1955-2015: DS celebrates it's 60th Anniversary at Retromobile.

In its first year as a brand in its own right, DS will be at the 40th Rétromobile show in Paris next week, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the original 1955 DS. From 4 to 8 February 2015, car lovers can enjoy a stroll around the DS area at the Parisian Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre for an enthralling look back at the legendary DS. The DS exhibition, organised with support from the Amicales Citroën* associations along with DS and SM** enthusiasts' clubs, will include five prestige period models, plus one of the latest arrivals for the DS brand, DS 3 Cabrio, in Ultra Prestige form.

The Rétromobile show in Paris is a major international fixture on the vintage car calendar. The event celebrates its 40^th anniversary as the original DS marks 60 years since its début appearance at the 1955 Paris Motor Show.

In its first year as a brand in its own right, DS has an area at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre, providing an enthralling look back at the legend that is DS. The DS exhibition, organised with invaluable support from Citroën enthusiasts' clubs, will feature five period models plus one of the latest arrivals in the DS brand line-up, DS 3 Cabrio Ultra Prestige.

The period cars on show will provide visitors with an insight into the exceptional heritage that inspires today's DS brand in its quest to offer customers the very best in design, technology, comfort, driving experience, quality materials and outstanding attention to detail.

The stars of the show are:

• DS 19 from 1959, in its original configuration, with a grey-rosé body, aubergine roof, and royal blue interior. This model, adapted for export to Germany, features an engine temperature gauge on the dashboard plus an FM/LW radio. The three-main-bearing engine is coupled with a four-speed gearbox with hydraulic control.
• DS 21 Cabriolet from 1968, with a hydraulic-control gearbox. The superb finish on this exceptionally elegant model extends to red leather upholstery, contrasting with the Carrare white body.
• DS 20 Pallas from 1973, a top-end luxury model featuring tobacco leather upholstery, beige Tholonet bodywork, tinted windows and even a sunroof. The 1985 cm³  engine is mated to a hydraulically controlled four-speed synchromesh gearbox.
• SM Coupé from 1971, previously owned by King Hassan II of Morocco. This model features metallic beige paintwork, special registration plates, natural leather upholstery, air conditioning, a Continental Edison Hi-Fi radio specific to this model, tinted windows and fog lamps. The engine is a Maserati V6.
• SM Coupé from 1972, a model with a Scarabée brown body and light brown upholstery. In addition to the self-levelling hydraulic suspension, similar to that on the DS, this car also boasts Citroën's innovative DIRAVI ‘power-assisted return’ steering, for exceptional driveability.

Alongside these iconic cars, visitors will also be able to admire the DS 3 Cabrio Ultra Prestige on the show stand.

Rétromobile opens to the public on Wednesday 4 February 2015, with the DS showroom in Hall 1.

*The Amicales Citroën organisations comprise L’Amicale des Clubs Citroën France and L’Amicale Citroën Internationale, associations whose mission is to coordinate the operations of enthusiasts' clubs with the Citroën and DS brands.

**The clubs contributing to Rétromobile 2015 are: DS ID Club de France, Idéale DS France, DS Club Révolution 55, Le Monde de la DS, SM Club de France, Euro SM Club, and Club automobile André Citroën.

Happy 60th birthday to the most beautiful car ever made, that will be the Citroen DS.

This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the 1955 DS. Three icons  ̶  the original DS,  DS 3 WRC and Sébastien Loeb  ̶  are joining forces with the DS brand to celebrate the anniversary of this legendary car and support the launch of the new brand. All three icons will be in Monte-Carlo this month: the DS 3 WRC and Sébastien Loeb today, for the start of the 83rd Monte-Carlo Rally, and the DS 21 in a few days for the 18th Monte-Carlo Historic Rally. This year will see a variety of meetings, shows and special events, along with other surprises yet to be announced by the DS brand.

On 6 October 1955, the DS 19 made its debut under the glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris. Visitors rushed to buy the car, which sold 12,000 examples in one day. The styling and high-tech innovations of the DS made it a legendary car, one that is still talked about today. 

“It was only natural for us to celebrate the anniversary of the historic DS at a time when the brand is beginning its first full year of existence. We are building the brand on the exceptional heritage of this car to bring customers cars that combine outstanding styling and technology, comfort and driving sensations, premium materials, refinement and attention to detail,” explains Yves Bonnefont, DS CEO. For this reason, a multitude of events are planned around the world in 2015 to celebrate this sixtieth anniversary.

