HO 1:87 Scale
Citroën DS19 two-tone, orange/cream
»La belle du jour«. Even 70 years after its launch at the Paris Motor Show, the shape and technology of the DS19, also known as the »Goddess«, still look as futuristic as ever. So even today, you can still enjoy »floating divinely«. Looking back: The car manufacturer Citroën was founded in Paris in 1919. The company founder André Citroën (born 1878) quickly made a reputation as an adventurous and innovative entrepreneur. Unfortunately, the consequences of the global economic crisis and the costly development of the Traction Avant, introduced in 1934, quickly became apparent and ultimately led to the company’s financial ruin and its takeover by its main creditor, Michelin.
The Citroën DS, successor to the legendary Traction Avant, officially began its career under the name VGD (»Voiture de Grande Diffusion«, which roughly means mass model). After a very long development period, under the direction of André Lefèbvre and Flaminio Bertoni, the Citroën DS was presented on October 6, 1955 at the Paris Motor Show. Its first appearance was a sensation. Due to its appearance, it quickly received nicknames such as “hippopotamus”, “shark mouth” or the name still used today and certainly more aptly formulated “The Goddess”. Citroën’s most revolutionary model is still known by this honorable name today. Announced as a masterpiece of aesthetics and engineering, the DS had such a unique concept that it shook the automotive world to its foundations. Never before in the history of the automobile had a single model combined so many innovations in terms of safety, performance and comfort. The hydropneumatic suspension on all four wheels and the associated level control, which kept the ground clearance the same regardless of road conditions and the load on the car, ensured a level of comfort that had never been seen before.
The DS’s front and rear disc brakes, gearshift, clutch and servo-assisted rack and pinion steering were supported by hydraulic technology. More than 34 meters of pipes were laid in the vehicle for the hydraulic system, which adjusted to the speed. But in addition to all the technical improvements, it was the DS’s futuristic design that caused a stir, which, thanks to its streamlined shape, ensured excellent economy for the time.
Because of or despite its progressiveness, the DS was a huge success. In the first 45 minutes of the Paris Salon alone, 749 units were ordered, and by the end of the first day 12,000 had been ordered. After a week, the number of orders had reached 80,000 units. By the end of production, a total of 1.5 million DS had been sold. The 1:87 model of this “goddess” with inserted and chrome-plated headlights even has a properly functioning replica of the “hydropneumatics” that can be operated via a lifting mechanism on the underside of the vehicle.
Note: Figures, vehicles and other accessories shown are only for suggestion and not included.
Note – Model building item, not a toy! Not suitable for children under 14 years.
