DS Automobiles TO celebrate 70 YEARS OF DS AT RETROMOBILE

• As official partner to Retromobile 2025, DS Automobiles has chosen this very special show to mark the 70th anniversary of DS 

• “The DS, a work of art for 70 years” exhibition will showcase 12 historic and exclusive DS models, carefully picked by L’Aventure DS Automobiles 

• Supported by the DS Brand, the National School of Automotive and Mobility Professions GARAC is reviving the DS Balloons creation from 1959 to promote the unrivalled comfort of the DS with its hydropneumatic suspension 

• A timeless icon, the DS embodies daring and the avant-garde spirit, values that continue to enrich each DS Automobiles creation including the N°8, the brand’s new flagship, which will be shown for the first time at Retromobile 

 

As a partner to Retromobile 2025, DS Automobiles is taking this incredible opportunity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the legendary DS. Visitors will be able to discover unique examples of the ageless automotive icon, in some cases for the very first time, along with the chance to see the newest model to join the DS Automobiles stable, the N°8. 

 

“There is no setting more symbolic than Retromobile to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the DS.  

This event is dear to us, and we are delighted to share it with as many people as possible.  

Today elevated to the status of masterpiece, the 1955 DS is the perfect embodiment of the Art of Travel. 

We bear this special legacy with great pride, a legacy that inspired the creation of DS Automobiles in 2014. Our brand is rooted in the richness of French culture, whether that’s its art, its literature or its avant-garde view on mobility. This spirit, which has defined the DS for 70 years, is now at the heart of DS Automobiles' identity.” 

Olivier François – DS Automobiles CEO. 

 

A special exhibition dedicated to the DS 

In an exclusive space in Hall 1 of Retromobile, a genuine “exhibition within the exhibition” will be held, called “The DS, a work of art for 70 years”. Organised by Retromobile in collaboration with DS Automobiles and L'Aventure DS Automobiles – the organisation dedicated to the preservation of the brand's heritage  this retrospective will bring together a set of incredible cars. 

 

At the entrance, to mark the 70th anniversary of the legendary DS and celebrate the brand's innovation, two symbolic models will face each other: a completely original 1969 DS 21 Pallas, and a N°8, shown for the first time in France. 

• The 2025 DS N°8 will sport an elegant Crystal Pearl colour enhanced by extended bi-tone black paintwork covering the roof and bonnet, with an Alezan Brown Nappa leather interior. 

• The 1969 DS 21 will also be shown in an exclusive Crystal Pearl livery, with extended bi-tone black paint, and a sumptuous Semi-Aniline Criollo leather interior. 

 

Visitors will have the privilege of discovering a line-up of historic DS cars, including the intriguing DS Balloons. This iconic model was initially designed in 1959 by Claude Puech, then Citroën’s advertising director. A faithful reconstruction carried out by the GARAC (the National School of Automotive and Mobility Professions) will be exhibited in tribute to this avant-garde creation which also appears on the Retromobile 2025 poster. 

 

The DS Balloons showcases a DS 19 in a Tortoiseshell Blonde colour, resting on four huge balloons instead of wheels. The latter symbolise the spheres of the famous hydropneumatic suspension, giving the illusion that the car is floating. At the time, photos of this visionary idea went around the world, boosting the DS’s standing as an avant-garde and timeless work of art. 

 

Around this centrepiece of the exhibition, among other things that will be on display are a 1972 DS 21 Prestige that was used by Michel Debré, Prime Minister under General de Gaulle in 1958, and also a “Factory” DS 19 Convertible from 1961, and even the metallic grey DS 19 Totem Pole that was shown at the 1962 Paris Motor Show. 