THE DS BRAND BRINGS TOGETHER THREE ICONS IN MONTE-CARLO

Opening the festivities, three icons will be present in Monte-Carlo this month:

• DS 3 WRC with its new 2015 livery featuring a large “60” on the rear wings and Sébastien Loeb – nine-time World Rally Champion – will both be on the starting line for the 83^rd Monte-Carlo Rally today.
• A sports version of the 1966 DS 21 will be taking part in the 18^th Monte-Carlo Historic Rally (28 January - 4 February). Stamped with the brand logo and carrying the number 21, the DS will be on the starting line at Reims on 30 January, with Bob Neyret at the wheel. A nod to history, as Bob Neyret has already claimed two victories in the Monte-Carlo Rally at the wheel of a DS.

INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOWS IN THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY COLOURS OF THE DS

DS is also taking part in events dedicated to vintage car enthusiasts, such as Rétromobile (Paris, France, 4 - 8 February) and Techno-Classika (Essen, Germany 15 - 19 April), as well as international motor shows in Geneva (Switzerland, 5 - 15 March), Shanghai (China, 22 - 29 April) and Frankfurt (Germany, 19 - 27 September). The brand will be celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the DS with original exhibitions of vintage vehicles, with new vehicles placed alongside the historic DS.

FAN MEETINGS TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY OF THE DS

DS enthusiasts all over the world will be celebrating the 60^th birthday of the DS, as in Belgium (on 26 April) or in Australia (2 and 11 October). One of the main international events, set to take place on 22 and 23 May at the historic Montlhéry track in France, is set to bring together 700 vintage DS vehicles.

DS WEEK: A MAJOR EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DS AND LAUNCH THE BRAND

Between 19 and 22 May, the DS brand will be welcoming representatives of its global network to Paris, the home of DS. On the weekend of 23 and 24 May, the brand will be organising events for the general public in the heart of Paris.

The meeting place will be the Tuileries Garden.

Happy 60th Birthday for the iconic and still stunning DS, as beautiful now, as it was then.

• 2015 is landmark 60^th anniversary year for original DS
• Newly established DS brand to showcase heritage models at the inaugural London Classic Car Show
• London Classic Car Show kicks-off a full year of DS 60^th anniversary celebrations
• Two classic & two modern DS models to be displayed on the show stand
• DS 5 used at President Hollande’s inauguration & three more classic DS’ to parade on ‘The Grand Avenue’ motoring catwalk

Launched in 1955, the original DS will be 60 years young in 2015. To kick off a full year of celebrations, the newly established DS premium brand will be showcasing selected models from six decades of innovation and cutting-edge design at the first ever London Classic Car Show. The London Classic Car Show takes place at the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands, from 8 - 11 January 2015.

Two classic DS models will be on display on the DS show stand – a 1972 DS21 Prestige and an exceptionally rare 1966 DS21 Décapotable with coachwork by Henri Chapron. The multi-award-winning DS 3 – shown in Ultra Prestige form – and a flagship DS 5 Hybrid4 will represent the current range.

In addition to the static display, DS models will also make a number of star appearances on ‘The Grand Avenue’ – a unique motoring catwalk allowing the most iconic cars to be fired up and driven around the show. The DS cars will be a 1967 Citroën ID21 Safari; a 1972 DS Group V rally prototype; our very own 1961 ID19 (Reg. No. 57 EKX, newly added to the press fleet for 2015); and the DS 5 used by President Hollande at his inauguration.

The organisers of the new London Classic Car Show aim to build an event that will put London back on the classic car map, rivalling the top shows in Paris and Essen, by bringing together themes that have shaped the motor industry's incredible past.

Bek Hassan, Brand Director – Citroën/DS, commented; “The classic DS reaches an incredible landmark year in 2015. As we celebrate 60 years of DS – which it’s fair to say has helped shape modern day motoring – it seems very fitting for us to start a year of celebrations at the London Classic Car Show.”

DS has sold over 500,000 cars worldwide since the launch of DS 3 in 2010, with the multi-award winning DS 3 alone having sold over 320,000 examples. In the UK, DS has sold almost 95,000 vehicles, with DS 3 sales in excess of 77,000 since launch.