1974 Citroën DS 23 Pallas

Classic and Sportscar Magazine named this car the most beautiful of all time, voted by a panel of gearheads like Ian Callum, Gordon Murray and Leonardo Fioravanti and upon its arrival seemingly from out of space in 1955 the Citroën DS radically revolutionised automotive design.

Eminent Italian car designer, Marcello Gandini famously said the car was madness from a business and industrial point of view but buyers replied in droves lending the DS to be produced in various derivatives across a life span of 20 years, eventually reaching its zenith with the DS 23 Pallas.

Featuring a larger 2.3 litre petrol engine, optional Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection that upped power from 124hp to 141hp and an ultra-luxurious interior with optional head rests and arm rest the exquisitely charming Pallas has long been the benchmark of French luxury cars.

We’re proud to offer this exceptionally rare find; an original one owner for 45 years, right-hand-drive and Australian delivered 1974 Citroën DS 23 Pallas Injection Electronique delivered new by De Jong Citroën, Canberra on the 13th of October 1975.

Restored over a period of 5 years from the ground up by its original owners and beautifully finished in its original Blanc Meije over Caramel trim, this exceptional DS 23 Pallas features the desirable Bosch fuel injection, costly optional head-rests as well as the silky 5 speed manual transmission.

Inside, this car is perfectly luxurious. With the exacting restoration completed in 2013, and supplementary service works routinely completed since, this special car still features all of its original and important equipment.

From the sumptuous Wilton carpets, Bridge of Weir leather seats with double stitching that make this the most comfortable classic we’ve ever driven, to the famed single piece dash with unique Citroën switch gear and instrumentation that never loses its novelty and single arm steering wheel this DS 23 Pallas carries all the hallmarks of a cherished car.

Never, ever boring- especially as it rises from the tarmac on start-up like a concord jet this DS 23 is an absolute event from the moment you set eyes on it in the garage to the moment you do a double take after slinging the valet the keys.

This classic is the perfect weekend toy with a subtle air of extra-refinement and distinction provided by the Pallas luxury equipment package.

Offered with its original service books, bill of sale, keys, owner’s manual, large receipt folder and uniquely a period newspaper clipping from July 1974 that was found under the rear seats during restoration.

Unfortunately, of several thousand cars sold new in Britain, fewer than 300 are known to survive today and numbers in Australia are markedly slimmer again.

Because of this trend, overseas values and demand are providing a big hint that anyone who wants a Pallas needs to act soon.

The Citroën DS is an icon and one of the most significant cars of the 20th century, with this particular vehicle being one of the very last, with unmatched provenance and what is likely the finest of its kind in the country this Australian delivered and 1974 Citroën DS 23 Pallas is an absolute must have.