In 1961, Citroën provided DS19 chassis to coachbuilder Henri Chapron to produce a new model, the Décapotable. Using the longer chassis of the Safari, Chapron left the standard mechanicals, front wings, windshield and wheels in place but redesigned the rear quarters to allow for a lower and sleeker look than that of the standard DS saloon. Despite Citroën initially rejecting Chapron’s initial concept for an open-top DS, he persevered and his first cabriolet was displayed at the 1958 Paris Salon and proved to be a hit. Chapron went on to build over 1800 DS-based vehicles, including saloons and coupés such as the Palm Beach, Le Dandy, Croisette, and Lorraine. Today, these iconic Citroëns are still known for their unique suspension system and unmatched driving experience, although the early cars were fitted with a solid but underpowered 1911cc four-cylinder engine. Later models featured improved engines and fuel injection options. As traditional coachbuilding work began to decline, Chapron saw a new direction with the launch of the Citroën DS in 1955 and went on to become one of the most influential French designers of the era.

HENRI CHAPRON (1886–1978)

Henri Chapron is most commonly associated with Citroën, particularly for his work on the Décapotable versions of the iconic DS. However, it was not an easy journey to get the open-top DS into production. Initially, Citroën rejected Chapron’s design, but the designer’s perseverance paid off, and the eventual appearance of the Décapotable was the result of his persistence. But before Chapron’s association with Citroën, he had a long and successful career in the motoring industry.

Chapron began as an upholsterer’s apprentice in Paris and established his own business in 1919 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, where he gained fame for rebodying Model T Fords left behind by American troops after WWI. In 1923, the company moved to larger premises in Levallois-Perret, and Chapron became one of the most influential French designers of his time. He created coach-built bodies for many prestigious automakers, including Ballot, Chenard-Walcker, Delage, Panhard-Levassor, Bugatti, and Hispano-Suiza. Still, his company really made a name for itself with the iconic coachwork on Delahaye chassis, especially the 135 models.

During WWII, traditional coachbuilding work came to a halt, and the company survived by doing repair work. After the war, Chapron’s business boomed again, and the company designed and produced bodies for many luxury automakers. However, the days of traditional coachbuilding were coming to an end as unitary bodies became more popular and new tax legislation in France penalized luxury cars. Despite this, Chapron saw a way forward with the 1955 launch of the Citroën DS.

Chapron recognized the significance of the DS and approached Citroën to supply chassis for a cabriolet version, but the factory had plans to produce their own convertible. Undeterred, Chapron bought a new DS saloon from a local dealer and designed the first Chapron cabriolet, which was an instant hit at the 1958 Paris Salon. Despite Citroën’s initial refusal, they eventually cooperated with Chapron and provided DS19 chassis for him to produce the “Décapotable usine” (factory convertible) in 1961.

Using the longer chassis of the Safari, Chapron left the standard mechanicals, front wings, windshield, and wheels in place but reinforced the floor and lengthened the doors by 18cm. The rear quarters were a new design by Chapron, allowing for a sleeker look than the standard DS saloon. Over the following years, Chapron built over 1800 DS-based vehicles, including convertibles, saloons, and coupés such as the Palm Beach, Le Dandy, Croisette, and Lorraine.

While Citroën eventually produced their own factory convertible, it is the 1365 DS19/DS21 Décapotable models built by Chapron between 1960 and 1971 that are most coveted by collectors and command the highest prices. Henri Chapron died in 1978, and his company was run by his widow until it closed in 1985 after building bespoke vehicles for several more years.

A PASSION FOR CITROËN

Laurie Newhook’s love for Citroën began when he met his future wife, Judy, as a teenager, and her father owned a Citroën Light 15. However, his connection with the French brand started earlier when his maternal grandfather purchased a new Light 15 but passed away before taking delivery. Laurie acquired a 1939 Light 12 as his student car and sold it later for a profit. Since then, he has owned almost 20 different Citroëns, including a CX Turbo 2, one of his favorites.

