The DS was presented 70 years ago at the Paris Motor Show and was a sensation at the time. Reason enough for Autoworld Brussels to commemorate this with a smaller exhibition.
The exhibition organizers rightly point out that the term "icon" is used almost inflationarily these days. Now let the reader put it to the test and spontaneously name ten car models that they consider to be significant in terms of automotive history: I think the DS from Citroën - the "goddess" - is among them.
The title of the exhibition should therefore be justified. It is easy to imagine how this different and avant-garde car made an impression on contemporaries at the time in comparison with models from the competition. However, we will not go into this in any more depth here than the story of the failed assassination attempt on the then French President de Gaulle, which is often reported in connection with the DS.
So let's limit ourselves to a brief tour of the exhibition. It comprises just over a dozen exhibits and - as is customary at Autoworld - is supplemented by trilingual information and video material. The exhibition aims to show the range of the model, which was built over two decades, and therefore also includes its "little sister", the ID.
The oldest exhibit dates from 1958 and deserves special mention: it is a model originally delivered to Sweden with a mileage of just 19,000 km! Incidentally, the accompanying information board tells you that the series was also produced in small numbers in Belgium and the United Kingdom. An example of Belgian production is an ID 19 from 1959, which was left in 100% original patinated condition.
Another special example is the DS 21 M Prestige, which was once delivered to Morocco. It was one of probably eleven examples to be refined with the help of Atelier Chapron and has a partition window to the rear passengers. The DS 23 i.e. painted in the color "Delta Blue" from the last production year 1975 also looks quite luxurious. This car already has a Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection system.
The estate versions of the ID/DS are represented by three cars. These are an ID 19 Break Confort from 1966, a DS 23 in the version frequently encountered in the past as an ambulance and an ID 21 Break, which was used by the authorities to check road conditions. As is well known, the DS was also used in motorsport. Autoworld Brussels shows a DS 21 from 1969 for rally use, in which the chassis was shortened by 52 cm.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is likely to be a DS 21 from 1969 presented on a mirrored floor. It is a so-called "factory convertible" ("Usine"). These cars were manufactured by Henri Chapron and officially distributed via the Citroën dealer network. However, this anniversary exhibition does not include other DS variations by Chapron, some of which took some getting used to in terms of style.
Two other exhibits offer unusual perspectives: Firstly, the object "DS Volante" by Philippe Swimberghe, which was created in 2002 for an art exhibition and currently appears to be floating from the ceiling of Autoworld. Another impressive piece is the DS "Fusée" sculpture from 1962, which offers a different view of the DS bodywork thanks to its vertical arrangement.
Another special feature on display since May 26, 2025 is the rebuilt Citroën ID 19 (1959) by Claude Puech, which rests on balloons and was once intended to illustrate hydropneumatics. The latter two objects were also on display at the last Rétromobile in Paris.
If you make a pit stop in the museum's own bistro, you may come across a very special coupé: The Citroën GT 19 Bossaert from 1963. The car was designed by Pietro Frua and built by the northern French company Bossaert, again using a greatly shortened chassis.
Finally, it should also be mentioned that the name DS is now known to stand for a brand of the Stellantis Group. This exhibition takes this into account with two exhibits. On display are the DS 7 Crossback Présidentiel model from 2017 - a state limousine with a standard - and the all-electric DS N°8 from 2025.
It is always amazing to see the speed with which Autoworld implements its smaller "pop-up exhibitions". These may be rather small, but they are always worth a visit. The exhibition celebrating the anniversary of the Citroën DS is no exception.
Further information on the exhibition "Citroën DS - An Icon Turns 70", which is on display at Autoworld Brussels until June 29, 2025, can be found on the museum's website.
