CITROËN DS 20 DÉCOUVRABLE (AEAT) 1973 Lot n° 12

Convertible sedan body, 4/5 seats Front engine, 4 cylinders in line Displacement 2 347 cm3 (DS 23) Power 163 hp Maximum speed 179 km/h Production 7 examples referenced Mileage 63,575 km Serial number 4715948 Citroën surprised the world with its futuristic DS in 1955. But beyond its spectacular rocket-like bodywork, the technology used was simply unprecedented and perhaps even more futuristic. It featured a highly innovative hydropneumatic suspension with four independent wheels and constant ride height, brakes, clutch and power steering, combined with front-wheel drive, of which Citroën was the undisputed specialist at the time. It offered the kind of handling and comfort that would make it a model of its kind. It is astonishing to note that apart from Rolls-Royce, which used Citroën's hydraulic suspension for a time, the DS was never emulated or copied. It remains unique in its kind. The original engine of the DS 19 was a 1,911 cm³ long-stroke overhead valve engine, which was replaced by a 1,985 cm³ short-stroke engine (DS 20) in 1966 and later offered with displacements of 2,175 cm³ (DS 21) and 2,347 cm³ (DS 23). In September 1967, the front of the DS was redesigned and fitted with directional headlights. In addition to the saloon, other DS models were offered, including the ID, a simplified version, the huge Safari station wagon and the cabriolet, created by the coachbuilder Henri Chapron, and later taken over by the brand. A few hand-made transformations were produced, such as this extremely rare convertible DS. This DS 20, whose date of first registration on 25 October 1972 indicates a 1973 model, is a saloon car which was transformed by AEAT (Anciens Etablissements Ansare & Teisseire) into a convertible with a full-length folding black Alpaca roof. Only seven examples of these conversions are currently listed. Purchased in the late 1990s by its current owner, it has undergone a whole range of restoration work, exterior and mechanical from 2013. It has a Massena red bodywork in excellent condition. The chrome is in good condition and without any trace of oxidation. The brown leather interior is in very good condition and the beige carpets are new. The dashboard and all its instrumentation are in very good condition and conform to the original model. The engine has been replaced by a DS23 engine which has received a new timing chain and the mechanical set presents a nice aspect in a very clean engine compartment. The car is equipped with new Vredenstein tires. A rare model in this configuration.