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21 of 170 lots
Lot 21
1956 Citroën DS19 Berline
Estimate:
$120,000 - $150,000
Starting bid:
$25
Sold for
$90,000
Live Auction
Pebble Beach Auctions 2023
Description
Without Reserve

Chassis: 004086
Engine: 20800210

Salesroom Addendum
Please note that the exhaust valves were not changed during this vehicle’s mechanical recommissioning by the consignor as stated in the published catalogue.

One of the Earliest Known US-Specification Examples
An Extremely Original DS with Many Early Features
Stored in California from 1960 to 2010
Methodically Recommissioned Former Garage Find
A Very Significant and Special DS19 for the Citroën Purist

1,911 CC OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Weber Twin-Choke Carburetor
74 BHP at 4,500 RPM
4-Speed Semiautomatic Transmission
Front Inboard Disc, Rear Drum Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Hydropneumatic Suspension

Introduced at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, the Citroën DS created a sensation with 12,000 orders reportedly taken during the first day, and nearly 1.4 million built along several variations through 1975.

Retaining its distinctive factory Champagne and Aubergine exterior combination, this first-year 1956 Citroën DS19 Berline is a wonderfully preserved example. It was discovered in 2010 languishing in a dusty garage in Sacramento, having traveled just 52,418 miles before being taken off the road for a mechanical issue circa 1960. The consignor, a Citroën collector and aficionado, bought the DS in late 2010. Extensive invoices on file document the careful mechanical recommissioning of the car, which addressed every major mechanical system, including changing the original sodium-filled exhaust valves, all the while making sure to preserve the Citroën’s originality.

Accompanying the DS19 at auction is a fascinating file that includes correspondence with the family of the long-term owner, as well as period photos. Offered from the care of a passionate Citroën collector, this original US-export example is believed by the consignor to be the oldest DS in the US, and one of less than 50 first-year examples known worldwide. It comes with service records, period California registration papers, handwritten notes and instructions, and a historical summary. Its rare early specification and preserved condition present a clear opportunity to own a pure example of a mid-century French masterpiece.