A French Car I Actually Could Like.

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

As much as I like to beat up the French ( and who doesn't?) they have occasionally done some amazing things. One of them is the Citroen DS. Now, you have to remember that this car came out in the mid 50's and still manages to look somewhat modern today. In fact, the Honda Insight bears more than a passing resemblance to this car, and it is the most aerodynamic car ever sold in the US. Some of the DS's innovations include: Front Wheel drive/mid engine layout ( the only company I know of ever to use it!), hydropneumatic suspension with adjustable ride height, .38 coefficient of drag (G body is .45), a fiberglass roof to lower the center of gravity, crumple zones, first car to have standard front disc brakes, headlights that turned to see around corners ( like a Tucker, or newer BMW),etc. Now this is not to say that Citroen was the only manufacturer to make an aerodynamically clean car in the 1950's. Studebaker's Starlight Coupe was also exceptionally clean. However, the DS was a far more innovative and quirky design than the Stude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_DS

Picture taken from: http://www.dsworldltd.com/about_us.html

 

[Furtrader]

Personally,I hate the look of those Citroens.Never liked them,never will.
As for French automotive style,I love the Delahaye.
In my opinion,they designed some of the sexiest motorcars ever.
(clickable thumbnails)
1949 Delahaye 175 S Saoutchik Roadster

1938 Delahaye Type 135 M

1939 Delahaye Type 165

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

The thing about Delahaye is that they do not represent any technical innovation, they are just pretty to look at. What a car looks like does not express anything about it's technical merits, which is what I tend to be attracted to in a car, or other object. The DS seems to have a form-function synergy that makes it one of those truly remarkable cars that raise the bar for future designers.

 

[jonnyslick]

I hate French cars, French women, and French toast ... err actually French toast is pretty good. :?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I will have to admit I was wrong about one thing: Citroen was not the only company to use a FWD/mid engine layout. Saab also used it in several of it's cars of the 1960's and 70's.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I hate French cars, French women, and French toast ... err actually French toast is pretty good. :?

I just hate the French in general.... but yeah, french toast is the sh*t!