RM | Sotheby’s to sell a DS Cabriolet Series 2 at Amelia Island

We are about the see what a DS Cabriolet produced by DS Manufaktur in Germany will sell for. In 2020, Noëlle Chapron-Paul, daughter of Henri Chapron, granted the German restoration company that had restored multiple D Cabriolets, the rights to reproduce them with Henri Chapron pedigree and supporting documentation, marketed as “Series 2”.

RM | Sotheby’s will be offering this 1968 DS Le Caddy – Henri Chapron Series 2 for sale at no reserve.

Chassis No. 7605754

Chapron No. 7661

The listing states:

DS Manufaktur is the only Citroën restoration firm operating under special license from the Chapron family. Using Henri’s original design plans, while also incorporating subtle modern enhancements, each car is painstakingly constructed to Henri Chapron’s standards and issued a Chapron body number, authorized badging, and issued a certificate of authenticity upon completion. The firm has been licensed by the Chapron family to build just five of these continuation Le Caddys, known as the Series 2.

The car on offer is the first Series 2 Le Caddy to be completed and one of only two currently in existence. In addition to its full mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic system refurbishment the stunning convertible body was liveried in a unique, Chapron-inspired finish of Bleu Polaire Glace over a Bleu d’Orient rear deck, while the interior was swathed in supple Saffron-toned leather. A rare set of Rotbergel hubcaps complete the stunning presentation.

RM | Sotheby’s estimate a $225,000 – $275,000 USD price, but that may be optimistic as a 1968 Henri Chapron Series 2 DS Cabriolet – No.9510 (with a DS23 engine) by DS Manufaktur was for sale last year. Gold exterior colour with a red leather interior, it was located in Dubai and was listed for sale at $165,000 US. Ultimately the price was reduced to $138,000 US and presumably the car sold for that.

So, for this 1968 DS Le Caddy to be almost $90K over in minimum estimated value of what the DS Manufaktur No.9510 car sold for, even considering it is a Le Caddy rather than a somewhat customized DS Manufaktur cabriolet, does seem to be quite a stretch, especially given that the driver’s door appears to have a poor fit!  

Further to question whether it will sell in the estimate range, in January at RM | Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction, an authentic 1964 DS19 Cabirolet by Henri-Chapron sold at no reserve for just $123,200 USD.

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Update — March 3, 2024: The RM | Sotheby’s auction was held in Miami at the same time as the Amelia auctions. The 1968 DS Le Caddy – Henri Chapron Series 2 sold for $151,200 USD.