Recently, Laurie’s passion for classic Citroëns led him to purchase a 1972 SM, a rare coupé built during Citroën’s brief association with Maserati. After locating an example fully restored by retired Australian racing driver Peter McLeod, Laurie has kept the car in top condition with the help of Bishop’s Garage in Auckland. The car won the best example award at the Citroën Car Club of NZ’s centenary rally in 2020.

Laurie’s desire to own a DS, particularly one of the rarer versions designed by Henri Chapron, led him to set his sights on one of these rare cars. He knew he had to look overseas and be prepared to spend a significant amount of money, as collectors highly sought after these vehicles. Ultimately, Laurie went to Bonham’s ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ auction in April 2021, where he bid on Lot 110, a 1967 Citroën DS21 Décapotable, chassis #4600088.

LAURIE’S DS21 DÉCAPOTABLE

The Citroën that caught Laurie’s attention in Bonham’s online auction was manufactured in November 1967 by Citroën and delivered by Chapron the following month to Canada. It was fitted with special features designed to suit the colder climate of Canada, such as cold-weather heating and a more powerful alternator to manage additional electrical needs. Equipped with a 2.1-liter engine and Citroën’s four-speed, semi-automatic gearbox, the DS21 was a 1967 model and had directional headlights. This car’s hydro-pneumatic system runs on green LHM fluid since the switch from the original, red, vegetable-based hydraulic fluid in 1967.

This DS21 spent most of its driving life in Canada until its complete bodywork restoration by Netherlands Citroën specialist DS-Keyzer of Amsterdam in 2009. The car was originally painted in Vert Forêt, but DS-Keyzer repainted it in Bleu Antarctique, an original Chapron color, and reupholstered the interior in leather. The car owner, who had bought it from Alex von Mózer’s Dutch classic car dealership VSOC in 2014, then sent it to another Citroën specialist, Michel Boutias of L’Atelier 524 in Grenoble, France. L’Atelier 524 completed a major mechanical restoration of the Citroën, including a nut-and-bolt engine rebuild and a complete overhaul of the gearbox, hydraulic system, brakes, steering, and electrics. The total cost of the restoration work was a substantial €45,000 (NZ$71,820).

Before the auction, the DS21 was located in the South of France, where it was only used during the summer months. The car was sold with certificates of authenticity fro

AT THE AUCTION

At midnight in New Zealand, Laurie was among several potential buyers vying for the Citroën in an online auction. With his goal in sight, he was glued to his laptop screen and engaged in a bidding war until he finally emerged as the winning bidder, paying €195,500 (NZ$315,967) including buyer’s premium. When the car arrived in New Zealand, it appeared mechanically sound but was grubby after its long voyage. The Citroën passed compliance checks with flying colors, except for two blown brake light bulbs. Laurie sent the car to Bishop’s Garage for final touches before cruising on New Zealand’s roads.

The DS21 convertible is an iconic car that is both relaxing and comfortable for long-distance city-to-city touring. Its semiautomatic gearbox takes some getting used to, but the hydraulically powered steering and braking add to the car’s charm. Although Laurie’s Maserati V6-engined Citroën SM outperforms the DS21 convertible, the latter’s comfort and style make it an unforgettable classic. Laurie feels privileged to own the car and has no plans to elevate it to concours standards at present. He believes that his car is the only ‘facelift’ Chapron version in New Zealand, making it a definite keeper for him and his wife, Judy.

The 1960 T-Birds received subtle trim updates, including the addition of a third taillight on each side, before the new generation arrived in 1961.

The two engine options from the previous year continued to be offered, a 352 cid V-8 with 300 horsepower and a 430 cid V-8 with 345 hp, with power transmitted to the rear wheels through a 3-speed manual or Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission.

Ford sold 11,680 convertible Thunderbirds in 1960, and for the first time, a sunroof option was offered, licensed from German company Golde. These sunroof-equipped models, known as “Golde Editions,” are relatively rare, with only 2,530 sold.

The rarest 1960 Thunderbirds were two stainless steel examples built for the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation at an astronomical cost of $35,000 each. One of them is currently on display at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

1960 proved to be a significant year for the Thunderbird, as Ford produced a total of 92,843 examples for the model year, almost as many as the previous two years combined. It marked the end of the second-generation Thunderbird with a bang.