Citroën DS21 — Classic Car Guide and 2026 Buyer's Notes

The Citroën DS launched on 5 October 1955 to global astonishment — Roland Barthes wrote that it 'fell from the sky'. The DS21 variant arrived in 1965 with a 2,175cc engine producing 100 bhp, hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, swivelling headlamps and a single-spoke steering wheel. It ran until 1972 when it was succeeded by the DS23. This 2026 guide focuses on the DS21 saloon, Pallas, Break (estate) and Decapotable (convertible).

Citroën's hydropneumatic system uses a single high-pressure pump driven by the engine to power suspension, brakes, steering and gear-shift. Each wheel rides on a sphere of compressed nitrogen separated by a diaphragm from hydraulic fluid — giving infinite adjustability and a famously smooth ride. The system is maintenance-intensive: green LHM fluid must be changed every 3 years and spheres re-pressurised every 100,000 miles. Citroen Classic Owners Club provides member support. See our enclosed classic shipping.

The standard DS21 saloon was built at Citroën's Quai de Javel factory in Paris. From 1966 the Pallas trim added leather seats, additional sound insulation, a wood-rim steering wheel and lateral chrome strips — equivalent to a Rolls-Royce specification on a French executive car. 2026 UK values: £18,000 for a standard DS21 saloon, £24,000–£32,000 for a Pallas in original condition. Right-hand-drive cars assembled at Citroën Slough are particularly desirable in the UK market.

The DS Break was the longest factory estate of its era at 4.99m and could carry seven passengers in the optional third-row jump seats. Used by the French presidential motor pool and Roger Vadim. 2026 values: £22,000–£35,000. The Decapotable convertible was coachbuilt by Henri Chapron in Paris — only 1,365 built across all DS variants. A DS21 Decapotable in 2026 commands £180,000–£280,000 at H&H or Bonhams.

Early DS19 and DS21 cars used LHS red fluid; the system was changed to LHM green in September 1966. Mixing the two destroys seals — always confirm which system your car uses. A full LHM conversion costs £4,000–£6,000 at a Citroën specialist. UK marque specialists like Sussex Citroen Specialists, Andrew Brodie Engineering and Chevronics keep the cars on the road. Expect £1,500–£2,000 a year in maintenance for a regularly used DS21.

DS21s are abundant in France, the Netherlands and Spain — all left-hand-drive. UK collectors typically prefer Slough-built right-hand-drive cars, which trade at a 25–30% premium. As 30+ year-old historic vehicles, EU imports pay 5% UK VAT only. Cross-channel transport from Calais to Dover by enclosed transporter runs £450–£650 in 2026. See our destinations page and imported car insurance guide for the paperwork sequence.

The Citroën DS21 is the most innovative European saloon of the 1950s and 60s — hydropneumatic suspension, swivelling headlamps, single-spoke steering wheel and an aesthetic that still looks futuristic. The Pallas trim is the executive grade; the Chapron Decapotable is the six-figure collector grade. Budget for the maintenance regime — green LHM fluid changes, sphere re-pressurisation, and a UK marque specialist on speed-dial — and the DS21 rewards with a driving experience nothing else matches.

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