Heller STARTER KIT Citroen DS 19 Convertible

Includes glue, brush, main colors. At Citroën, there was a belief that the standard of living in France and Europe would rise, which is why the 2 CV was successfully introduced. Now, the 15 and 11 CV needed a successor. This led to the design of the VDG, a vehicle planned for larger production runs, 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 took charge of planning the old D engine with a displacement of 1911 cm³. By the end of 1954, the overall design was finalized. In October 1955, the car debuted at the 42nd Paris Motor Show. What surprised 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, with the roof and rear window, as well as the lightweight alloy for the hood. Many new details followed: from the steering wheel with a single spoke to the streamlined turn signals and frameless doors. The first convertibles were originally designed by Bertoni and marketed by Chapron. The factory convertibles were built on the basis of the ID 19 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.