 

No fewer than 12 models on show, including 11 historic DS cars: 

• 1956 DS 19 saloon in Spring Green-Champagne roof (private owner) 

• 1959 DS 19 “Balloons” in Tortoiseshell Blonde-Carrara White (DS Automobiles, built by GARAC 2024-25) 

• 1960 ID 19 in Pacific Blue (L’Aventure DS collection) 

• 1961 DS 19 Convertible “Factory” in Metallic Grey (private owner) 

• DS 19 Totem Pole in Metallic Grey from the 1962 Paris Motor Show (Le Mans Museum) 

• 1967 DS 21 Pallas saloon in Monte Carlo Blue (private owner) 

• 1968 DS 21 Pallas saloon, with swivelling headlamps, in Corsair Red (L’Aventure DS collection) 

Please note that visitors will be able to take a seat inside to experience its exceptional comfort levels! 

• 1968 DS 21 wooden model (L’Aventure DS collection) 

• 1969 DS 21 Pallas saloon in original Crystal Pearl livery with extended bi-tone black paint on the roof and bonnet (L’Aventure DS collection) 

• 1972 DS 21 Prestige saloon (ex Michel Debré) in black (L’Aventure DS collection) 

• 1975 DS 23 Pallas saloon in Scarab Brown (L’Aventure DS collection) 

• 2025 DS N°8, original Crystal Pearl livery with extended bi-tone black paint on the roof and bonnet 

 

Two rare exhibits will complete this immersion:  

• the model of a faired-in DS 21 (1968), elegantly showcased on a Kandahar grey stand 

• a modern sculpture implying a covered DS 19, a unique aluminium example, the work of the artist Frédéric Girard, an ornamental boilermaker, co-created with the DS DESIGN STUDIO 

 

Other DS treasures to explore at Retromobile 

In parallel with this flagship event, two iconic DS models will be in the spotlight in Hall 3, the Club Village Hall. On the stand uniting L'Aventure DS, Amicale DS and clubs such as DS ID Club France, Club ParIDS (in Hall 1) as well as the Euro SM Club, there will be: 

• A unique competition DS 21 (1972) prototype, fitted with a Maserati engine from the legendary SM 

• A Delta Blue DS estate (1975), a model full of history and charm 

 

70 years of the legend: DS, a bridge between past and present 

70 years after its birth and almost 50 years after production ended, DS continues to intrigue collectors and car enthusiasts around the world. By paying tribute to it at Retromobile and by unveiling its new N°8 flagship for the first time in France, DS Automobiles is forging a powerful link between past and present. 

 

A true source of inspiration for the automotive industry and a 20th century avant-garde icon, the 1955 DS remains a compass for the women and men of DS Automobiles. Through this exceptional legacy, the brand not only celebrates its history, but also declares its ambition to enhance the French Art of Travel. 

 

The aura of the DS: a global influence 

Revealed on 6 October 1955, 1,456,115 examples of the DS were made over a span of 20 years. A true symbol of excellence, it was chosen as the presidential car by several heads of state. Its ingenious hydropneumatic suspension technology has also played a key role in history: it enabled General de Gaulle to escape the Petit-Clamart attack on 22 August 1962. 

 

A masterpiece of innovation and the embodiment of the French Art of Travel, the DS has also been depicted on the big screen. It shone in film classics such as Fantomas unleashed (1965) with Louis de Funès, The Samurai (1967) with Alain Delon and Steven Spielberg's Back to the Future 2 (1989). 

 

The DS is not just a car, it is a work of art. Exhibited in a version without wheels, fully faired in, and placed inclined on a central pedestal more than a meter above the ground, it won the Industrial Art Award at the 1957 Milan Triennal. Today, the DS is also part of the MoMA Museum’s distinguished collection in New York. 

 

Special lighting for the DS Retromobile exhibition 

The Retromobile exhibition, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the DS, will be enhanced by the sumptuous Régis Mathieu chandeliers. Artisan bronzer, restorer and renowned designer, Régis Mathieu is the son of Henri Mathieu, famous for his collection of lighting with kinetic spirals. Passionate about cars, Régis brings his unique expertise to the aisles of Retromobile, with a special sparkle for this exhibition dedicated to the DS logo. 

