Canadian DS Cabrio up for Auction Again
Another Citroën, very familiar to Citroënvie readers is being auctioned by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey during Pebble Beach on August 13, 2021. This one a 1970 Citroën DS21 Décapotable.
Chassis No. 00FA0662
Engine No. 458000706
Body No. 0032 000768
The auction listing states:
It is a true Henri Chapron Cabriolet, and RM Sotheby’s estimate it will sell for between $300,000 – $400,000 USD.
This car, originally finished in Swan White over red leather, was delivered to Canada and purchased via Montreal’s Carrier Motors in 1971. It was desirably optioned with new-for-1970 Bosch electronic fuel injection, which gave its 2,175-cubic-centimeter inline-four engine a respectable 125 brake horsepower; this was paired with a four-speed semi-automatic transmission.
Its second owner, located in Ontario, Canada, purchased the car in 1988. He performed a partial refurbishment and used it for some time, before beginning a photo-documented six-year rotisserie restoration in 2011.
Completed in 2017, original Citroën parts were used where possible over the course of this job to maintain the highest possible degree of accuracy. At this time, the car was refinished in its present metallic red over a tan interior, an attractive combination. It was subsequently acquired by the present Florida-based consignor in 2019; it has been stored in a climate-controlled facility since, seeing only limited use.
A few things have been glossed over in the above history listing;
It was shipped by Citroën to Henri Chapron on October 14, 1969. The chassis was given Chapron cabriolet d’usine order number 9346 and was finished in Swan White with red leather. Delivery to Citroën took place on November 25. As the car was to be exported to Canada, an enhanced heating system was installed.
The original owner bought the car from Carrier Motors in Montreal but immediately brought the car to Toronto. He kept it for a few years and used it as a daily driver, storing it in a leaky garage.
The second owner in Toronto, Ontario, referred to in the RM Sotheby’s listing, knew of the car and made an effort to buy it a few times, finally acquiring it in 1988. He did some refurbishment to it, including painting it black (still with the red interior), and drove it extensively, including to Florida where he spent the winters.
The car’s Florida history and subsequent restoration, including the colour change to metallic red that took place from 2011 to 2017, was covered in an article we featured when it was sold at the Gooding & Company auction at Amelia Island on March 8, 2019, selling for 235,000 USD + Buyers premium of 12% for a total of $263,200 USD. Read that here: https://citroenvie.com/canadian-ds-cabrio-to-be-auctioned-at-amelia-island/
With DS prices on the rise, it will be interesting to see what it goes for this time around.
You can view the RM Sotheby’s listing here: https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo21/monterey/lots/r0082-1970-citro%C3%ABn-ds-21-d%C3%A9capotable-by-chapron/1121648
Update — Aug. 13, 2021: The hammer price was $260,000 US from which the seller had to pay $30,000 commission plus the entry fee and the cost of getting the car to the auction.