DS AUTOMOBILES: A PRESIDENTIAL EXHIBITION FOR THE FIFTIETH RETROMOBILE

• After celebrating the 70^th anniversary of the legendary DS at Retromobile 2025, DS Automobiles will show four special presidential vehicles at the 2026 show.
• From General de Gaulle’s DS 21 (1965) to the Presidential DS N°8 (2025) and Presidential SM (1972), several of the 5^th Republic’s automotive icons, carefully chosen by L’Aventure DS, will be brought together on the DS Automobiles stand.
• The DS and SM, as well as DS Automobiles, have forged a unique relationship with the Presidency of the French Republic. Numerous presidential models illustrate this historic collaboration, charted and highlighted through a photographic exhibition.
• The event is on the Brand’s stand in hall 7.2, with the evening preview from Tuesday 27 January.

The 50^th Retromobile show will be held in Paris, Porte de Versailles, from 28 January to 1 February 2026. After celebrating the 70^th anniversary of the legendary DS in 2025 with a remarkable exhibition, DS Automobiles is returning to Retromobile in 2026 with an entirely new stand over a surface area of 250 m².

The partitions dividing up this space will be clad in champagne-coloured hammered metal, alternating with black, and will introduce new aesthetic rules intended to enhance the Brand, while offering visitors an immersive experience imbued with elegance and well-being.

The exhibition area will feature four special presidential cars, brought together for the first time in an event of this magnitude, thanks to the invaluable support of L’Aventure DS, the organisation dedicated to preserving the Brand’s heritage.

 “The 50th Retromobile, 50 years of historic collaboration with the Presidency of the French Republic. From General de Gaulle’s DS to the PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8, remarkable models that embody French excellence from DS Automobiles.”

Xavier PEUGEOT, DS Automobiles CEO and Stellantis Chief Heritage Officer

four extraordinary presidential cars

• DS 21 PALLAS used by General de Gaulle (1965)

Rolling off the production line at the Javel factory in Paris’ 15^th arrondissement on 29 September 1965, this DS 21 PALLAS was used by General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic from 1959 to 1969. Introduced on 2 October 1965 with the registration number 1737 RX 75, it featured special fittings for official use, including side sun visors for the rear seats, flag holders integrated into the front bumper, as well as a roundel holder and a document holder on the dashboard.

This DS 21 PALLAS was mainly used on General de Gaulle’s trips between the Élysée Palace and his residence in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises (Haute-Marne). In November 1967, the car was sold to the manager of the Colombey-les-Deux-Églises dairy cooperative, before being kept in his family until 2021.

After a change of ownership, the DS 21 PALLAS was auctioned in October 2023, where it was sold for 59,040 €. Completely restored over the last two years while respecting its authenticity, it was exhibited in the Élysée Palace courtyard for European Heritage Days last September.

• PRESIDENTIAL DS 21 (1968)

To succeed the limousine built on the Traction Avant chassis by the coachbuilder Franay in 1955, the Presidency of the Republic ordered a new ceremonial car, delivered to the Élysée Palace on 14 November 1968. One of a kind, this elongated DS 21 met particularly demanding specifications, stipulating among other things that it had to be bigger than the car then used by the President of the United States.

Designed by the Quai de Javel team and then fitted out by coachbuilder Henri Chapron, this Presidential DS 21 was the subject of a press release published on 13 November 1968:

“Designed for official use (ceremonies and processions), the new car, registered 1 PR 75 is a front-wheel drive Citroën with hydropneumatic suspension, a special bodywork and layout. It measures 6m 53 long and 2m 13 wide. It is able to drive for several hours at very low speeds (parades) even in the highest temperatures.”

This special model with its Trade Wind Grey colour and silver-grey roof also stands out through especially avant-garde equipment for the time, with innovative lighting (4 headlights, including 2 long-range iodine auxiliaries), scrolling lights at the rear for the indicators, as well as illuminated side flags and a light roundel integrated into the bonnet.

Inside, Presidential DS 21 provides an outstanding level of comfort and refinement: a curved dividing glass separates the driver and aide-de-camp from the rear passengers, while the interior is fitted with upholstery made entirely of brown leather, electric windows, air conditioning, direct and indirect lighting, as well as an intercom and a mini-bar.

With a wheelbase of 3.78 metres, it offers particularly generous rear space, allowing two or even three passengers, complemented by a folding seat facing the occupants, intended among other things for an interpreter.

• PRESIDENTIAL SM (1972)

On 12 May 1972, two new ceremonial cars were officially announced at the Élysée Palace: two identical PRESIDENTIAL SMs, convertibles, in dark metallic grey with 4 doors.

