The Restoration of Brian’s 1972 Citroën DS21 Pallas Jubilée: Part 3
By Will Hodgkiss….
Welcome back to Update #3 on the restoration of Brian’s 1972 Citroën DS21 Pallas Jubilee.
As I left off, Bernard had gotten the DS nearly street-ready, and I was able to drive it to Auto Spa in Kingston so Daniel and Iris could work their magic on the bodywork. I was anxious to coordinate everything because I was leaving for France for a month of paragliding lessons, 37°C heat, and babysitting five-month-old Elloïse.
I’m still not sure which was scarier. I needed to see significant progress upon my return—a deadline looms.
The drive itself was an experience as I learned how the various systems work. The semi-automatic transmission, the little round brake “button” on the floor, and the combined gearshift and ignition system all reminded me just how many uniquely different ideas Citroën engineers managed to incorporate into one automobile.
Before Auto Spa could begin, Master Mechanic Matt Barton performed a pre-certification inspection to determine exactly where we stood. Matt concluded that the DS was ready to pass a safety inspection except for the front brakes and the missing taillights—which turned out to be reflectors. The front brake pads had worn down far enough to damage the rotors, so I ordered new rotors, pads, and related parts from Der Franzose Automobiltechnik in Germany.
DHL carried the shipment to Canada, where delivery was relegated to Canada Post. Canada Post attempted delivery while no one was home, then returned the entire shipment to an unknown destination. Canada Post couldn’t tell me where it had gone or even who had shipped it. They offered no assistance. Der Franzose’s records showed the package as delivered. Fortunately, they have always been excellent to deal with, so I wasn’t overly concerned.
After a good deal of persistence, I was finally able to prove to Der Franzose that the missing shipment was indeed theirs. They promptly reshipped everything, and the parts finally arrived on July 15—nearly two months after being ordered on May 20.
As the restoration progressed, it became obvious that the DS body was in far rougher condition than anyone had imagined. Auto Spa had not quite finished when I returned from France, but about ten days later they brought everything together remarkably well. As you can see, the beautiful lady is once again dressed in the same metallic silver with a pale olive roof that she wore 54 years ago.
The doors now open and close perfectly. The body panels don’t align quite as they did when new, but they fit well, and everything affecting safety now functions properly.
Next, Matt will complete the brakes and final safety inspection. After that, I’d like Bernard to go over the entire car one more time to ensure everything works properly and continues to work properly. Lastly a detailing by a good company. This restoration won’t produce a concours-perfect car, but it will produce a spectacular one. The finer details can be improved over time.
You be the judge. I suffer from terminal optimism, and I’m certainly not a gambler. Even so, I’d be willing to bet that Brian’s DS will be safe, reliable, and beautiful by August 15.
My goal remains to have the project completed before September 30 so I can take Jean and her family for a leisurely drive, followed by lunch at Easterbrook’s, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Progress continues….