The launch of the DS at the 1955 Paris Motor Show left the rest of the automotive world looking quite literally old-fashioned. Flaminio Bertoni had created a car in which virtually everything was new - a fact that in its early days occasionally overtaxed customers and garages alike. The company launched the IDE with simplified engineering and features in 1957, whereby the mechanical transformation was also incorporated in the DS. The model Prefecture was created for public sector customers: always black, with grey on the inside of the doors, the panelling on the B and C-columns painted an unpretentious black instead of the light aluminium.

This DS 19 was exported to France, from where it made its way to Austria via Holland, as evidenced by a Carte Gris and Dutch papers. As a 1966 model, the DS already possesses a modern five-bearing DY engine that is beautifully combined with a manual gearbox to ensure smooth operation and eye-catching power. The DS has obviously been restored in the past. Interestingly, all exposed parts on these vehicles - the bumpers, trimming or hubcaps - are made of stainless steel. The red seat upholstery has evidently been replaced to contrast successfully with the black exterior. This DS 19 still possesses the charming looks of the original model, but boasts a reliable modern engine beneath the bonnet to give its passengers the unique driving experience that only a DS can offer!

VIN: 4438935, mileage: 35,105 km (read), displacement: 1,972 cc/R4, power: 84 hp, colour: black/red (fabric), gearbox: 4-speed, papers: Austrian individual approval, French Carte Gris (invalidated)