1969 Citroen DS21 Pallas, leather, factory Air. Great restoration candidate.

I've got too many Citroens. I know this sounds like a furniture emporium ad but. well. the fact is I've just got too many Citroens. Nine to be exact. And I have room for about 4. I've had DS's for 4 decades now and I still can't stop myself from acquiring good ones. For years there seemed to be only really rusty. crappy DS's around but some reason I've been able to find a number of rust free. nice original cars of late.
My win is your win.
Here is a '69 DS 21 Pallas Citromatic with tan leather and factory air conditioning. This would have been the fanciest DS you could have bought in America in 1969. It is a one owner car. bought new in Sacramento. California. It's been garaged since new (in the same garage it was recently pushed out of) and is in amazingly original sound condition. I believe it's 95. 00 miles is original given it's overall condition. especially the leather driver's seat but don't have any proof of it. However. I recently also found a 1960 DS19 this is needing a lot more work than I originally thought so I'm just not going to get to this DS21 for a long time so have decided to move it along to someone who is interested in restoring one.
I believe this is as good as a complete restoration candidate you could find anywhere in the world. The most important thing with a DS is to find a rust-free example. They are virtually impossible to find so that's why so many have had extensive frame work which in its self takes 100's if not 1. 00's of hours to get right. Starting with an original rust-free car is the best way to go. according to me. anyway.  
The car was painted from black to gold but that was before 1992 and there's no rust showing at all even on the trunk lid which is really surprising given it still has its large moisture retaining seal that were always removed years ago as they just attracted and hold in moisture. Also. the typical places in the bottom of the foot wells are solid with their original paint. as is the piece along where the the truck lid lays on the body -- again. almost always rust in the corner but nothing on either side. Finally. in the bottom of the trunk at the far ends where water naturally flows and there's almost always rust. But. on this one. no rust! The small 8mm bolts that hold the panel on above rear anti-roll bar look brand new and even have their original cadmium plating on them. I've not taken this part apart but in poking around it all seems solid. Come see for yourself!
It also is a Pallas version which most people prefer given its higher level of trim -- if you're going to restore one it probably makes more sense to do up the luxury Pallas version (that said. many aficionados do prefer the simple. clean ID versions or plain DS's). To each their own. of course.
Finding nice original 45 year old leather is extremely difficult to find in a chair that's been well cared for in someone's living room but to find it in a Citroen DS is rare. The driver's seat does have some wear. and the back seat's bottom custion seems pretty dirty but I've not touched them with any preservative or cleaner but my gut says they will come up beautiful. The sun rays "ALWAYS" 'burns' the top of the rear seat on practically every Citroen I've seen but this one is really nice. again. supporting the fact it was garage kept forever.
Another 'selling point' is the dashboard. Not only is it the rarest version (I think) but it's in beautiful condition. I can only see one small tear on it down by the glove compartment door.
Finally. it has factory air-conditioning. I've seen just the components and customs dash parts sell for thousands; they're just that rare in nice condition. If you want the 'ultimate' DS. and live in a warm climate. you'll want AC I bet. And just so we're aligned: I have no idea if it works (as I do not have any idea if any of the mechanical or hydraulic parts of the car actually work! Remember. it's for restoration -- or maybe you get lucky and get the engine turning and away she goes. I doubt it but stranger things have happened I guess!

So. now onto some of its deficiencies:
The engine is stuck or seized or whatever you want to call it: It doesn't turn. I assume it's from sitting since 1992 but no one knows for sure. I've put some KROIL down there 2-3 weeks ago but it hasn't moved. There is also lots of surface rust on many of the components in the engine compartment I assume from just sitting so long. The important parts such as frame and all body panels look amazingly solid.
All the parts of the engine. drivetrain seem to all be there. I bet it was just driven into the garage in 1992 and left. The family bought a new Lexus to replace it and probably never looked back   ;  > )
It's LHS2 / Brake Fluid. This type of hydraulic fluid was changed in 1969 1/2 in North America to LHM which was a mineral based fluid. LHS2 arguably gives a better ride but also attracts water; and. therefore. hydraulic components can. and do. rust internally. I have other D's with both fluids and LHM is certainly friendlier and less work to keep a car leak-free. I would expect this car needs a thorough rebuild of many components and then it may make sense to upgrade to LHM when restoring. I'm having the same internal debate with the '60 DS19 I'm working to get back on the road. I'm currently leaning towards just keeping it LHS2 and changing the fluid periodically.
The interior smells musty but the leather seats and door panels look fine. I think the front carpet was replaced but other than that seems all original. And some unenlightened person put the double chevrons on upside-down on the trunk lid.
I sold a very similar DS just a year ago or so back on eBay that I'd found in North Seattle. It was a 1970 DS 21 Pallas with leather and was shipped off to Montreal for full restoration. It too was surprisingly rust free; and they wanted to start with a solid car. If you're thinking of doing the same thing I thing you'd be hard pressed to find a better 'canvas' I believe.
Please come and have a look yourself: DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. We all have different levels of awesome/ nice/ crappy. I believe I've described it honestly and have been in the Citroen community for decades and intend on staying for many more! 
Any questions. or specific photo requests. please just ask. I have a reserve that isn't far off the value of the leather interior and AC; and then you get a complete RUST-FREE Pallas to go with it.

On Jun-02-14 at 09:57:51 PDT. seller added the following information:

Please note there are a couple of video descriptions of the DS but they are only view-able when accessing eBay from the web. not on the eBay mobile app.  

Also published at eBay.com

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