$4K in parts finally arrived! CAR WIZARD shows the '69 Citroën DS to the Bug Ninja. He's gobsmacked!
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2023
- Finally the CAR WIZARD 🧙♂️ has the parts he needs to fix his 1969 Citroën DS. This video gave him the perfect chance to show the car to the Bug Ninja and hear his take on this truly unusual car. PLUS a little unboxing action to see the $4K in parts.
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Astonishing that the DS was designed in the early 1950s and launched in 1955. It must have looked like a spaceship to people when it first appeared. The phrase "ahead of its time" is really true of the DS. Adrian is right. A marriage of art and engineering.
Google it and you will find many pictures of it in art setups where they display versions 'completed' as a spaceship/flying car aimed up at the sky. The design was started as a mix of pure airo design and art.
As advanced as the 1955 DS was, the Traction Avant was no slouch either. Monocoque body, four wheel independent suspension, front wheel drive - all in 1934! Compare that to a 34 Ford!
It took Citroën nearly a year from October 55 to Summer of 56 until a regular production started.
A German auto-journalist wrote in 1955: "This car doesn't come from the future, it is the presence. Every other car simply is prehistoric."
The engine was pre-war and it also powered the Citroen U23 truck and I think the H van as well.
The crank start thing was actually mandatory by law in France for a pretty long time, so many french cars had this.
It disappeared on the DS when they introduced the five speed box, but the starter handle and the long shaft are still there because the crank fit the wheel nuts and the shaft goes through the centre of the wheel into the middle of the hub so you can position the wheel over the studs. I'm not sure what The Wizard has because his seems to be all in one piece which is wrong.
Every Citroen 2CV has a hand crank … and they work. Just used mine three weeks ago on our 75 Citroen CV AK400 Fourgonette. Started with the first turn of the crank.
I used to have to crank my 404 some times...
and the Peugeot 403 (Colombo)
@@kimnorrgren9468 I had one many years ago. Left the sidelights on and the battery was almost flat when I got back. A couple of swings of the crank and away she went. I really regret selling that car - very comfortable and great suspension for an early 60s car....
I absolutely love the DS. Way ahead of its time and it is definitely a classic car.
agreed, but heavy parts cost to own
I wouldn't say it was especially ahead of its time actually. No more than the Traction Avant, also from Citroen.
But you must, must, must use the right oil in the suspension. Typical hydraulic fluid will ruin the seals. If you've ever seen a brake master cylinder seal exposed to mineral spirits for about a minute, its kind of like that [I did that once to a unit I was replacing just to see - the bore had gone egg shaped from corrosion and there was nothing to save anyway].
Actually parts are NOT so expensive IF you find the many … and there ARE many places where parts are still readably available for all Citroen DS and ID here in Italy, Germany and France. Have had three DS and two ID. Now have perfect 65 ID 19. Nothing like these cars EVER.
Compared to other cars in 1955 when this was a new model it is extremly advanced.
Hey Car Wizard , your car is from 1969 , but the Citroen DS or ID , was launched in 1954 at the Salon de Paris auto show . Your car has a technology that in 1969 was already 15 years old ! Cheers from Portugal , I love your videos !
I found this on the internet:
The statement explains that the ID was introduced a year later at the 1956 Salon, contrary to the persistent misconception that it came before the DS. The purpose of the ID was to reduce the price difference between the old Traction Avant and the new DS. The ID looked almost identical to the DS, with minor differences, but its suspension and height adjustment relied solely on hydraulic support. Braking, steering, and shifting were all mechanical, requiring more physical effort than the DS. The ID is recognizable by its brake pedal, larger steering wheel, and manual gearbox, unlike the semi-automatic version of the DS. Many owners and buyers of the DS switched to the ID version due to a lack of confidence in the hydraulic system, which was not entirely unfounded given the system's many teething problems.
The design process started even before the second world war, it was stopped and hidden as a project together with the 2cv they are mind of a set of designs on both ends of what citroen wanted todo.
1955 Paris Car Show
My father had one of these and the replacement model, the Cx. Love your videos Wizard.
Olá de Portugal 😃
I had a 1985 BX. It had the same powered hydraulic brakes, power steering and suspension but a transverse engine and ordinary manual gearbox. The suspension spheres can be regassed but most folk replace them.
Great to see Adrian again! And yes... he very much should have a YT channel. Great to see more on the Citroën - that thing is going to be so amazing when sorted. It's also always funny to see people's reaction to them.
Yes Adrian should start his own channel - especially with that voice.
Yep, he's one cool dude.