On the press release published that day by the Chevron brand, it states:

“The first outing for two cars designed for official ceremonies and recently acquired by the Elysée’s Car Service, will take place on 15 May for Her Majesty the Queen of England’s visit to France. They replace two convertible 1959 Simcas.”

Specially adapted for their ceremonial use, these Presidential SMs benefit from a body thoroughly redesigned by the coachbuilder Chapron. Each example is lengthened by 71 centimetres, bringing the total length of the vehicle to 5.60 metres (standard at 4.89 metres). While the width remains identical to that of the production model, at 1.84 metres, the rear section adopts an altogether special design, the front being the only section strictly in accordance with the original SM.

To cope with the increased wheelbase, which is 3.47 metres (standard at 2.95 metres) and an increased weight of 1,780 kg compared to 1,450 kg for the production version, the suspension, braking system - with four disc brakes and brake distribution - as well as tyres have been adapted. The drivetrain remains unchanged, with a V6 engine developing 170 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. Its synchromesh gearbox has 5 speeds, with adapted ratios allowing the car to drive at low speed for a long time.

The Presidential SM convertibles are fitted with a black hydraulically operated soft top and their interior is upholstered in natural leather. At the front, the seats have been moved outwards to allow for the installation of a folding seat for the interpreter. This special configuration resulted in the steering wheel being shifted 6 centimetres to the left, as well as the handbrake being repositioned forwards.

These Presidential SMs were used successively by several Presidents of the French Republic: Georges Pompidou, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

• PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 (2025)

A unique design, PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 brings together the most distinguished expertise of French craftmanship. It was made available to the Presidency of the French Republic ahead of DS Automobiles’ new flagship, DS N°8, going on sale in September 2025. The French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, took part in the commemorations for the 80^th anniversary of the 8 May 1945 Armistice in PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8. He thus became the first President of the Republic in the world to drive a 100% electric official car.

DS N°8 PRESIDENTIAL has been modified in several ways by DS Automobiles’ engineers and creative teams. First, it has a Sapphire Blue colour (like DS 7 ÉLYSÉE), unique on DS N°8 and perfect for a model joining the presidential car fleet. This is finished off with black-painted quarter panels. Its illuminated DS LUMINASCREEEN grille features the Blue-White-Red of the French Republic. Other exterior details include special Blue-White-Red badges that also grace the front and rear of the car as well as the installation of flag holders at the ends of the front bumper.

PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 enjoys specific fittings for parades, such as grab bars and grip handles for standing and a shortened bench seat.

A unique design based on expertise and technology to embody the Art of Travel, PRESIDENTIAL DS N°8 was created with the help of several French craftspeople and partners:

• Straw marquetry by the Lison de Caunes workshops, applied to the dashboard and the door panels,
• Satin Dream Blue from the Métaphores organisation, combined with a new pleating made by Atelier Lognon, enhanced with “pearl” stitching,
• Seats made by DS Automobiles’ master upholsterers, combining Nappa leather and Dream Blue Alcantara® for unique refinement,
• Special audio system made by FOCAL, a long-standing partner of DS Automobiles,
• 100% electric powertrain made in France. The NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries are supplied by ACC (Automotive Cells Company) in the Gigafactory located in Billy Berclau Douvrin (62), while the electric motor is manufactured by Emotors in Trémery, Lorraine. DS Automobiles’ new 100% electric flagship, DS N°8 has a record range of up to 750 km.

DS, SM, DS Automobiles AND THE PRESIDENTS IN PICTURES

The Presidency of the French Republic has always had a special relationship with the DS and SM models and today with DS Automobiles. A historic collaboration illustrated by providing many iconic vehicles, starting with General de Gaulle’s DS 19 in 1958.

Over the decades, this relationship has continued through landmark models, such as those that are now gathered on the DS Automobiles stand at Retromobile. It has also continued in contemporary times with the DS 5 convertible used at François Hollande’s inauguration (15 May 2012) - which later became the official vehicle of the Presidency in a fully bodied version - PRESIDENTIAL DS 7 CROSSBACK unveiled at the inauguration of Emmanuel Macron (14 May 2017), DS 7 CROSSBACK ÉLYSÉE, the official vehicle of the Presidency between November 2021 and June 2022, before DS 7 ÉLYSÉE takes over from July 2022.

It is in this context that visitors will be able to view a photographic exhibition dedicated to the presidential DS and SM, charting in pictures this unique relationship between the special French car and the Presidency of the French Republic.

Finally, a shop allowing enthusiasts to leave with a souvenir of this visit will also be available on the stand.