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1967 Citroën DS21 Décapotable For Sale by Auction

Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Thursday 8th February at The Grand Palais, Paris, France 137 collectors motor cars. The full online catalogue can be viewed at - details above. For further images and information on this lot, please follow the link.

CITROËN DS21 DÉCAPOTABLE 1967
Citroën DS21 décapotable 1967
Carrossserie Henri Chapron
Châssis n° 4600 099

•Livrée neuve à Toulon, en France
•Deux propriétaires
•Numéros de châssis et de moteur concordants
•Etat d'origine exceptionnel
•Transmission semie automatique
•Attestation de Chapron au dossier

Comme il l'avait fait vingt et un ans auparavant avec la révolutionnaire « Traction avant », Citroën étonnait à nouveau le monde en 1955, en lançant sa DS à la ligne futuriste. Sous la carrosserie profilée aux allures de requin, on trouvait une suspension hydropneumatique à quatre roues indépendantes à assiette constante, des freins, un embrayage et une direction assistés.
Aucune autre voiture européenne n'allait égaler le confort de la DS pendant plusieurs années, la supériorité de la suspension hydropneumatique de Citroën, en avance sur son temps, étant attestée par sa survivance sur les modèles haut de gamme de la marque encore aujourd'hui. Le moteur original de la DS, un 1 911 cm3 à soupapes en tête à course longue fut remplacé en 1966 par un moteur à course courte de 1 985 cm3 également proposé dans des versions 2 175 cm3 et 2 347 cm3, les autres modifications apportées à la DS étant des phares orientables, l'injection et une boîte cinq vitesses.
Les autres modèles de DS proposés étaient l'ID (une version simplifiée meilleure marché), l'immense break Safari et la décapotable deux portes, cette dernière dotée d'une carrosserie Henri Chapron. Le premier modèle de cabriolet de Chapron était construit indépendamment de Citroën, mais le constructeur finit par donner son accord. Henri Chapron commença sa carrière dans l'industrie automobile comme apprenti sellier, travaillant pour divers carrossiers de la région Parisienne. En 1919, il créa sa propre entreprise dans la banlieue chic de Paris à Neuilly-sur-Seine où son activité principale consistait à recarrosser les voitures réquisitionnées pendant la guerre par le gouvernement français. Chapron déménagea dans des locaux plus vastes à Levallois-Perret en 1923 et devint le constructeur officiel de coupés et de cabriolets pour Delage et Delahaye, puis habilla de nombreuses automobiles françaises et européennes parmi les plus élégantes de l'entre-deux-guerres.
Malgré une demande de plus en plus rare pour les carrosseries sur mesure après la deuxième guerre, Chapron survécut grâce à ses remarquables créations sur base Delahaye, Talbot et Salmson, passant à des versions sur mesure à partir de modèles monocoques lorsque les constructeurs commencèrent à délaisser les traditionnels châssis séparés. L'arrivée de la Citroën DS en 1955 représenta pour Chapron une nouvelle opportunité et son nom fut définitivement attaché à cette remarquable automobile.
Les propres décapotables de Citroën étaient construites sur le châssis plus long et plus robuste de l'ID Break. Un total de 1 365 cabriolet usine furent construits avec moteur DS 19 ou DS 21 entre 1960 et 1971, tandis que Chapron en ajoutait 389 de son cru, le dernier en 1973.

Equipée de la transmission semie automatique, cette belle DS 21 a été livrée neuve à Paris, en France à son premier propriétaire, l'ingénieur Gaston Westercamp, qui l'avait commandée au Quai André Citroën. La voiture coûtait 27 640 francs et la facture originale de vente figure au dossier. Méticuleusement entretenue par M. Westercamp, la DS avait parcouru 82 000 kilomètres lorsqu'il la vendit en 2000. La voiture est toujours dans un état d'origine superbe, avec sa sellerie en cuir vert foncé d'origine et ses moquettes d'origine, tandis que sa carrosserie – sans oxydation et intacte – a été repeinte dans son blanc Carrara d'origine dans les années 1990.

