1969 Citroën DS 21 ‘Majesty’ Saloon
Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron unveiled his Majesty interpretation at the 1964 Paris Salon de l’Auto to address customers who found even the DS Prestige insufficiently exclusive.
Production spanned just five years, yielding only 27 examples before ending in 1969. This particular car represents one of the final Majesties equipped with Citroën’s directional headlights, distinguishing it from the earlier examples built with fixed round units.
The squared-off roofline sat noticeably higher than the standard DS, creating increased headroom for rear passengers while echoing the angular character of Chapron’s Concorde coupe. Additional chrome sill shields and polished wheel covers completed the formal appearance.
Inside, Havana beige leather in Pullman finish covered the seats and door panels, complemented by thick brown wool carpeting and hand-painted faux burl wood dashboard trim.
Power came from the 133 CI (2.2-liter) four-cylinder producing approximately 115 horsepower, paired with Citroën’s hydraulically actuated four-speed semi-automatic transmission controlled by a dashboard-mounted lever.
Circular Jaeger instrumentation monitored the car’s hydropneumatic suspension and braking systems, while air conditioning provided an added measure of luxury on select examples.
Production of Chapron’s most exclusive DS variant ended when the Lorraine limousine assumed the role of Citroën’s flagship coachbuilt offering.
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