Citroën DS 23 IE Pallas prestige - 1974
Coachwork by Henri Chapron
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Estimated : € 60.000 - 90.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2018
- Delivered new to Belgium
- Only two registered owners
- Circa 77,000 kilometres from new
- Outstandingly original
- Air conditioning, automatic transmission, black leather interior, tinted windows, original Blaupunkt 'Köln' radio with electric antenna
Among its many productions based on Citroën cars, Chapron offered the DS with 'Prestige' upgrades, customers being able to choose their own level of finish from an extensive range of options, including an internal division for chauffeur-driven examples, as seen here. Some 450 DS Prestige were made, of which it is estimated that only sixty remain.
This particular Prestige is a very special car because of its originality, condition, and history. One of the last Prestiges built by Chapron, the first registration date was 5/12/1974, after the official launch of the Citroën CX in Paris. It was delivered new to Belgium via Citroën Brussels and comes with a complete Chapron file confirming that the car retains its original engine and body. Its first owner was Pierre Salik, CEO of the eponymous textile company, makers of the internationally known Salik Jeans. Finished in black with original black leather interior, the latter in superb condition, the car also features original air conditioning, automatic transmission, and tinted windows – an exceptionally rare combination. Chapron equipped the DS with an interphone driver/ passenger and a double control front/rear for the air conditioning and radio.
Following Pierre Salik's ownership, the Prestige was used as a company vehicle for a director of the former Belgian bank, BBL (now ING) and subsequently spent more than 30 years on display in the showroom of a Brussels Citroën dealer. Pierre Salik and BBL are the only registered owners, the last registration papers being in BBL's name.
Kept off the road for most of its life and little used, this Prestige has covered only some 77,000 kilometres and its presented in beautifully original condition, driving like new. Accompanying documentation consists of the original Belgian homologation certificate of 1974, old registration documents in Pierre Salik's name, the official warranty card, a copy of the official invoice from Citroën in 1974 and the aforementioned Chapron file including the attestation signed by Noëlle Chapron.
They say French cars of this era were so ahead of their time in mechanical engineering that they've plateaued the French industry ever since.
