Citroën DS 19 Berline
Car scale model kit in 1/16 scale manufactured by Heller (ref. 80795, also 3279510807950)

The Citroën DS 19 represented a revolution in the automotive world. Designed by Flaminio Bertoni and André Lefèbvre, its presentation at the Paris Motor Show in October 1965 caused a great sensation. Just 45 minutes after the show opened its doors, the Citroën pavilion had already received 747 applications... by the end of the day the figure had risen to 12.000 applications.

Its futuristic design, with hydropneumatic suspension and cutting-edge technology, made it a revolutionary vehicle for its time. The centerpiece of the DS's technical innovations is a high-pressure hydraulic system that serves for starting, steering, brakes and even suspension, thanks to the placement of a gas-filled steel ball in each wheel. This hydropneumatic system, developed by Paul Magès, allows road irregularities not to affect the body, and the height of the body can be varied with a corrector. The impressive futuristic appearance of the body is signed by Flamino Bertoni, with a long aluminum hood and plastic roof. The only known part of the DS is the engine, inherited from the Citroën 11 HP, although with a revised cylinder head design.

The DS range remained until 1975 without undergoing major modifications thanks to its avant-garde design, and by the end of its production more than 1.3 million units had been built, becoming an emblematic vehicle of the brand and a milestone in automotive history.