1973 Citroën DS23 Pallas Lot n° 5

Known history Desirable hydraulic transmission version Numerous maintenance costs in recent years Collector's French car registration document Chassis N°00FE6973 As Roland Barthes says, "when it first appeared, the DS 19 functioned like a magical object, shiny, seamless, with lots of glass, a kind of object fallen from the sky". And the way we look at the Citroën today is still the same. Today, the DS is still a UFO, and very few cars reflect such a strong image. The ultimate evolution of the legendary DS, the DS 23 was released in September 1972. The engine develops 130hp in its electronic injection version. There are already rumours of succession within the Citroën family and the ageing DS needs something new. The DS 23 therefore replaces the 21, which will then be renamed "D Super 5" and will be equipped with a mechanical gearbox. The 2.3-litre engine, for the 1973 model year, is available in carburettor or injection version, and can be coupled to three gearbox versions: mechanical, hydraulic or automatic. This engine has had a remarkable career and gives the DS even more flexibility and torque, enabling it to reach almost 190 km/h top speed. The test driver André Costa of l'Auto-Journal will then appreciate a new character: "With its 130 hp and its plump power curve, the 23 has become, if its driver so desires, a fighter that despite its weight, slips well on small roads while gluttonously swallowing the motorway...". The DS 23 Pallas that we offer here is a carburetor version with a hydraulic gearbox, first registered on April 17, 1973 in the Alpes Maritimes. Its first owner kept it for 7 years before selling it to Mr Marquer, a Parisian resident, in 1980. He will keep it for 33 years before it joins Pierre Brignole's collection in 2013. Complete and in good working order, this DS 23 seems to have always been well maintained. With the exception of a few minor bodywork defects, the car looks good in its original Beige Tholonet colour. As for the interior, it has a nice patina. Its road handling is in line with our expectations: the gearbox is smooth and the entire hydraulic system works well. A lot of work has been undertaken since 2014, such as changing the suspension spheres, installing a stainless steel exhaust system, changing the hydraulic pump, the belts and all the hoses at the beginning of 2019.