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1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Very, Very Low Volkswagen Thing
V8 Citroen 2CV For Safari Hoons
The Goddess of Tenth Street
Craig's List Find: 1971 Citroen Safari Wagon

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DoctorNine's D9 Cat
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Oh Brigitte, Brigitte, why do you taunt me so?

[www.telegraph.co.uk]

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DoctorNine's D9 Cat
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
The key, is that everyone appreciates the sexual innuendo implicit in any French conveyance. Especially STATION WAGONS. And the perverse nature of those of us who enjoy working the mechanicals, leads to the conclusion, that contemplating the effort required to bring this Citroen into working order, is essentially the same thing as thinking about clothing and unclothing Brigit Bardot in her prime. Say what you will, but that, THAT, is a worthy pursuit.
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postjosh
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
god bless you, mr. martin.
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vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in
02/15/09

@postjosh: ms. martin
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The Black Bottle
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Talk about the DS and you immediately get into the "Form over Function" argument, this is further complicated by the well documented (on this site at least) unreliability of the car itself. I think it was a technical tour de force for it's era and incorporated ideas such as headlights that follow the steering that are still considered innovative today. The DS and its station wagon derivative, aka the Safari took the concept to another level. Would I buy one if I could afford it? Yes, I would. Would I buy an Aston Martin Rapide if I had the cash? No, I wouldn't. The Rapide is beautiful but impractical and doesn't fulfill its potential, neither does it offer anything in the way of searchlight technology i.e. something that illuminates the way ahead for automotive design that the DS did. Do I sound weird or do others feel the same way?
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RegalRegalia
02/14/09

@The Black Bottle: where do you think you are. i'm just now realizing that the citroen DS, oddly enough some may say, IS the favorite car on jalopnik.
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The Black Bottle
02/14/09

@RegalRegalia is the AntiChrysler: No it's not: its one of mine but I think you'll find that some other equally discerning commenters can put up a good case for why its not and what should be the best looking car of all time. Nice talking to you and I hope we meet again but I'm off to embalm my brain.
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Novaload
02/14/09

@The Black Bottle: I always thought Citros looked like insects with tiny, grotesquely under-developed haunches. But they are an institution, a milestone, an icon of automobile history and--just cool and goofy as hell at the same time.

Oh, and Mr. Tucker did the turning headlight in the 1940s on his cars.
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Ford Tempo Fanatic
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Very nice. Anyone know why this car (and others) have those vertical lines running down the headlamps? Any purpose, or just a styling touch?
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coupeZ600
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Thanks Murilee! And I've always wanted to compliment you on your photography. It's a beautiful car, indeed, but I bet you could take photos of a fire hydrant and get as many glowing comments. Excellent, now I'm off to click on every ad on Jalopnik!
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
02/14/09

@donkeyassman - somebody smashed my ride: Needs more fake wood paneling.
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coupeZ600
02/14/09

@Mike the Dog: Are you calling me a Donkey-Ass, Man? ;) (my last name is Jenney, so I'm used to it, just not the ass part!).
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
02/14/09

@coupeZ600: Huh? That was in reply to the one above yours...
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
02/14/09

@Mike the Dog: Besides, donkey-ass is inherently redundant, like flavorful taste or speed velocity.
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Murilee Martin
02/14/09

@coupeZ600: You're not seeing the reject photos, but thanks for the compliment. 98% of DOTS photos are done on a Canon SD850- helluva camera for the price.
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donkeyassman - loves his W124 400E Benz
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
just wanted to point out theres one of these badboys for sale in seattle.. not cheap tho

[seattle.craigslist.org]
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Novaload
02/14/09

@donkeyassman - somebody smashed my ride: Is $15k too much for a 69 Citro wagon in that shape? I honestly don't know but it's definitely not crack pipe.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Wow, I must be running substantial B'fast Scoth (tm) deficit today. For the record:

Corbusier's single bespoke les Ghostbustiers;

Tucher = Tucker

Thank you, now carry on.
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Timtoolman, going ASH
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Shame the owners uses it for storing shit in.
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Murilee Martin
02/14/09

@Timtoolman, now with power tools!: No, he's in the process of moving.
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Paul Y. don't drive too fast.
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
As much as I love the Citroen D cars, the wagons always seemed awkwardly proportioned to me.