I’m workin on it😅
@@adrianhicks1616 👍
@@johnkennedy3663He sounds like neil degrasse tyson
The DS in one of the finest cars ever made. Absolutely stunning
I'd love to see a demo of the suspension when it's done.... Take the camera for a ride with a water bottle on the dash.
On mine the front "suspension" took 15 minutes for two spheres, 1 hour each for rear and new rubbers and about 20 minutes for the master sphere. Total time was just over 3 hours for a full suspension rebuild :)
The stalk in the right is a twist for the lights (pull for main beam). Mine is a BVH, so no clutch.
You are missing the rear view mirror. That sits on the dashboard as if it was on the roof you wouldn't see anything.
No spare wheel either under the bonnet.
@@alainpichon4395 True - that's the crash protection :P Didn't the Wizard show it in the boot on the first video?
@@alainpichon4395he has the spare, he just took it off
By the way, the single spoke steering wheel is a safety feature. If you hit it with your head or body it will flex. I also believe they were the first to have a padded dash as well. I grew up with a British engineer father. He always thought these cars were brilliant. He set the garage floor on fire and drove the car out on 3 wheels. It was different time for sure.
Also, you can have a clear view of the instruments panel
You want to see another cool car that was way ahead of its time look into the Tucker. Had a padded dash in the 40’s. Was basically put outta business by the big 3 car makers in America. There is a movie about it with Jeff Bridges. It’s worth a watch
@@jimhimesjr awesome rabbit hole
Only drawback with the design is not being able to hang your thumbs on the wheel at 'quarter to nine'.
Great story, thanks.
I enjoyed this one! The Citroen is such a cool car and I think I'd pay the Bug Ninja just to read the owners manual out loud. What a great voice he has!
James Earl Jones, darth vader, remember him.
Hopefully there were five balls in there and not four. The four suspension balls probably need replacing (the nitrogen is your spring, as mentioned in the video) but the fifth ball is your pressure accumulator. If you have a well at home for your drinking water you know there’s a pressure tank to go along with the pump. Same thing. And that’s the one that definitely is busted and is causing the pump to cycle on and off all the time.
The accumulator mentioned by Christian is important. If the belt to the pump dies, you loose, in order, power steering, suspension the brakes. The brakes ultimately are fed from the pressure of the car riding on the hydraulic fluid. Clicking pressure regulator is NOT good. (Hangs head in shame, one of my Xantias sounds like a set of maracas ....)
There's a 6th sphere, an accumulator for the brakes but not on this cheaper model.
I can see this DS being a flagship of preservation and example of restoration. Please bring us along for the ride.
It's good to see the Bug Ninja back in the shop! He brings an interesting viewpoint to the mix with all of his automotive experience and expertise, along with a good sense of humor!
Absolutely, he‘ a totally cool dude. I‘d invite him for a beer if I were in the US, but hey! if you ever come over to Germany, give me a holler! 🍻
@@tomsommer8372 never seen him before. maybe he has his own channel?
I guess I am in the minority, he is a complete bore, nothing dynamic about him
Greetings from England.
The DS logo is actually a French pun. These wonderful vehicles, way ahead of their time, have an incredible suspension (I first drove one in 1969 in France on holiday).
Since the car ‘drives like a goddess’, Citroen chose two letters that, pronounced in French, are exactly the same.
In French, goddess is ‘déesse’ (near enough to day-ess) and the letters ‘DS’ are pronounced the same (again, near enough to day-ess).
👍🇬🇧👍🏴👍🇺🇸👍🇫🇷👍
And for anyone else reading this, so is the name of the lower-cost ID version of the car - it's pronounced the same as the French word for idea ('idee', pronounced 'ee-day').
@@Zeem4 Absolutely! Thanks for your additional comment.
Absolutely loving the tech side to this vehicle but his face when he kicked the crank. Keep them coming
Wizard this car seems to be making you genuinely happy. Fun to follow you in this adventure.
Wizard: Nice to hear that you learned about the importance of how the oil filter is installed. Just keep yourself in the same mind set with everything else. They are not hard to work on. Just different. So be aware of the arrows on the oil filter cap and also, the rear suspension boots: Don´t just do it the "obvious" way. On the "rod side" they should be mounted kinda "inside out". And you have to use ligarex bands. There are many peoples to ask even if most of us are in the EU. And you will find that DS folks usually love to help out the newbies. And for every step you talk, you come closer to a very nice place to be, in the best car ever made. Yes I said it. It´s the best car in the world. After 30 years of owning classic DS´s I can safely say it´s the most reliable car there is. The things that matter are really crazy over-engineered. You just have to re-learn some stuff. But it´s at least fun stuff you are learning.
One of the most classic cars ever made. So glad you were able to get parts. This car is a keeper.
