Looking more like something from outer space than a road going motorcar is Peter and Melinda O'Donnell's 1974 Citroen DS Pallas. Peter has owned the Citroen only since December 2018.
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"I bought it for myself as a Christmas present" laughed Peter.
"I remember when I was 16 my parents nearly bought one but they baulked at the cost of having to repair a European car if something ever went wrong.
Ever since then I've had a desire to own a DS so when this one popped up with a dealer in Sydney last year I pounced on it".
Peter's car is a December 1974 build making it one of the last in the three generations of the Citroen DS which spanned 20 years from 1955 - 1975 with essentially the same body style.
When it was released in 1955 jaws dropped not only at the futuristic styling of the DS but also at the advanced mechanicals of the vehicle. Post war, the Citroen
DS was a display of excellence from the French car manufacturer and the world took notice with first day orders going through the roof.
There's lots of unique features on this car, like the aluminium bonnet and front guards and fibreglass roof designed to reduce weight and keep the centre of gravity low for stability.
The directional headlights which follow the turn of the single spoke steering wheel. It's a fuel injected 2.3 litre four cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels and the rear track is distinctively narrower.
Fore mostly though, is the hydraulic self levelling suspension which allows the car to be raised or lowered and provides enough stability for the car to actually travel on three wheels - a feature which the French president proudly spruiked after escaping an assassination attempt in 1962.
The name DS is actually a shortened version of the French word Deesse meaning goddess and Peter and Melinda's Pallas is the luxury upgrade named after the Greek goddess Pallas Athena.
For Peter there's a definite enjoyment in seeing the looks on people's faces when they see the Citroen driving the streets.
For some it's the recognition of a futuristic car from the past while for others it's the amazement of what they think is coming up. If you see the DS on the streets, be sure to give Peter and Melinda a wave.
Coming up: The next meeting will be held Wednesday, September 4 from 7.30pm at Leagues Club. Saturday, October 19, 2019 - Annual Charity Show n Shine and Swap Meet.
They are members of the Parkes based Central West Car Club and for more about the club you can look up www.centralwestcarclub.com.