For many years, television organisations following horse racing would use this vehicle as the standard for mobile camera work. The suspension was such that the thing would remain relatively stable while being driven at speed along unmetalled tracks adjacent to the horse racing course - certainly stable enough to carry a camera that could relay the action to the viewer.

That the running-alongside-the-horses shot is no longer used here is a testament to the features of the Citröen DS and the dearth of serviceable survivors - there simply isn't anything that can do the same job nowadays.

I agree with you, but you forgot to mention that the DS came with its own "built-in" rust problems that finished most of them off even without the help of horse racing and rough roads....

I have never seen one without either rust or expensive suspension problems....later Citroen models with similar suspension types also needed expensive repairs before the E.O.L. of the car. Many second or third hand buyers fell on this sword....

Although the shape/design was truly wonderful, especially for the time, (it was a timeless design) only the "Mentalist" seems to have the money to keep one running in good order... Sadly.....

I never ever buy French made cars, and that since the 70's. It has served me well.

I also don't buy British cars either by the way.....new or secondhand.....sorry!!

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The rust feature is encompassed within the description "dearth of serviceable survivors".

Indeed, I was one who fell on that sword. Actually it wasn't quite that bad since I didn't spend much on the car in the first place, and didn't really lose out, but the required suspension repairs (it had got very stiff over time) would have cost more than the car was worth. This was a Citroen BX, and like most French cars it was a bit of a pig to work on.

I find working on the suspension of Citroens easier than 'standard' suspension. A heavy-duty chain wrench is needed to turn the spheres for replacement, and any pipes which corrode can be replaced with cupro-nickel.

Sure beats getting hit by a flying spring!

(I currently drive a C5, having previously owned - and worked on - CX, several BX's & GS models.]/p]

Many garages simply ask more for work on vehicles they don't know well and pretty much all main dealers of any make are over-priced.

One garage I went to for an MOT (UK road-worthiness test) failed the car on every bit of rubber, and quoted £800 to fix - he freely admitted he did not like the suspension because it was different. I took the car elsewhere, having changed the one component I agreed was worn, and got a pass.

One of my favourite French cars, we used to call it "strijkijzer" in holland, because it looks like an iron. Loved those old French gangseter movie where it was used as gangster cars and fantomas used it also if i remember it correctly.