DS: the history of Citroen luxury - pictures

The DS made its first, stunning public appearance at a crowded Paris Motor Show in 1955. Thousands of people squeezed on to Citroen’s stand, eager to catch a glimpse of the futuristic new car. What they saw when the covers were removed

You’d expect style, sophistication and space from the DS, but surely not an impressive motorsport pedigree? Well, you’d be wrong, because the big Citroen notched up two Monte Carlo rally victories, plus a string of successes in long-di

In an effort to attract buyers put off by the DS’s mechanical complexity, Citroen launched the ID in 1957. Essentially an entry-level model, it retained the DS’s head-turning looks and hydro-pneumatic suspension, but ditched the hydrau

Buyers wanting a DS with even more space had to wait for the ID estate, or Safari, to arrive in 1959. Despite its name, it was more DS than ID, as it had the more expensive model’s powered brakes and uprated engines, plus power-steerin

One of the most desirable and sought-after DS models is the gorgeous Chapron cabriolet. The brainchild of famed Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron, the hand-crafted four-seat drop-top made its debut in 1958. While the conversion to

Citroen pulled the covers off its own cabriolet in 1960, yet production was again entrusted to Chapron. When sales ended in 1971, a total of 1,315 DS and ID cabriolets had been made. And due to the DS cabriolet’s stunning lines an

After proving a hit with the public, the DS soon gained the presidential seal of approval from Charles de Gaulle. In fact, the French leader owes his life to the big Citroen, after it played a big part in foiling an assassination a

Despite being sprayed with more than 100 bullets that ripped through its bodywork and punctured its tyres, the DS’s advanced hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension helped the driver retain control, allowing the president and his wif

Nearly 13 years after its launch, the DS still looked more modern than most cars on the road, yet that didn’t stop designers giving the saloon a nip and tuck in 1968. The biggest change was reserved for the nose, which featured distin

Almost 35 years after the last DS rolled off the production line, the famous badge returned with a bang when the wraps were pulled off the DS 3 at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Featuring daring looks, endless personalisation options a

It was designed to rival premium models such as the MINI and Fiat 500, and rejected these cars’ retro styling cues in favour of bold, modern lines inside and out. Quality was also a priority, and the DS 3 had a top-notch finish and ple

Charles de Gaulle isn’t the only French president to have fallen in love with DS, as current leader Francois Hollande took delivery of a DS 5 in 2012. As you’d expect for someone in the public eye, the President chose the ultra-efficie

There are flag holders on each front wing, but the biggest addition is a full-length sunroof – not available on production versions – that allows Hollande to wave to crowds on special occasions.

When it came to marking the DS’s 60th birthday, nothing less than a huge party would do – and the brand didn’t disappoint. DS hosted a week-long celebration in May 2015 that included a vast DS exhibition at the Jardin des Tuileries, Pa

However, the real highlight was the parade of more than 700 DS cars from over 10 countries. The group gathered together at the Linas-Montlhéry track outside Paris for a day, before travelling in a convoy to the Place de la Concorde in