I also love the placement of the spare wheel. You can get at it without having to lie down on the ground and get dirty, and without unloading all of your luggage first.
It was part of the impact protection and the engine if pushed back in a severe impact would be directed under the passenger compartment not into it. Lots of thought went into protecting the occupants and the low nose meant less trauma to pedestrians in a collision.
Yes it was way ahead of it's time for occupant safety.
Other European FWD cars at the time like Renaults and Fiats had the tire in front under the hood only mounted horizontally, usually toward the back of the engine compartment.
@@emjayay As did the Citroen CX which followed the DS
The front wheels pivot about an axis that is dead centre of the tyre so if you hit a large puddle or bump the steering carries on straight ahead. You can sum it up that Citroen decided to make a car the way they thought a car should work and not follow convention. I have one in the same colour scheme. ❤
That's something the CX carried on and there is a test by a German car magazine from the 70s comparing the CX with competitors and the CX is the only car that masters the split braking test while all the others start to spin out of control. None of these had ABS.
I have been looking at this video carefully. What you have is a very fine example of a Citroen, Enjoy it.
I am South African, 77, from Port Elizabeth, and the Citroen DS and ID19, was a smash hit in South Africa in the 60,s and 70,s. Incredibly smooth ride with hydraulic suspension, and incredibly comfy big seats. Way ahead of it,s time or anything else in the market.
You forgot to mention that the spare wheel was in the front of the radiator in the engine compartment. The spare sat at an angle. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
My grandma was from Pietermaritzburg and always had the citroen in the 60’s and 70’s 👍🏻
She loved it for off roading on the farm ! Then 90 mph on the motorway ! All smoooooth! 😁👍🏻
@@JRs-Garage Howzit James, lovely. What an amazing car. 🇿🇦
@@JRs-Garage We lived in Pietermaritzburg in the 70''s..dad had a 1972 DS20 and lastly a 1974 Pallas..great cars...used to go up into the forests ..great off road and on road. Beautiful piece of engineering.
Also would've been good to mention the driving ability of the Citroen because it reacts to brake inputs by dropping down the back end of the car to stop weight transfer which helps it stop way better than anything else. Love to see you and Bug Ninja take it out for a test drive when you get it sorted.😃
Anti-dive geometry. Something that seems almost unique, the models with DIRAVI steering; SM and CX would really blow their minds...
I've heard the brakes have some getting used to. As the brakes are a button on the floor which freak people out.
@@lesflynn4455 It's okay, perhaps the first couple of times thier power catches out the unwary but it's no different to getting used to any car you are unfamiliar with. The button is like a large mushroom so not difficult for muscle memory.
The brake button (pedal on later cars) is not attached to a master cylinder but to a valve on the hydraulic system so when you apply pressure to the button, with increased driver effort, greater hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake components at the axles which are conventional. It is pressure increase that modulates the brakes, not movement, the pedal feels rock hard which catches out drivers used to poorly maintained conventional brakes with long, soft pedals. It means a small amount of driver input is required to work the brakes.
Also the car does NOT sway or nose dive during braking even though it lacks shock absorbers! And the placement of the engine/transmission is really a "mid engine" design which helps the weight transfer. The car stops in less than 120ft from 60MPH! Quite an accomplishment from a car designed in the mid-fifties!
@@lesflynn4455 . It depends on the model. I had a 72 Dspecial, which had excellent brakes, but a traditional pedal. My friend's 72 DS had the brake button, and the first time I used it, I did just about stand the car on it's nose.
That DS is one of the most beautiful, and weirdest cars in the world. However, one the most comfortable. Adrian is back!😊
Back in the early 70's backpacking in Europe hitchhiking, I was picked up is a DS. I remember the ride even today, the most comfortable car I have ever been in. You melted into the seats. Incredible comfort.
Should seek out some Euro spec headlamps with pivoting driving lights .
*Absolutely! Even if not articulated. Quick and dirty is fitting Hella H1's in low and high beam, LHD pattern configurations. Amazon has... Cheers!*
The car wizard and his wife along with Adrian ,Jay Leno,Tyler Hoover (to name but few) should be on the friends list of everyone into automobiles and national treasures for their knowledge and attitudes. Continue the great work everyone.
Great cars
Citroen always followed a different drummer, and I’m fascinated by them. They’re such a contrast to modern cars, where similarity seems to be the rule.
How many car companies are there these days ? Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Mopar, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall are all sharing the same platforms and parts these days.
The first time I've seen Adrian and he knows alot and isn't ashamed to say he hasn't seen something before.
He has the voice of a good teacher and I agree he needs a channel.
When I was 18 and started my first job in oil and gas my boss had a 1989 Bentley Turbo R.