However, they do have one especially redeeming feature: the way-back has two jump seats that face each other and fold flat into the floor, so each passenger has plenty of leg and shoulder room.
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Paul Y. don't drive too fast.
02/14/09

@TV's Paul Y.: Oh yeah, I have a well-worn Corgi Juniors WHIZZWHEELS early-model Citroen Safari on my desk (it keeps good company):

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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

@TV's Paul Y.: Dude, I think I've got the Unimog-amino somewhere... same color scheme, same condition.
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Murilee's back, with a DS wagon, no less! *swoon*
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Armand
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
My grandfather had one of these, and he loved it. Slow as molasses in a straight line, but once you got it up to speed you really didn't have to slow down for anything-- potholes were never a problem, cornering was good with the fancy Michelin XAS tires, and the braking was wonderful as soon as you got used to the fact that the system operates based on the pressure you apply to the "champignon" brake button, rather than on pedal travel.

Now Murilee, you say the Northern California Citroen Universe is a small one. My grandfather, assisted by my dad and my uncle, were able to do all the tune-ups and mechanical work that the Safari (and an earlier ID19 sedan) required, but no family members were brave enough to touch the hydraulic system. Where did they take the car when it started leaking LHM all over the driveway? Hanzel's.

There's a DS wagon in the North Bay, too, which I was planning to photograph to send in for a DOTS Bonus Edition. Seeing a much, much nicer example only half an hour away has dampened my enthusiasm for that car, which probably hasn't moved in ages.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
Dang Murilee, you sure know how to open big. DS wagons have to be rarer than snipe. Then, you bring in Barthes to lay down the smack.

Better than chocolates for Valentine's Day, by far. Weekends are going to be a whole lot better now. And I think winter is now officially over.

And, oh yeah, your work and authorial voice is like spring water to this thirsty desert nomad. Some day soon I expect you'll be jostling Ken Purdy for some room on the too shelf of the auto journalism trophy case. Long may you ride!
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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
If we're gonna set new records for Best DOTS Car Ever on a regular basis, I wholeheartedly approve of this weekend thing.
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RegalRegalia
02/14/09

@Fluffy, Pushbroom: name me any car that could top this?
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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

@RegalRegalia is the AntiChrysler: Another one, with vacuum-operated skulls on the roof.
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Murilee Martin
02/14/09

In reply to 1969 Citroën DS Station Wagon
I figured it would be best to start the weekend off with a DOTS car more interesting than, say, an '85 Sentra (though its Pulsar sibling would have qualified).
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A strolling player
02/14/09

@Murilee Martin: Oh hell yes. I've always had a thing for Pulsars, partly because I grew up as they were all disappearing, but mostly because NX-2000 sounds a hell of a lot like the designation for an experimental starship.
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A strolling player
02/14/09

@A strolling player can't find his avatar: In fact, if I'm not mistaken...

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Graverobber
02/14/09

@Murilee Martin: I don't know Murilee, a DS may be more rare, but when was the last time anybody noticed an '85 Sentra? You could be at forefront of the emergence of unrecognized classic automobiles.

Anyway, I'm on the way to the big junkyard in the sky . . . er Wilmington, on a parts hunt. Nothing like a recent rain to add to the stench of mouldering seat foam and make the lakes of 10W-40 glimmer like the eyes of a princess.
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Ralph Wiley Is Poised
02/14/09

@A strolling player can't find his avatar: Does the starship have interchangeable rear pods?
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RegalRegalia
02/14/09

@LucidRalphWiley: technically yes, but that'd involve two weeks in spacedock.
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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

@graverobber: Murilopnik Weekends mean I can cut back on th...: I noticed one a couple months ago. Only square car in the strip-mall parking lot.
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MushyHeirloom
02/14/09

@RegalRegalia is the AntiChrysler: And space-docking's never a good thing.
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