I can haz goddess

[wuvvum]

Look what arrived on the back of a truck (Iveco Daily, amusingly) this afternoon.

 

 

A fuel line from a can direct to the carb soon had it firing up and it ran for long enough to get the suspension up and get some pressure in the brakes so it could be safely got off the truck. Then it died and we had to push it round the corner and into the drive. After recovery bloke had left I jury-rigged the electric Facet fuel pump off the Skoda onto the car using various bits of old fuel pipe and inline filters, and it soon fired up again and actually seems to run fairly well. In fact I finally fulfilled my long-held ambition today of driving a DS under its own power - even if it was only a few yards.

 

Here's a front view:

 

 

The door locks don't seem to be particularly secure so I've pulled it right the way into the drive and parked the Stagea behind it. It was getting dark by then and I had stuffz to do so I didn't get to play with it any further, but next weekend, weather permitting, I'll make up a more permanent mounting for the fuel pump and take it for a proper drive. I would imagine it will turn some heads...

[Craig the Princess]

wuvvum I both love and hate you for your weekend's shite action!

 

You da man!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Just WOW! I am also rather envious!

[eddyramrod]

Wuvvum... that's bonkers! I'm proud of you.

[Lufthansa-Terminal]

Errrrrr????? Wheres the rest of it?

[garethj]

mmm, those VW 1303 tail lights are....

 

Good purchase, glad you got it!

[dollywobbler]

It must surely be the only Autoshite-spec DS? Hope that this story ends well and that you actually get to drive a DS on the road! If it's anything like the CX, it'll be horrendous for the first 100 miles or so, then utterly brilliant. Forgot - is it manual or semi-slush-chaos?

[flat4alfa]

The camera crew were pensioned-off

 

 

Exceelent purchase, Monsieur!

[trigger]

What a legend!, I've never known a person to get through so many cars!, I keep hoping to sell the Kadett so that i can make a cheeky offer on the BMW 2500!.

 

I hope to see the DS on the road very soon!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

1. Amazing

2. Super amazing

[morris_ital_lover]

1. Terribly disappointed, I was expecting a full page of Bedford based thrills (not that your citroen is in anyway bad!)

 

2. WTF is going on there. Is this some kind of homebrew/unofficial/official conversion?

[Shep Shepherd]

I normally love the DS, but that looks like something that even Henri Chapron* would have rejected for being too odd. Looks like a professional conversion, though.

 

 

 

*Producer of many weird and wonderful DS and ID conversions, including the delectable Décapotable.

[autofive]

yeah, i was expecting a Bedford S in peagreen

 

 

looks good though, and any DS for that must a winner

[Lankytim]

OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!! thats awesome!

 

Are you gonna stick a harvey frost crane on the back to collect more shite with?

[mouseflakes]

Great buy Wuvz.

 

I don't recall the detail from the listing - but it looks quite solid - is it? What with it being a bit 'rustic' in appearance, might it get more regular use than a minter would? Could be good for engine-shifting duties? Drop it on its belly, drag the engine up the tail board and away!

 

I'm not suggesting you do it, but given you wouldn't be destroying a 'good' saloon, would it be possible to make a topless Chapron replica and make a profit from it?

[KruJoe]

 

I love it when a plan comes together! So glad this has worked out Wuvz.

 

M.I.L. it's a cut down estate, probably used as a racecourse camera car.

[michiel]

Superb purchase, once again.

[Louise2cv]

Wow!! What are your plans for it? Drive it as is or do something to show off it's history (???).

[wuvvum]

Forgot - is it manual or semi-slush-chaos?

It's manual - five on the tree. I an expecting it to be slightly more "normal" to drive than a CX, what with the lack of self-centring steering and normal stalks for the indicators and wipers, although the brake mushroom might take a bit more getting used to.

[DSdriver]

Worth the wait I hope. One thing is for sure, there isn't another one like it. I expect the neighbours went wtf when it arrived. I don't think that security is going to be a problem while it won't go more than a few yards under it's own steam. The eccentric handbrake (which has a lock on it) and lack of a foot brake pedal is also likely to deter any joyriders. Is it hydraulic or manual shift? I had a hydraulic shift where the starter switch was part of the gear shift, nobody new how to start it.

[Teaching granny to suck eggs mode] Things that are different and need to be remembered:

Don't drive off until the suspension has risen, indicators are not self cancelling, passengers need to be told not to slam the doors - they weigh a ton and the car isn't airtight like modern cars.

Also make sure the window glass does not wind up so far that it contacts the door frame or you will shatter it.

[Anorak]It was one of the uber rare familiales with seven forward facing seats before someone took a can opener to it, they were not practical load carriers like the Safaris because the rear seats were in the way. The brakes as they call the estates sur le continent have a longer wheelbase than the saloons and were used by Chapron as a platform to make the decaps.[/Anorak]

[wuvvum]

Wow!! What are your plans for it? Drive it as is or do something to show off it's history (???).

Probably just use it as it is, same as I do with most of my stuff. It's actually quite a practical vehicle - can be used as a five-seater car or a pickup (albeit with no rear window in extended bed mode), should be GR9 for towing and with a 2.3 engine and 5 speed box it should be well up to the odd motorway blat too.

[hairnet]

them lights need to go but KWAL PURCHASE

[Albert Ross]

Reminds me of this.....

[wuvvum]

I had a hydraulic shift where the starter switch was part of the gear shift, nobody new how to start it.

My first DS (2 litre RHD Pallas saloon in two-tone beige, the one I'm still kicking myself for selling eight years later...) had a hydraulic shift, where you pushed the lever over to the left to actuate the starter. Both subsequent cars have been manual - the Safari was a 4-speed and this one's a 5.

[Vin]

Is that rear bumper made of wood

 

If so, WELL DONE

[wuvvum]

them lights need to go

I'm not a big fan of them either to be honest, but they are what's been on the car all its life (it was converted when new) so I think they'll be staying for the time being.

[wuvvum]

Is that rear bumper made of wood

Yep. It's also utterly useless because the towbar sticks out about a foot beyond it so it's never going to be called on to absorb any bumps.

[dollywobbler]

Wuv - the DS shares the same super-sensitive steering of the CX (as you say, without the powered self-centering) with wallowy suspension. It makes them a surprisingly twitchy ol' barge at first. Mix in the unusual brake and driving one smoothly is a skill that needs to be learned! I'm very envious though. Despite its somewhat shonky looks, I think this was value.

[Pete-M]

That's cooler than a polar bear's ballbag.

 

[morris_ital_lover]

I wholly take back what I said about it being a disappointment not seeing a Bedford here, what a brilliant piece of history to own!