This is when I first learned about the spheres. The back end of the Bentley was dropping so as the newest employee and maybe he saw I was interested I had to climb in the boot "trunk" and strip back to get to the spheres.
They were a darker more military 🪖 green but in bright red was the Citreon logo chevron.
#Wizard you say Citreon correctly.
An interesting fact for you. The British hoarse racing was filmed with cameras mounted on these for decades because the were so smooth over bumps. Other countries may have as well.
I learned that on one of Jeremy Clarksons programs celebrating this car.
James may also done a piece for the DS/Goddess being the greatest car of all time.
Fun Fact: The suspension is exactly why they use Citroens exclusively for filming horse racing, even to this day!
They always made me feel seasick - the DS
So the suspension is similar to a truck air ride. I had to wait for the truck to build air pressure of a morning, I had an air leak. I had air ride on the drives & air on the seats. You can get an air ride on the steers if you want. After 500+ miles per day, it helped.
Thank you for the video
😂
Indeed Jeremy Clarkson did that in a C6
They use gimbal cameras on some racetracks.
A very worthwhile restoration project. When completed, people will be thrilled by going for a ride in it - especially down a dirt track! Do try and keep the car as original as possible. One thing you will notice after driving it, is that any other car is uncomfortable!
As a 70+ year old Alfa enthusiast, the 5 Alfas I owned and worked on, this is a similar devotion to a mark. Enjoyed rebuilding transmissions, engines, brakes, autocrossing and enjoying the rewards of working on my cars over the years. Club and friends made all the difference in enjoying your favorite mark of car.
The Citroen DS 21/23 is just gorgeous, with absolutely amazing engineering. Would love to own one, but finding one in good shape is like trying to find a unicorn.
I love this car! It was nicknamed "Shark" back in Yugoslavia.
I'm so happy to see Wizard engaging with this car, he was like a kid at Xmas opening presents when going thru the boxes of new parts.
You forget about the advancements in safety this car brought to the world! Thanks for showing us your french treasure!
My Dad owned one the last two or three years my brother and I were in high school, around '70-'72, in South Jersey. My friend Ron remembered we had one and sent me this link. That really took me down memory lane and I learned so much about how it operated. I remember shifting on the column and how it went up and down. It was so easy to drive and was as comfortable as you commented.
I remember when they introduced the sports model which I think was actually called an SM. I think the headlights adjusted for going around curves so you could see what was there sooner. I'm not sure if it was ever approved for the U.S.
Truly engineering marvels and just like Dick Tracy and Star Trek, they are becoming reality now.
Thank you for the video and I'm going to look to see if you do a video after all of the repairs are done and you take it out on the road. Two thumbs up!!
They did release the SM I saw one at the Auto Show in September 1973 in Phoenix Arizona my eyes bugged out it was so beautiful. Jay Leno has both in his garage and reviews them on CZcams.
It's really cool to see car guys, in thier natural habitat, keep'em rollin'!!!
I grew up in the '50s really admiring European cars because of their unique engineering and craftmanship. In 1959, I had a chance to sit (not drive, unfortunatly) in a DS-19 and found the seats to be SUPREMELY comfortable, more comfortable than ANY car I had sat in. There are a few things about this that I would like to share. The Citroen DS/ID-19 is among the safest cars ever produced, it has the LOWEST FATALITY rate per mile driven of any car. The passenger compartment is a "space frame" reinforced design, contrary to what Mrs. Wizard said about the pillars "looking rather fragile". The missing spare tire in your car would act a sort of "crush zone" in a front impact, the engine is designed to "slide" under the car in a front impact, further ptotecting the passengers. The inboard disc brakes reduce the "unsprung weight" to help enhance the superb ride quality and help the handling of this vehicle, just like the original Shelby Cobra. There was a YT video uploaded 7 days ago by "TFL Classics" that was meant to dispell the "reliability myth" of this French car, going into great detail about all it's quirks. Very interesting viewing for anyone wanting to know ALL about these cars!
These were immensely popular in outback Australia because of their ride. They are still popular here and there is a strong support mechanism. And I say this as an ex Citroen owner and BMW restorer.
This was a great video, Car Wizard! Thank you for having another auto compatriot there with you to review this car and what it will take to get it back on the road again. I look forward to seeing more about this Citroen as you complete the work and take it for a drive.
Great to see the Bug Wizard again, and love this car. Love how there are different design solutions to the same needs.
