At Rétromobile this year, one of the show’s highlights was the “DS Balloons” exhibit that was the centerpiece of the DS Automobiles booth celebrating the 70th anniversary of the DS.
The iconic Citroën “DS Balloons” first floated into the public eye at the 1959 Paris Motor Show. This innovative and visually striking display was conceived by Claude Puech, who was the advertising director for Citroën at the time.
The “DS Balloons” was not a production model but rather a brilliant advertising concept designed to highlight the revolutionary hydropneumatic suspension of the Citroën DS. This imaginative presentation vividly conveyed the car’s exceptional ride comfort and its ability to “glide” over imperfections in the road. It captured the public’s imagination at the time and photos of this visionary idea went around the world. The iconic model, giving the illusion that the car is floating, became an enduring symbol of Citroën’s avant-garde design and engineering while boosting the DS’s standing as a timeless work of art.
DS Balloons was re-created for Rétromobile this year by students of the GARAC (the National School of Automotive and Mobility Professions). It went on the be displayed at Autoworld Brussels and photos were taken of it’s moving and set-up for the show. As you can see, its quite the process!
It took some patience, teamwork, and precision to position this rare model — but now it is on display and ready to be admired until June 29, 2025 at Autoworld Brussels.