A last minute bid that I expected to be trumped on wasn't. As a result this is what I got for $5,000 plus the trouble of getting it from Melbourne to WA.
The car has been 'restored' with rusted sections cut out, new pieces welded in, treated and repainted. Top coat disappointed owner.
Mechanically sound with 'hydraulique' gear selection. Boot has been filled with water and now needs a small section treated for rust penetration.
Possibly needs/should have a new floor panel then replacement interior covering.
The interior needs carpets cleaned and seats recovered. Leather seats will cost around $4000 but door panels look fine.
It is missing the interior 'C' pillar trim, has a clock that doesn't work and needs new roof lining.
Nothing that appears too urgent or can't be handled over time.
Ebay Description provided by owner:
This is the perfect easy restoration of the most sought after spec for a DS. I bought this in May '04. I have had about a dozen DS's. This was going to be the immaculate restoration that the others never were. I took it to Cars of France in Melbourne and Nick attended to whatever was needed to get it running reliably. then i gave it to Tom the panel beater. He did a really good job removing the rust and repairing with metal, welding in repairs and so on [photos available, not digital] but then had to move workshops, got distracted and eventually to cut the long story short he did a lousy job on the respray and it looks ordinary. To look as good as it should it will need rubbing down and a new topcoat.
meanwhile he had it stored outside and a bit of fresh rust has hit the boot floor. there is NO other rust at all. The interior is 99% complete, but the leather seats need retrimming. The carpets and firewall will improve with a steam clean. the door trims could just go back on but were removed so that the rust in the bottom of the doors could all be repaired - with new door bottom skins welded in. there is no headlining. the only trim missing is the interior padded trim for the 'c' panel on the rear pillars.
the car runs well and the hydraulique gearbox works properly. everything except the clock works. the steering rack boots are torn. it sits well on the road and does not blow smoke.
i am going overseas and must get the garage in some sort of order before i go so it has to be sold. it owes me over $10 000 and represents a wonderful straight solid base for a restoration of the most sought after version of the DS.
Information on the 1972 Citroen DS21 Pallas Hydraulique provided in answers to questions asked.
> What rust treatment was done following repairs and before repainting?
rust treatment - the areas repaired were welded, sealed and painted
> What were the mechanical repairs made during your ownership?
mechanical work: engine gearbox and drivetrain nil done and nil needed, some suspension work - tie rods and spheres have
been done..... new plugs, points, sparkplugs etc
> Do you have details of the vehicles history?
vehicle was a sydney car then to melbourne, have a few notes from previous owner
> The rust in the boot: is it just stained or has there been metal damaged? ie does it need a new floor or
> just cleaning up and treatment before respraying and covering?
boot needs metal to be welded in at the join of boot floor and the panel that comes down from behind the rear seats,
and a patch or new floor would be needed - the rust is about 6 worth...... you could just redo the whole floor, might be easier
> I notice that the images showing on ebay have no licence plate visible. Is that because you blocked them out
> or is the DS unregistered?
it is not registered
> If it is unregistered what work would need to be done to get it registered?
I have driven it from panel beater to citroen repairer and so on around melbourne ...
> Would you consider it OK for a trip to Perth as it stands now?
but it is NOT in the sort of condition that would be suitable for a drive to perth it needs a
good fettling as well as the items already mentioned in the ad, and the exhaust has a blow
in it at a join as well
PHOTOS of work done: unable to scan them
the photos show door skins both rusted and then with new bottoms of door from a wreck welded on, likewise metal added to bootlid,
metal welded into passengers front footwell, also welded triangle gusset into C pillar at junction below rear glass,
also welded metal into front guard bottom corners - all typical rust areas for a DS
