1974 Citroen D DS21
***NO RESERVE*** Previously the property of renowned British broadcaster and radio presenter Zoe Ball

Registration – JYJ 346N

Chassis No. – 4559363

M.O.T. – TBC

Odometer – 11,395

Few cars have had as profound an influence on automotive design as the Citroën DS. Unveiled at the 1955 Paris Motor Show, its extraordinary aerodynamic styling and innovative engineering made much of the contemporary motor industry appear almost immediately outdated. Nearly seven decades later, the DS remains one of the most instantly recognisable cars ever produced.

This 1974 DS21 is an especially characterful example, combining continental history, long-term ownership and an interesting connection to renowned British broadcaster and radio presenter Zoe Ball.

Originally a left-hand-drive European-market example, the car was imported into the United Kingdom in 2005 and was subsequently owned by Zoe Ball for a number of years. The accompanying paperwork is understood to include documentation relating to its original French owner, together with records dating from its arrival in Britain.

The present ownership commenced in 2012, and the vendor informs us that the Citroën has always been garaged during this period. Far from simply being preserved as a static classic, it has been used as the DS was intended: as a comfortable and highly capable long-distance touring car.

Since 2014, the car has travelled extensively through France, Spain and Germany, in addition to numerous journeys within the UK, including trips to Scotland and Cornwall. This European touring history seems particularly appropriate for a car whose reputation was built upon its exceptional ability to cover substantial distances in comfort.

The DS's famous hydropneumatic suspension remains one of its defining engineering features, providing the distinctive self-levelling ride for which the model became renowned. The vendor advises that replacement suspension spheres were fitted in 2021.

Further expenditure included a partial respray in 2022, at which time the car also received a complete set of Michelin tyres. Finished in its attractive period green, the car retains the unmistakable DS silhouette, complete with its covered rear wheels, tapering roofline and characteristic aerodynamic bodywork.

Inside, the wonderfully individualistic Citroën design continues. The cabin features brown leather front seats with brown PVC rear seating, while the dashboard, single-spoke steering wheel and Jaeger instrumentation provide an unmistakably French driving environment. The odometer currently displays approximately 11,135 kilometres.

The accompanying history file adds considerably to the car's appeal. The paperwork is stated to include invoices for parts and maintenance, historic MOT certificates, previous V5 registration documents, a V10 application, insurance documentation, an owner's handbook, newspaper clippings and a copy of Practical Classics magazine, together with paperwork relating to the car's earlier life in France.

Combining one of the twentieth century's most celebrated automotive designs with celebrity provenance, European touring history and over a decade in its present ownership, this DS21 represents a particularly interesting example of Citroën's revolutionary flagship. Offered here without reserve, it presents an appealing opportunity to acquire an unmistakable French motoring icon with a fascinating history.

Summary

• Previously owned by renowned British broadcaster and radio presenter Zoe Ball, having been imported into the UK in 2005
• Present ownership since 2012, with extensive touring through France, Spain and Germany as well as Scotland and Cornwall
• Replacement suspension spheres fitted in 2021 and partial respray with a full set of Michelin tyres in 2022; offered without reserve

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