Most of all the quirkiness is down, mainly, to make a car that is extraordinarily safe to drive (in the 50's and 60') through:
Low center of gravity, optimal weight distribution thanks to the hydraulics and chassis geometry, height pressure hydraulic brakes with extremely short throw for faster engagement, center point steering (center mounted hub pivot points), one-spoke force deflecting hubless steering wheel, headlights always correctly height adjusted, aerodymically stable trough tapered body shape, inboard disc brakes and light weight wheels/hubs for better road grip (higher frequency), gas/hydraulic springing with progressive dampers... and so on. All of it topped of with front wheel drive and very high level of comfort.
Love this video!
Absolutely love these cars. Too much emphasis today on firm 'sport' suspension and too little on actual comfort . Can't wait to see yours fully sorted. 👍
It took the French to work out that you can have a car with soft suspension that will still handle. Why do people pay 2023 prices for a car that rides like a prewar Morgan?
Yeah, like my parents used to have a 1965 Chrysler New Yorker.. and my neighbors have the time owned a 68 Cadillac... Those big boats that floated across the road would never sell.. today because they are too soft of a ride
This car had both, sports-car handling AND the ride quality of a BIG Detroit land- yacht!
"More balls than you know what to do with" takes on a whole new meaning! I think keeping that car on the road is a good thing. Thank you for your passion! Hi Adrian! 👋
What up!
Hey Car Wizard. Another great video. I could watch videos with you and Bug Ninja all day long. You both have a wealth of knowledge that I wish could be shared with younger mechanics to keep the industry strong for decades to come.
CRANKSTART --- did you know that even a citroen BX, built until 1994, could be startet this way. "1920 style", by hand. I used to own three BXs back in the 90ties. Great memories. UZ from Switzerland.
Dude is me favorite guest. Just Like you started as a guest for Hoovie, I hope "Bug Ninja" starts his own channel, I'd watch it.
just so you know: you have a pretty solid survivor DS there! just repair it as decent as you can and enjoy it! you'll be one of the few people having the opportunity to experience this gem. (still don't understand hoovie)
Hi Wiz, I drove one these back in the 80’s, great car, yes best ride ever. You got me thinking of all the times I replaced springs and shocks well over a 1000 in parts plus labour 500. Great move getting this car.👏
I was parking my GM car and there was a massive bang which startled the people next to me. We couldn't work out what is was though. A couple of weeks later I noticed a knock at full lock. The top of a spring had broken off and was gouging the shock absorber. Getting two new springs and shocks fitted (the garage recommended replacement in pairs led to a hefty bill.
I drive an air ride car with 360 000 miles on the ORIGINAL dampers. One set of front air spring were replaced. That`s all. Huge saving in the long run if you take care of it.
Love the Bug Ninja! Very thoughtful choice of words when he speaks.
Adrian has a voice made for voice overs. Also, his choice of words are poetic.
Hey Mr Wizard, I'm surprised you didn't mention the following "quirks":-
The hydraulics not only work the suspension but the brakes and the steering as well. The brake pedal is actually a button on the floor that you can operate with your big toe and, if you "jam on" the brakes and you're not wearing seatbelts, you'll very likely go through the windscreen. While there's pressure in the system you have power steering but, if the pressure drops below a certain level, the steering pinion drops onto a rack so you can still guide the car along. The hand brake (I think you call it the emergency in the US) operates on the front discs, not the rear wheels, possibly why the calipers are so big.
To change a wheel, you get the car on max height, stick the "jack" (which is a length of metal with a fixed arm at one end) into a slot in the lower side of the car and then set the car on the lowest setting. The wheels on that side of the car will then come to rest above the ground making for easy removal.
I had a DS Familiale for a while, basically an estate but with the rear seat set further back so jump seats could be fitted between the front and rear seats. Luggage space was still large despite this arrangement; the normal estate had a cavernous luggage compartment though.
That car is great on twisty roads, you can throw it into corners with near on gay abandon without any consequences. I eventually had to part company with it as it needed attention that I could not afford at the time but I will forever be grateful for the experience of having driven it.
The Wizard loves this car, and loves showing it off. I'm happy he's working to restore it to being a reliable driver, not a garage queen
PS: it's always great to hear the Bug Ninja's thoughts about the car
Looking forward to seeing all those parts fitted 👍
Wizard, thanks for bringing back the Bug Ninja. He is very chill and his automotive knowledge seems endless. More!
Thanks, Anthony!
I remember seeing one of these as a kid walking home with my brother, it was new then 1969. We have here two gentleman with a passion for cars with voices that are polar opposite! Funny to listen to.
I love a nice DS, the ride is second to none. Your car Will benefit with the correct Michelin XAS tyres.
Can't wait to see it fully repaired and on the road. Hopefully you will have a driving video on it. 👍
Am I the only one who noticed the Wizard scratch the rear fender while removing it from the car? My heart sank when I saw that...
