If all goes to plan I'll be off to look at a 1974 DS 21 in the very near future.
All I know about it is that it's been off the road for a year or so, needs 'a bit of TLC' and has a leather interior.
Obviously they're absolutely gorgeous money pits but can anybody give me some pointers on what I should be looking for?

What is really expensive to put right?

Are there any parts that are crazy expensive?

I don't mind getting stuck into major welding but whereabouts do they rust?

I'm fairly handy with a spanner and hammer but which bits will be beyond me?

Cheers

You have said most of the things you need to know, very deep pockets are a prerequisite. But as you say they are beautiful.

If you PM me I have a mate who is a bit of a guru with them and can offer you words of wisdom for just a pint of cider.

AmiMatt will be able to tell you all you need to know. I think he has experience of every problem a D series can have...

Check rearaxel, doors and hydraulic. So, it is 5 speed? I´ve only had 4 speed H ones. But with that really good 2.1 it is better to have manual 5 speed. I´ve only had DS from 60´s, so is it injection one? Runs really nicely. Check allso interiour, cause it can be expencive, if not in good condition.

Lenny, you might find this thread interesting>







http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... 371&page=1

Cheers for the link Neil, it's making amusing and faintly scary reading.

Structural rot.



Good panels.



I don't think they managed to make the glass rust.

A couple of years ago, there was a very presentable looking black D on fleaBay. A few weeks later, I saw it on the ramp at a local D specialist. The buyer had paid the thick end of £7,000 for it.

The bumpers were probably worth keeping.

Yeah, under 10 000€ you get project...

LOL RUN AWAY NOW WHILST YOU STILL CAN... is my advice. Fairly handly with a spanner and a hammer? LMAO

OK forget the condition of the seats cos really that is the very least of your worries.

Structure
Bodypanels
Mechanicals
Hydraulics
Trim
is the order I'd look at.

Ok ask yourself why has it been off the road, what's wrong with it? DS's are a great drive and owners love to drive them, so if it ain't going its going to expensive.

Just some little pointers you need to be aware of.

They rust everywhere.
Parts are expensive. The right tyre for example 180 XAS 15. Budget for about £160-£180 EACH. You can get cheaper but the car only handles right on Michelins.

Doors, a replacement door repaired and ready for paint...£800 - £1000 depending on who you go to.

Seats, Leather trim you say? Well a new set of that if it's foobared is €3000 a set. Maybe you can get it for less but then you'll have to pay to get it fitted. Cloth is cheaper maybe £2000 for a retrim if you cut a few corners.

Engines. Engine rebuild on a DS, well a new set of pistons would be about £600 rebuilt engine £1500 - £2500 quid. A second hand runner can be yours for about £300 but will need some work. Oh and an engine change on a DS is a 2 day job even at a good specialist and thats just the book time from citroen when the car was new and wasn't nearly 40 years old. It never takes that long it takes LONGER because when you have the engine out you'll have to change all those bits that you cannot get to with the engine in eg timing chain, clutch, acc'lator sphere, knackered hydraulic pipes.

Steering racks can almost be classed as a consumerable as they tend to always need reconditioning. Thats another £500 - 600 quid for a proper one not a lash up job.

Welding work, well if you are really really lucky you'll only need £1000 quids worth of restoration work in the boot to sort out the elephants ears, boot drain channels and floor.

Roof gutters, heh heh heh, yes the roof is plastic but the frame it sits on isn't so thats a roof off job to sort, probably another grand there.

Front wings, rust like total b@stards, and thats £500 a side to get stainless steel repair sections let in then a bit more for painting.

If its got injection, just run away from it fast cos thats a whole pandora's box of issues right there.

Semi auto, is a nice system when it works right and is setup otherwise you'll be bunny hopping around like a prize tw@t.

Basically you've got two choices decide that you like to experience the feeling of cash on your hip or you by a DS. If you can live with 25mpg and just extortionate bills (when its sorted) then cool but if its a restoration project walk away unless you are a millionaire poet with an engineering degree and an infinate amount of time and cash.

Does that help?

Alternatively you could buy an Ami 6 and get the same ride but with less expense.

...but he's not bitter...