Undoubtedly one of the most ambitious, influential, and distinctive postwar automobiles ever produced, the Citroën DS was styled by Flamino Bertoni, who also penned the groundbreaking prewar Citroën Traction Avant. The DS showcased a host of advanced features including front-wheel drive, self-leveling hydropneumatic independent suspension, high-pressure hydraulic brakes, and a sculpted aerodynamic body seemingly lifted straight from the pages of a science fiction novel. The DS was so revolutionary and involved that Citroën nearly went bankrupt developing it, requiring Michelin to step in with a major investment to bring the car to production. However, when it was introduced at the 1955 Paris Salon, the DS created a sensation with 12,000 orders reportedly taken during the first day and nearly 1.5 million built in all along several variations through 1973.

Postwar economic realities and new construction techniques hastened the demise of France’s creative and time-honored coachbuilding industry, consistent with the regrettable trend taking hold throughout Europe and America. Nonetheless, noted carrosserie Henri Chapron of Levallois-Perret in suburban Paris created a custom DS19 in 1958. While completed without factory endorsement, Chapron’s La Croisette Cabriolet gained the factory’s favor and spurred an arrangement whereby Citroën allowed Chapron to buy chassis directly from the factory as the basis for his creations.

While Citroën did offer high-end variations of the DS, including the Pallas and Prestige, some customers desired an even higher level of exclusivity and luxury. Chapron’s DS19-based Concorde was introduced along with his Le Caddy and Le Dandy body styles. Consistent with their hand-built bodies, production was low, including just 38 Concordes. A coupe, similar to Chapron’s Le Dandy, the Concorde provided enhanced rear-passenger comfort with its daring notched roof treatment.

Finished in Bleu Sera and Argento Auteuil paint, this 1963 Citroën DS19 Concorde is a collector-grade example of these wonderfully audacious coachbuilt confections by Chapron. Acquired in the Netherlands by the Mullin Collection in 2015, this DS19 Concorde is accompanied by copies of the original order form from G. Tible Citroën, dated August 8, 1962, and numbered 7482 by Chapron, specifying its original two-tone Argento Auteuil and Bleu Sera finish and Bleu Sera-painted wheels. A copy of the registration document issued on January 15, 1963 to Jean Gaignard of Brassac-les-Mines in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, and a typewritten price list for Henri Chapron’s coachbuilt DS19 models are also included with this magnificent and extremely rare Citroën DS19 Concorde.

*Please note that all of the Lots in this Auction have been in long-term static storage at the Mullin Automotive Museum and may not be currently operational. They will require mechanical attention and in some cases significant restoration prior to any road use.