VIN 4251004

• One of just 184 DS Chapron Décapotables built in 1964
• Turbocharged, fuel-injected 2.5-liter Citroën CX engine with Motec engine management
• Upgraded five-speed gearbox with Hewland gears and LHM-converted hydraulics
• More than $300,000 invested in the driveline conversion, cosmetic restoration, and servicing
• Indigo blue over tan leather with Jaeger instrumentation and restored factory radio with Bluetooth, Aux, and USB

Citroën stunned the automotive world with the DS at the 1955 Paris Auto Salon. Its front-wheel drive layout, hydropneumatic suspension, hydraulically assisted disc brakes, semi-automatic transmission, unibody construction, fiberglass roof, and futuristic styling were unlike anything else on the road. Yet for all its innovation, the DS was no mere concept: Citroën took 12,000 orders on the first day and ultimately built more than 1.4 million examples over a twenty-year production run.

Among the most desirable variants were the coachbuilt models by Henri Chapron. Citroën was so impressed with Chapron’s work that it commissioned the firm to produce an officially sanctioned Décapotable. Converting the four-door DS into a two-door cabriolet required substantial structural reinforcement and extensive new bodywork from the windscreen rearward. Built in small numbers, the Chapron Décapotable remains one of the rarest and most elegant interpretations of Citroën’s revolutionary design.

Beautifully restored and comprehensively upgraded without regard to cost, this 1964 Citroën DS19 Chapron Décapotable offers much more than initially meets the eye. On the surface, this is an exquisitely restored and finely detailed DS Chapron, finished in a gorgeous shade of metallic indigo blue with a blue canvas roof and tan leather interior. However, a look under the bonnet reveals a big surprise in the form of a turbocharged, fuel-injected, 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder borrowed from a Citroën CX.

The initial restoration commenced around 2004 while the car was in The Netherlands. In 2011, the Citroën came to the United States courtesy of an enthusiastic new owner who immediately had it prepared for touring and rallies. Wanting more from the Citroën, he decided the car needed more power but wanted to respect its rarity and importance. They called upon an Indiana-based prototyping/engineering firm to source, rebuild and install the late-model CX GTi Turbo engine.

The transformation, taking place between 2011 and 2013, involved much more than a simple engine swap. An incredible amount of engineering took place to adapt the transverse CX engine into the longitudinal DS platform and still have it fit under the stock bonnet. Before installation, the engine was rebuilt for additional power, refinement, and longevity. The 2.5-liter “stroker” crankshaft is micro-polished, lightened, balanced, and paired with custom billet pistons and balanced connecting rods. Additional features include a ported-polished head with stainless valves, a specially designed cam, a custom CNC-milled flywheel, and an updated turbo. Fueling and ignition are controlled via a standalone Motec M400 ECU, adapted with a hall-effect distributor, crank, and cam sensors. A custom alloy radiator by Ron Davis keeps things cool, and the 5-speed manual gearbox has been suitably upgraded with new gears made by the respected Hewland Engineering in the UK. Countless other details of the seamless installation ensure that when the bonnet is closed, this DS is virtually indistinguishable from a standard car.

The paintwork is gorgeous, as in recent years the DS was refinished in a striking shade of indigo blue. The coachwork is to the same standard, crisply defined and precise. Lighting consists of lovely Cibie headlamps and S.E.V. Marchal fog light pods, specifically designed for the DS and appropriately fitted with yellow bulbs. To maintain the “Q-ship” appearance, the DS rides on standard wheels finished in cream and adorned with full stainless steel wheel covers.

In the opulent and stylish cabin, supple tan leather is in excellent order, displaying light creasing from use. The fully-lined blue canvas soft-top is taut and beautifully ties the color scheme together. Luxurious carpets and other trimmings are fitted with care and precision. Appointments include a rare factory-optional Jaeger round-dial instrument panel and a correct factory radio that was fully restored and modified with an equalizer and Bluetooth®/Aux/USB connectivity.

More recently, the mechanicals of this Citroën have been further dialed-in, ensuring utmost drivability for the comprehensive upgrades fitted. Additionally, the DS operates on the widely available and non-hygroscopic LHM hydraulic fluid, an important upgrade for early French hydraulics. Putting the project into context, the engine conversion cost over $200,000, with a further $100,000-plus spent on recent cosmetic work and servicing. As offered today, this DS19 is one of the most refined and immersive cars we have driven from the French marque.

With just 184 DS Chapron Décapotable models built in 1964, this is indeed a rare and highly collectible classic. It is also one of the finest examples we have encountered, and the exhaustive, beautifully engineered upgrades make it an absolute pleasure to drive. Elegantly presented as not to spoil its beautiful lines, yet with at least double the original power, this gorgeous Chapron DS is sure to bring much joy to its next keeper.

Offers welcome and trades considered.

$269,500

Stock number 8162