1973 Citroën DS20 Pallas

This lovely 1973, original UK right hand drive Citroen DS20 Pallas, is reported by the vendor to have been a special order model with all the extra trimmings when new. It has been owned by the vendor since December 2020, who came across the car for sale, but it was in need of some light recommissioning.

The recommissioning work involved replacing the service items, the brakes were given an overhaul with new pads, a heater matrix was installed and all the suspension ball joints and spheres were replaced, plus a few other additional items. The cost for the work came in at just over £2,000, but well worth it when you look at what the car has been treated to in the past, which you will read about in the coming paragraphs.

The paint and bodywork on the Citroen was carried out in 2005, after an extensive exterior restoration costing near the £5,000 mark. That was just for the strip and paint, and then there's the parts to add on, such as new door handles, headlamp glass, door embellishers and many more, all of which make up for a fantastic looking DS20.

Considering the Citroen was restored 16 years ago, the condition of it is really well presented, there are just a couple of chips here and there. From the front, the unique look of this French classic is unmistakable. The stainless steel bumper and small grille piece is in good order, with no damage. The DS is finished in Bleu D’Orient paintwork, and to the front edges of the wings and bonnet there are a few stone chips, but only as you would expect for the age of the restoration. The bonnet aligns well and opens and closes as it should. The headlight lenses were replaced and these are in good condition with no cracks or splits. The same can be said for the indicators.

The long sides of the DS20 are straight and free from any noticeable dinks or dents. The doors align as well as you would expect, (never the strongest point on a DS of this age). The handles and trim look to be excellent, as these were replaced during the restoration.

Around to the rear, and the tailgate lines up nicely, and the Citroen emblem and the DS 20 badge have no corrosion. The bumper is in good order just like the front, and the taillight covers have been replaced.

The windows around the DS are all in good order along with the seals and the stainless trims. There are just a couple of points to mention.

The steel wheels are in good order and finished with a stainless steel hub cap. The tyres are period looking and have a good amount of tread remaining.

Inside the DS has been finished in silver/grey velour. This has been retrimmed at some point, and it is believed the original would have been a mustard yellow, but the colour used fits in well with the exterior colour of the car. The seats are in good condition with no tears to the material, although it has stretched a little in places like the driver’s side bolster. The rear seat is in good condition and doesn't look to have had much use in the past. The door cards have been trimmed to match the seats and are also in nice condition, with no damage to mention.

The dashboard is in good condition with no splits or cracks. The instruments are bright and clean, and are reported to be in good working order. The odometer has a reading of 64,818 miles. To the left, the switches are all legible with minimal wear to them. Steering you in the right direction, the original single spoke steering wheel shows some age to the outer rim, but no damage.

The carpets are the originals which are a light brown colour. There is no excessive wear to the drivers heel pad and it would benefit from a touch of a clean in this area. Up above, the headlining has been replaced, which is held tightly in place with no sagging.

Into the boot, which has no carpet, there is some surface rust to part of the floor, but this could be cleaned up very easily.

The engine in the DS is the 1985 cc 4-cylinder, which was rebuilt in 2004, just before the body got the restoration. The engine rebuild was a full job that included new pistons and liners, and whilst it was out, it would have been rude not to put a clutch in at the same time.

The engine starts up and runs fantastically. The vendor has covered over 11,000 miles in it, where it has been relatively trouble free. Any issues that did arise have been taken care of, a bonus for the new keeper. The vendor is quite happy to jump in it and drive anywhere with confidence. He also comments on the semi-automatic gearbox, saying once you have experienced one in the DS, you will never want a manual again.

Following the bodywork restoration in 2005, in 2007 it was time to start on the underside, which received a full refurbishment of the chassis and floor pans. On the mechanical side, the suspension got new seals and anything else that needed it was replaced. The cost, including the bodywork, engine rebuild and floor restoration, came in at around £16,000. Definitely a sign things were done right.

This super rare right hand drive UK DS20 Pallas comes with an extensive history, In 2004 the restoration started with the engine and followed on with the bodywork. Everything looks to have been listed for the car with hand written notes, quotes and invoices.

It has its original service logbook and owners manual.

The vendor is an active member in the Citroen Car Club, D Section, and with it not being the first one he’s owned, he does know them inside out, as you do when you’re an enthusiast owner.

The MoT expires on 21st March 2023.

Born in 1973, this Citroen DS20 Pallas is a genuine UK right hand drive, which has had just 4 previous keepers. Yes, it was restored a number of years ago, and yes, there is the odd chip and scuff here and there, but with that said, the base you are working with is in excellent condition, as the main areas of concern look to be free from any of the dreaded tin-worm.

The DS20 Pallas is ready for a new enthusiastic owner to take ownership and enjoy many more happy miles in the French classic.

We estimate this French fancy to bring in the region of £15,000 - £18,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.