My Grandfather was the Citroen dealer near Mobile, Alabama. He swore they were the best cars ever built.
I agree the innovation in the DS is incredible
Put the Euro front lights on it
28:16
Your friend pointed out a main theme of Citroen manufacture and that was safety.
The single spoke wheel so the instruments are always visible. Controls on the column so the drivers hands never have to leave the steering wheel.
On the semi automatic it can shifted with two fingers off the top of the wheel.
All of this innovation in 1959 long before it was thought of anywhere else.
It’s nice to see a skilled and enthusiastic mechanic take this on when so many DS are scrapped cause of fear or not understanding. Here in Canada the road salt took care of them. Good luck Wizard you’ve got the brains and the(green) balls to fix it.
Back in history I was a claims adjuster and on the way to work I saw one of these do an unsafe lane change and it tore off the left front suspension. Later, the owner came to the office and told me a very untrue story, that he was the victim. I told him I was a witness and he still argued. I went to the tow yard and inspected the damage. I knew something about these cars, but felt it was an obvious total, much to the chagrin of the owner. I sold the salvage to an import car mechanical shop. The next day the mechanic drove up to the office to show me how he fixed it that day, how modular and easy they were to fix. He was a fan and told me all about the stuff explained in the video, which was of course interesting, but I never handled another claim for one of these.
I was thrilled when I saw that you made another video about this car. After seeing your first video I did some research on the Citroen. It is, as you point out, an amazing engineering feat, with innovative and timeless features.. I like that it is considered by many to be the most comfortable car ever built. I look forward to future videos you post as you install all of the parts you have purchased.
Citroën nerds would debate you that the most comfortable car might not even be the DS but the smaller GS or the CX but the differences should be minute ;-). Definitely no other car comes close to the nimbus of the goddess.
Thank you Wizard! I love this car and loved the Bug Ninja's reaction. I would really like to see how the inboard brakes come apart when it comes time!
When you said welcoming back a special guest you haven't seen in a while, I was thinking Bug Ninja!!!!
And like magic the Ninja appeared.
😂
Adrian's a cool character. Get him in the CZcams crew!
That kick start was like seeing a half-court shot go in!
I love the Bug Ninja glad he's back in another video wizard keep up the good work
I just love this thing. It’s beautiful, quirky, full of technology wizardry. Cars nowadays don’t even come close to the timeless shapes of this simple Citroen.
As somebody who grew up with Citroen cars I really enjoy watching you re-discover the cool engineering that made these cars interesting.
20:23 ... Chewy box ("Where pet lovers shop"): lol
Love that look he gave the car at 5:34... right before "you gotta be kidding me".
I was truly astonished, fam!😂
Love hearing the wizard and the ninja nerd out about this car, i actually didnt even watch the vid but just listened to it during a walk and loved it
I recall that adjusting the handbrake when you put new pads in is a bit of a pain unless you have the factory tool whereupon it becomes very easy. I did it using a large phillips screw driver but the local agent (who had many of these cars retained for spare parts) showed me the double jointed tool that made it a breeze from top side. I learned a few expensive lessons maintaining mine (don't overheat it and warp the head - its not meant to be resurfaced according to the manual I had) but I liked it - when it was going.
Milled A LOT of warped heads 50 years ago & no reason not to that I can possibly think of.
It’s surface hardened.
I'd love to see Wizard react to a 2CV... I love these old Citroens
I have a friend that had one and we used it for tenths of thousands of miles, it's the pinnacle of simplicity and at the same time it is so practical. You can do so much more than with a regular car. At least all you could do with very little power lol.
One appearded in Scarface , Tony did not like the wrong kind of collateral damage as I recall....OUI !
Would WIZARD fft in one ?
Designed for driving across ploughed fields with the suspension I believe
@@keithfenwick5502 Anything to get to the fight , take a cab even , they are not British , no Dunkirk for them , VIva La France !
I note Ninja's comment at 4:36: " .....the "technology in here was so forward thinking for 1969". Whilst Wizard's car is a 1969 model, what is notable, is the DS complete with all its remarkable technology was presented to the marked 1955 - that was very forward thinking when compared to other cars of the era.
Great point.
As a french i can only be delighted that you're going to make this old lady road worthy for years to come
Thanks Wizard for this Video showing the Citroën legacy. Similar technology Citroën were the GS, CX and BX, but further developments with the help of electronics were the XM (looks like an UFO) C5 and C6 (which had 6 "balls" as "hydractive" to adjust flexibility), and the Xantia Activa V6 that used the hydraulics as active body roll which is a unique car in the world for its handling (the car would change its balance in corners to increase grip, so probably a unique future collector)
You forgot to mention DIRAVI steering.