 

The icon also inspired the words of the famous semiotician Roland Barthes in his book Mythologies. He describes the DS as “clearly fallen from the sky . . . an exceptional article”, going so far as to compare it to the great Gothic cathedrals. In 1957, the writer saw it as much more than a car: a true architectural and cultural work. 

 

A DS memento to take away from Retromobile 

At this very special event, visitors will have the chance to leave with a unique DS Automobiles souvenir. The DS boutique will be offering an exclusive selection of DS scale models, including two new ones: the 1959 DS Balloons in “Tortoiseshell Blond”, magnificently reproduced in 1:12th scale and a limited edition 1:43rd Speedform 1955 DS 19. 

 

For collectors, enthusiasts or simply lovers of beautiful objects, there will be a surprise reveal on 4 February. 

 

The full exhibition will be unveiled during the preview evening, which will be held on Tuesday 4 February, from 7 pm. 

 

Show information 

Retromobile 2024 attracted more than 130,000 visitors, confirming the public's enthusiasm for this internationally renowned event, both in France and beyond. Enthusiasts from all over the world visit Porte de Versailles in Paris each year to meet collectors and other aficionados. 

 

The 49th Retromobile will take place from 5th to 9th February 2025 with a preview evening on Tuesday 4 February.  

 

Accreditation can be applied for via the following link: https://www.retromobile.com/fr-FR/presse/Accreditation-Presse 

 

                         

History is in the making. We look forward to seeing you at Retromobile! 

 

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS TO DOWNLOAD 

 
https://sharing.oodrive.com/share-access/sharings/35sZY6sv.9qqSq9zw 

 

  

PRESS CONTACTS 

Krystyna Perry – Head of PR DS Automobiles UK krystyna.perry@stellantis.com 07710 062 783 

Manesh Taank – PR Manager DS Automobiles UK manesh.taank@stellantis.com 07841 569 038 

 

 

ABOUT DS AUTOMOBILES 

Founded in Paris in 2014, DS Automobiles is a premium brand aiming to embody the French art of travel. Thanks to an exceptional heritage, exemplified by the 1955 DS and enriched by the wealth of French culture, DS Automobiles offers a global and diverse range with DS 3, DS 4, DS 7 and N°8.  

Designed for a clientele seeking something different, who want to travel the world and enjoy every moment, DS creations stand out through their charismatic style, interior refinement, sophisticated technology and first-class comfort. Combined with a suite of bespoke services, they offer a unique brand experience before, during and after each journey.  

With numerous records since its entry into Formula E in 2015, including two double Teams’ and Drivers’ titles, DS Automobiles is at the forefront of electrification and sells each of its models in an electrified version. The Brand offers 100% electric drivetrains as well as self-charging and plug-in hybrids with up to 360 horsepower and 4-wheel drive. In 2025, DS Automobiles is accelerating its transition to all-electric with the arrival of N°8, a new model offering up to 750km range.  

With a presence in 40 countries, the DS brand has an exclusive distribution network that includes nearly 450 DS STORES around the world.  

Follow news from DS internationally on www.DSautomobiles.com    @DS_Automobiles 

 

 

aBOUT L’AVENTURE DS AUTOMOBILES 

L'Aventure DS Automobiles is the third entity in the L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS association. It is a recent organisation for a recent brand that bears a historic, prestigious name! 

L'Aventure DS Automobiles brings together collectors, clubs and associations devoted to the IDs, DSs and SMs cars. These three iconic models have marked the history of the motor car because of the 

complete aesthetic break they represented in the world of the automobile and also because of their technical originality The atypical exclusive innovative characteristics of the IDs, DSs and SMs have forged the DNA of the DS Automobiles brand. 

Through meetings, events, rallies, advice and help for maintenance and restoration, supply of spare parts and documentation, L'Aventure DS Automobiles provides the whole range of services expected in France and throughout the world by the enthusiasts of the three models. 

Being a member of L’Aventure means contributing to the preservation and enhancement of an exceptional heritage. 

https://laventure-association.com/laventure-ds-automobiles/