Heller Citroen DS 19 Convertible

At Citroën, it was believed that the standard of living in France and Europe would rise, which led to the successful introduction of the 2 CV. Now, the 15 and 11 CV needed a successor. This gave rise to the VDG design, a vehicle planned for larger production volumes, with initial sketches dating back to 1945. The vehicle gradually took shape. André Lefebvre was appointed to lead the project, and he was firmly committed to innovations in all areas. The body was designed by Flaminio Bertoni, while the suspension was developed by Paul Magès. Pierre Bercot was responsible for the engine design, based on the old D engine with a displacement of 1911 cm³. By the end of 1954, the overall design was finalized. The car debuted at the 42nd Paris Motor Show in October 1955. What surprised everyone at first was the unprecedented design. France was divided into two camps: "for" and "against." However, the novelty was not limited to the body; the hydropneumatic suspension offered surprising comfort with four independent wheels. Plastic became an important element of the body, used for the roof and rear window, as well as lightweight alloy for the hood. Many new details followed: from the steering wheel with a single spoke to the streamlined turn signals and doors without window frames. The first convertibles were originally designed by Bertoni and marketed by Chapron. The factory convertibles were built on the ID 19 platform and offered with leather upholstery. The convertible was first presented at the 1961 Motor Show and launched at a price of 22,000 FF. For comparison, a Dauphine cost 6,000 FF at that time.