I believe they had been working on the active suspension as far back as the DS. I've seen some pictures of development testing on one.
You pronounce Citroen correctly Wizard lol. Absolutely love this thing because it is so unusual and quirky.. and I’m so pleased it fell into your very capable hands and it’s getting the intelligence and love it deserves! Isn’t how ironic that all the self-levelling tech is mainstream on modern SUVs and big cars but funnily enough, they’re on the whole less reliable than this 60+yo Citroen 🤣 and I guarantee they won’t survive as long as this DS has
I'm so glad the car ended up with you, Wizard! I know it'll get the love it deserves!
Back in the late 70's, my uncle had a DS (actually, he had several Citroen's over the years, a true Citroen guy).
One day he was driving home from work and blew a rear tyre, he did not notice until he got home and saw the tyre was completely flat.
Remarkable cars, decades ahead of their time, and still today there is no car that comes even remotely close to the driving comfort of that beautiful DS.
always liked citroens...neat cars...drove an SM once...it was terrific.
Lucky you. I bought an SM as a project and only ever drove it from where it was unloaded to my shop, about 500 yards. There was no suspension as the spheres were totally shot which means the tire's sidewalls were it, you can stress crack the unibody if you drive it that way.
You should look up the London to Sydney motor race over some of the roughest roads known to man. Citroen won that race I think a number of times.
Adrian/Bug Ninja, you should definitely start a channel! Im guessing youre super busy, but there is a crazy following for VWs.
You would have a 7 figure following in short order
I’m getting my space together to start shooting. Since I now own “Squirtle” that particular VW may be some of the first content you see from me. Thanks for the vote of confidence!
I am 62, and was born and raised in England, we had a ton of these Citroens, Peugeots, Renaults, Simcas, etc.
I like the grease fittings on the CV joint.
Hey Wizard & Mrs Wizard, I love the Citroen!!! It's so quirky it's cool!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
Adrian is such a great guest. Knowledgeable and speaks "Wizard" fluently!
I’m gonna use “speaking wizard” in the future.
Super video! Lovely car! A friend of my father had one when I was a kid, and he'd go fishing, hunting using that car on very rough roads where only 4x4 went.. and he'd arrive at the camp, smiling at his stunned friends..
When it was launched, 1955 october 6th in Paris, they signed 80,000 sales contracts for that car.
If I'm right, it has a fiberglass roof, an aluminum hood, a 'small' Hemi engine (75hp) last versions were 141hp. It took 18 years of developpment, and was planned to have an air cooled flat 6, but they ran out of money.
Oh, by the way, Citroën has 'officially' launched its first Front Wheel Drive car in 1934.. thumbs up!
seeing it again ---- you got a great deal there. This car looks relatively rust free. When you get it fixed up i bet you wont ever sell it. The reguator always clicks it is how it regulates the pressure; i hope you dont drive it on the highest level of the suspension. You keep sayng 1960s --- the car ws first released in 1955 in DS version and as yours ID 1957. Had cars with this suspension and done over 300,000 miles one car and no suspension issues --- just have to do basic maintance. Remember there is a return (low pressure) from the suspension cylinder; on the rear if the boot is not good then they will leak this return oil. Is your car a DS or an ID; does it have the hydrolc power steering ? In late 1967, for the 1968 model year, the DS and ID was again restyled, by Robert Opron and has directionl inner headlights .
The comments posted on this, just go to show most American have no idea about cars designed and used in Europe, the technology on the Citroen is not advanced at all, its well tried and tested; near 10 million cars with suspension most in Europe ie DS/ID, CX, XM, BX, GS/GSA, SM, C5, C6 Drive all except the C6 and SM and none have ever had a suspension failure.
As for 'fiberglass' wings -- what rubbish and the single spoke steering wheel was a safty feature year ahead of American Cars. What they did do was one-piece wheels were made of carbon-reinforced resin, introduced for rally events .
Total amount of ID/DS's built is 1.456.115 not as stated 2 million
wow 4k in parts - the Wizard scored very well on the prices - I know how much the stuff cost due to friends owning Citroëns back in the 1980s and 1990s because the cars used the same systems - Back in the days when the French government owned the Citroën company they used to subsidize the price of new cars but not the spare parts so spare parts where even more expensive so parts where very much a sticker shock
They owned Regie Renault, not Citroën.
@@richardsheil5289 They owned both companies (or far share) and were forced to sell stakes in both when the EU got involved over state protection and bailouts etc
@@QALibrary Citroën was owned by Michelin from 1934 until around 1974 and then by Peugeot which has now morphed into Stellantis.
Bug ninja is a great guest. I always enjoy having him show up!
