1968 CITROËN DS 21M CABRIOLET

Series 4488583 Engine 0662025416 DY3 French registration In 1958, Henri Chapron, a French coachbuilder, was chosen by Citroën to design and build the factory cabriolet. His creations were to become collector's items. The factory cabriolet followed the technical evolution of the saloon, and existed in DS 19 (1960-1965), DS 21 (1965-1971) and DS 21 electronic injection (1969- 1970) versions. If the Citroën DS saloon represented the French top of the range in everyone's mind from 1955 onwards, what can be said of its cabriolet version? Well, its versions! That said, whether in unofficial versions (Croisette, Caddy, Palm Beach or Cabriolet, 236 of which were produced between 1958 and 1972) or in "factory" versions, all the DS cabriolets worthy of interest were made by one and the same "manufacturer": Henri Chapron. It was Chapron's "unofficial" creations that put Citroën on the path to an official version, integrated into the range and distributed through the network. Two years after the presentation of the Croisette and Cabriolet, Citroën launched the DS Cabriolet (in August 1960) and its less "technological" ID version. At its launch, the DS 19 Cab had a 4-cylinder 1.9 litre 75 bhp engine, while the ID had the same but less powerful engine (63 bhp), but very quickly, both models received the same engine developing 83 bhp. The ID19 Cabriolet was withdrawn from the catalogue in 1965, while the DS continued to be produced until 1971, gradually receiving engine upgrades: in 1965, the DS 21 (109 bhp, then 115 bhp in 1968) replaced the DS 19, then received electronic injection in 1969, increasing power to 123 bhp. Stylistically, the DS cabriolet received the same changes as the saloon, including new streamlined headlights in 1968. Despite the Citroën label and the distribution within the network of the brand with the chevrons, only 1365 DS and ID Cabriolets were produced. It has to be said that the use of an external coachbuilder inflated the prices, almost twice the price of the saloon. So much so that it was already expensive at the time! Today we present you a splendid cabriolet built on the basis of "factory" cabriolets, by an unknown coachbuilder. The car is in beautiful exterior condition. The interior is complete and the upholstery is new. Coming from a DS 21 saloon, the work done is rigorous, extremely respectful of the authenticity of DS convertibles. It deserves at least a cleaning of the soft top. A great opportunity to buy the mythical DS cabriolet for a reduced price.