Citroën DS Break: floating with the whole family – In the Wild

When the Citroën DS was released in 1955, and for a long time afterwards, it was a textbook example of aerodynamic car design. Its teardrop-shaped carriage provided a CW value that many 1950s cars could only dream of and its pre-war predecessor Traction Avant suddenly seemed to come from another century. The DS caused a sensation not only with the carriage drawn by the Italian Flaminio Bertoni (not to be confused with Bertone), because Citroën’s technicians had also certainly not been idle. The DS introduced a new type of suspension system that made it unprecedentedly comfortable; the hydropneumatic suspension system, with gas and liquid in ‘spring balls’ instead of conventional suspension.

The market loved it and the DS immediately ensured that Citroën’s cash registers were ringing. To further expand the success, a DS was released in 1958 for those who wanted more luggage and seating space: the Break. With its straight roof, angular tail, open rear wheel arches and large windows, it was clearly a lot less progressive in the aerodynamic field than its sedan brother. On the other hand, you could store a huge load in it and with extra seats in the back there was room for seven people. It was a recipe that tasted perfect for many families, not just in France. Until an old age, the DS Break, despite its sometimes somewhat vulnerable nature, was a fairly popular station wagon. Also here in the Netherlands.

In 1996, when you could still regularly encounter a DS in our country, this copy spotted by AutoWeek forum member XBXG2 came to the Netherlands. We suspect that the car was restored not long afterwards. Why do we think it is a DS refurbished relatively long ago? It looks just a little too tight for an original copy and at the same time, unfortunately, some rust is appearing at the bottom of the doors. Since whoever imported it back then still holds the keys, there is a good chance that the DS will sooner or later get the love it needs. After such a long time you would probably die for such a classic. It’s worth it anyway, because you can bet that this now over 50 year old DS Break is now worth a lot more than it was back then, rust or not. A nice copy easily has a value of around €20,000.