Can we take a moment to just appreciate how easy that 57 year old car turned over with the crank...only a quarter of a turn!! respect.
It's older than me and I wish I could get going that easily :-)
Low compression to begin with, and even lower now, plus those 2 guys aren't light weights. I always pulled up on the crank, SOP.
It's an extremely well known car guys, not a UFO. The fact that you don't know about it doesn't make the car strange...
…we are in Ford country here in Kansas. It may as well be the Starship Enterprise 😂.
In calling it strange: Wiz and I are just acknowledging our blind spots where this ride is concerned. But we are equally, if not overly, praiseworthy of this car.
Looking at the shape of the dashboard I think this is not a DS but an ID, which is a simplified version of a DS, a '69 DS has a more curved dashboard but the main difference is the brake system, ID has a normal shaped brake pedal, DS a mushroom shaped knob
At least this is the case for European models, USA specs might be different
I can't tell by the dash, but it doesn't have a brake accumulator in back of the LF wheel well, and has a pedal. Maybe a D-Special?
Awesome video! I have a Citroen DS in the exact same colour. 1974 model. Shout out from South Africa!
Great to have a contact who is passionate about the car and willing to lend his expertise and part sources!
Ever since I first drove one years ago I've considered the Citroen DS to be the Tucker 48 that actually was mass produced. Brilliant cars! I've never understood why they didn't sell well outside of France but I'm glad a few escaped to the US.
They sold pretty well in Europe.
Citroen had dealerships all over France and in other European countries that provided mechanical upkeep for the DS when it came out. The mechanics working in those dealerships went through a training program to tackle the hydro-pneumatic suspension/steeribg/braking/steering-headlights system. I know that Citroen had a dealership in Montreal/Canada with trained mecanics as my mother was one of its office employees and a family firned was one of those mecanics but i do not know if they had other such dealerships in North America. My father owned a DS Station Wagon and it was a beauty.
The Station Wagon was very popular as an Ambulance in all of Europe because of its ride comfort, low flat interior floor and backdoor frame threshold at same level as trunk floor. Here's a couple of exemples. I think you'll enjoy how the middle row of seats unfolds (or folds to leave lots of legroom for passengers in the third row of seats.... czcams.com/video/UxGf-jxvVlM/video.html czcams.com/users/shortsEdrEx2aelKc
@@lucacula3388 The DS had a wagon version?! I would love that. I daily drive a Volvo V70R manual. I like my wagons.
@@DiscoveryYSC I like Volvo cars. I Married a Swedish lady and we lived in Sweden for 2 1/2 years before moving back to Montreal. Living in France now. Never drove a Volvo but was a passenger in several back in Sweden. Great cars. Great tough engines.
@@lucacula3388 Montreal? As a kid I lived there and my brother is in fact a Canuck! Some of my favorite memories as a child are from that area. Small world. Buy a P1 platform car and I promise you won't regret it. Well, unless you have a C70 convertible like I do. The top is a nightmare. Be well my friend.
This is not a 3 speed but 4. All DS/ID had 4 speed gearboxes, with a 5 speed option after 1971.
This one got a dashboard from a Citroën ID and not DS. But the chrome interior doors handle, the grey windscreen seal, and the capitoned doors are from a DS.
I had a few of those in France and I still got a 1967 one, but US export market models where differents so I don't know if all this is genuine or not.
ANYTHING can be done to a car over a 50 year period - lotsa parts swapping...
I was wondering about that too. Never knew they made three speed manuals. My parents had a 1971 ID with a four speed and some people we knew drove the D Super with a 5 speed. I drove an 80's BX later on but that car was a tad too light for the suspension, it didn't have the same ride quality. The only way to distinguish an DS from an ID is the brake pedal. A DS never has a brake pedal. Instead there's a "mushroom" on the floor, a kind of button that you press with your foot to brake. This mushroom has no travel to speak of, braking is regulated by the pressure you put on it. Dashboard is indeed very unusual for a DS. Original DS dashboards were stunning to look at. Apparently the largest single piece of plastic manufactured at that time. Later on both ID and DS had the same dashboard (called unisex) with round clocks and a gigantic red light with "STOP" in the center of one of those clocks.
Only Renault kept 3 speeds after WW2 in Europe. Exept for the Citroën Traction designed in 1934 and built until 1957, and the HY van.
Even the 2cv had 4 speeds, and also Peugeots 203,403,404...
During 70s, optional 5 speed became frequent (R16 TX, Peugeot 504, Renault 5 Alpine, Citroën DS/Dsuper...)
We had smaller engines than american cars so needed more gears. While 3 speeds were ok with V8s if you don't care about fuel consumption.