DS on top gear

steelcityuk · Post by **steelcityuk** » 24 Jan 2007, 13:30

Sorry if this is a repost (I had a search but didn't find it), here's a link to a Top Gear clip about the DS on youtube.

Lovely.

Steve.

f00lzz · Post by **f00lzz** » 24 Jan 2007, 19:17

Never seen that one before... I want one!

steelcityuk · Post by **steelcityuk** » 25 Jan 2007, 12:26

Over the Christmas break I watched a Citroen programme I'd recorded. Most of it was about the early history at Citroen and the Traction Avant, now that is a car I could take to.

Steve.

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 30 Jan 2007, 17:01

It's actually better than the previous DS offering on TG - a pity they chose a manual gearbox model, though, instead of the more usual and original concept of the semi-auto.

No mention of a few more 'firsts' - power steering, power brakes, high level rear indicators, (later) electronic fuel injection.

I think the car featured was Guy Pursey's ?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 30 Jan 2007, 17:52

Were Citroen first with power steering - certainly Jaguar were fitting it (as an option?) to the Mk 1X and probably the Mk V111 from the late 50's and RR may have used it before. I'd have thought that this was an American invention - probably Cadillac.

The Jaguar D Type used fully powered brakes driven by a (Plessey?) pump off the propshaft - which is fine until the back axle starts to leave the ground under braking!

I know Citroen used fuel injection on the XM and the DS but it was quite common elsewhere by the time it was fitted - on Mercedes in particular and some Americans - and even the Triumph TR5 and 2.5Pi had (working?) systems in the late 60's

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 30 Jan 2007, 19:33

jeremy wrote:Were Citroen first with power steering - certainly Jaguar were fitting it (as an option?) to the Mk 1X and probably the Mk V111 from the late 50's and RR may have used it before. I'd have thought that this was an American invention - probably Cadillac.

Possibly, Jeremy, but the Mk VIII was after 1955 - I had the earlier Mk VIIM and that was 1956.
There is also a fine distinction between "power steering" and "power assisted steering". A running DS has no mechanical connection from the steering column to the front wheels.

I know Citroen used fuel injection on the XM and the DS but it was quite common elsewhere by the time it was fitted - on Mercedes in particular and some Americans - and even the Triumph TR5 and 2.5Pi had (working?) systems in the late 60's

I think they were all mechanical systems, though? Like the Bosch K-Jetronic, which were used by Mercedes and Audi for a long while later.
The DS from 1969 has a D-Jetronic system that is electronic, with no ICs in it, either, so it can be fixed in the unlikely event that the "computer" ever went wrong.

Bananaman · Post by **Bananaman** » 30 Jan 2007, 21:22

Belinda Carlisle drives a DS (and a Picasso).

uhn113x · Post by **uhn113x** » 31 Jan 2007, 07:27

The name was vaguely familiar, but Google was my friend!

In USA, apparently.
Surprised she can stand the uncomfortable seats on the Pic-asso, after sinking into the DS's armchairs.

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 31 Jan 2007, 17:51

I'm sure the DS was the first with inboard disc brakes? Edit. No it wasn't , Lotus 11 had inboard disc brakes on a De Dion axle at the back. But first with front inboard disc brakes?