En 1975, M. Westercamp déménagea à Toulon où la DS fut dénichée par son propriétaire suivant, Mme Jeltske Homan van der Heide, qui continua de dorloter la voiture pendant les 17 années qui suivirent de la même manière que son premier propriétaire. Affichant désormais un total de quelques 128 000 kilomètres au compteur, cette DS reste dans un état d'origine remarquable et en très bon état de marche et représente donc une rareté exceptionnelle et inhabituelle aujourd'hui. Entièrement révisée, elle est vendue avec son manuel, ses outils, ses factures, son ancienne carte grise et la facture de vente mentionnée plus haut, ainsi, bien sûr, que la très importante attestation de Chapron.

1967 Citroën DS21 Décapotable
Coachwork by Henri Chapron
Chassis no. 4600 099

•Delivered new in Toulon, France
•Two registered owners from new
•Matching numbers
•Outstandingly original
•Semi-automatic transmission
•Chapron-Attestation on file

Just as it had done 21 years previously with the revolutionary 'Traction Avant', Citroën stunned the world again in 1955 with the launch of the strikingly styled 'DS'. Beneath the shark-like newcomer's aerodynamically efficient, low-drag bodyshell there was all-independent, self-levelling, hydro-pneumatic suspension; plus power-operated brakes, clutch, and steering. No European car would match the DS's ride quality for several years, the fundamental soundness of Citroën's ahead-of-its-time hydro-pneumatic suspension being demonstrated by its survival in top-of-the-range models until earlier this year. The DS's original 1, 911cc, overhead-valve, long-stroke engine was replaced in 1966 by a short-stroke 1, 985cc unit, also available in 2, 175cc and 2, 347cc versions, while other DS developments included swivelling headlights, fuel injection and a five-speed gearbox.

Other models offered alongside the original DS were the ID (a simplified, cheaper version), the cavernous Safari estate and the two-door Décapotable (convertible), the latter boasting coachwork by Henri Chapron. (Chapron's first convertibles had been produced independently of Citroën, but the factory eventually gave the project its blessing). Henri Chapron started his career in the motor industry as an upholsterer's apprentice, working for various coachbuilders in the Paris area. In 1919 he started his own business in the well-to-do Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine where his main activity was re-bodying cars that had been requisitioned in wartime by the French Government. Chapron moved to larger premises in Levallois-Perret in 1923 and became the official builder of coach and convertible models for Delage and Delahaye, going on to body many of the most elegant French and European automobiles of the inter-war period.

Despite a much-reduced demand for bespoke coachwork after WW2, Chapron survived thanks to his exemplary creations for Delahaye, Talbot and Salmson, switching to offering bespoke versions of unitary construction models when motor manufacturers began to abandon the traditional separate chassis frame. The arrival of the Citroën DS in 1955 presented Chapron with a fresh opportunity that would result in his name being forever linked with this remarkable car.

Citroën's own Décapotables were built on the longer, stronger chassis of the ID Break (Estate). In total, 1, 365 usine (factory) convertibles were made with either the DS19 or DS21 engine between 1960 and 1971, while Chapron built a further 389 of his own, the last in 1973.

Equipped with the semi-automatic transmission, this beautiful DS21 was delivered new in Paris, France to its first owner, engineer Mr Gaston Westercamp, who had ordered it at the Quai André Citroën. The car cost 27, 640 francs, and the original bill of sale is on file. Fastidiously maintained by Mr Westercamp, the DS had covered some 82, 000 kilometres when he sold it in 2000. The car was still in superb original condition, retaining its original dark green leather upholstery and original carpets, while the body - rust-free and undamaged - had been repainted in the original Carrara White in the 1990s.

In 1975, Mr Westercamp had moved to Toulon, which is where the DS found its next owner: Mrs Jeltske Homan van der Heide, who continued to pamper the car for the next 17 years in the same manner as its first custodian. Now displaying a total of some 128, 000 kilometres on the odometer, this DS remains outstandingly original and in superb order, and as such is an exceptional rarity and an unusual find today. Fully serviced, it comes with all books, tools, service records, invoices, old Carte Grise, and the aforementioned 1967 sales invoice plus, of course, the all-important Attestation Chapron.

€180, 000 - 220, 000
£160, 000 - 200, 000

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