drives. The technology is progressive, too: instead of conventional springs with shock absorbers, the DS glides along hydropneumatically. An oil pressure system acts on spring balls that are half filled with air. The engineering is based on the idea that while air can be compressed, oil cannot. The oil is kept under constant pressure, and can also be used to vary the height of the car if necessary. From today's perspective, this revolutionary technology was an unlikely gamble for a mass production model. It's a risk that pays off for Citroën. After the initial teething troubles, hydropneumatics will remain Citroën's trademark for decades.

From 1957 onwards comes the less powerful ID, also missing the semi-automatic transmission. But the economy version is well received, selling ten times better than the DS in some countries. In 1967, both models undergo a facelift. Designer Robert Opron integrates two twin headlights under glass panes for a streamlined front design. They make the predator-like body look even more animalistic. The stand-out feature, however, is the steering-led full-beam headlights – with inner lamps coupled to the steering angle of the front wheels to illuminate bends even on the approach.


Our ID 19B auction piece has matching numbers for authenticity and was imported to Switzerland in February 2014. It also comes with a Citroën Confirmation Certificate. The intermediary dealer in France managed to acquire the car from family ownership owing to circumstances before selling it straight on to the current owner. The car was registered in the south of France for 45 years, and the original quality shows. The first owner's wife decided she didn't like the original colour, and so promptly had the car painted gold. It has all now been restored to its original condition. The car has been regularly serviced and is in excellent condition. A regal rarity at a reasonable price.