drb
logo



"QUANTUM SHOT" #77


I knew Citroen DS was a Space Age wonder,
but this is simply amazing:


Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible

is it the utmost in cryptic automobile advertisement?
Or a Second Coming of French Automobile? (image source)
I dug up a 1960 ad brochure for Citroen DS, and it did promote the similar floating theme:

Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible

Mind you, it was not the only attempt to turn Citroen into a rocket/ plane.
Take a look at this (it even has the retractable wings):

Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible

According to Wikipedia
"The Citroën DS was produced between 1955 and 1975. Citroën sold nearly 1.5 million D-series during its 20 years of production. The DS is well-known for its futuristic, aerodynamic body design, and for its innovative technology (including its hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension system)." - hence the "floating" advertisement idea.

The car bore a remarkable resemblance to images of flying saucers just then becoming famous. It was the closest thing to Space Age design at the time (short of meeting the actual UFO on the street, like in this fun pic)

Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible

A famous philosopher once said that it looks as if it had "fallen from the sky".
In the movie "Back to the Future II" the DS was used as a futuristic taxi circa 2015.

Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Sources: 1, Citroen DS Pool

Floating or not, Citroen DS cars seem to defy the time & space anyway, and pop out of their psychedelic dimension in various places:
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Sources: 1, 2

UPDATE January 15, 2007
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible
Car, Automobile, Travel, Collectible

Permanent Link...



RECENT ARTICLES:

Visual Caffeine #8
Visual Caffeine, Issue 8

A thrilling blend of art, myths and technology

Visual Caffeine #7
Visual Caffeine, Issue 7

A thrilling blend of art, myths and technology

Art Deco
Imperial Dreams: Art Deco Update

Wings, Gears, & Glamorous Ladies

1970s SciFi
DRB Pics-of-the-Day

Grand Space Adventure 1970s Art



"Dark Roasted Blend" - All Kinds of Weird and Wonderful Things, Discovered Daily!"

DRB is a top-ranked and respected source for the best in art, travel and fascinating technology, with a highly eclectic presentation. Our in-depth articles in many categories make DRB a valued online magazine, bringing you quality info and entertainment every time you visit the site - About DRB

Connect with us and become part of DRB on Facebook and Twitter.



YOUR COMMENTS::

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

My parents bought a D-series at the factory in 1959, drove it around Europe and then shipped it home. It was bronze, looks like the one here floating on orange balls. We kept it until the mid-70s, and it was one of the first cars I ever drove. It was one amazing piece of machinery. Thanks for this trip down memory lane!

Gruenemann

___  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, the famous DS study. Citroen has to be praised for daring and innovative designs in the past and today. They went through a bit of a dullness phase during the 80s and 90s, but they're coming back strongly now. When it comes to design, these guys know their stuff.

___  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cool ads for a cool car

___  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hahahah nice !!
The air wing DS is a movie prop from a 3 movies serial called Fantomas with Louis De Funes.

___  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm becoming addicted to your web site!

___  
Blogger IceSixxx said...

That very special DS was made for the 1958 Universal Exhibition of Brussels.
It was an exhibition where a new kind of design begun.
People there were also amazed by the Atomium building: a crystal metal molecule made 165 billions times bigger!
That building stills up today and have just be resurfaced. So if you're in Brussels some times, be sure to see it! You can even go in and walk in the balls, up and downs stairs and escalators.
You can actually see a life size picture of the DS (the same picture) in the main hall.
i got some pics if u want

___  
Blogger Avi Abrams said...

Ice: please send in the pics...
contact me by email

Avi

___  

Post a Comment

<< Home


SF ART & BOOK REVIEWS:
Don't miss: The Ultimate Guide to NEW SF&F Writers!
Fiction Reviews: Classic Cyberpunk: Extreme Fiction
Short Fiction Reviews: Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" (with pics)
New Fiction Reviews: The Surreal Office



READ OTHER RECENT ARTICLES:


Abandoned, Dieselpunk
DRB Pic-of-the-Day

Abandoned: Streamlined Three-wheeler

Visual Caffeine #6
Visual Caffeine, Issue 6

A thrilling blend of art, myths and technology

Visual Caffeine #5
Visual Caffeine, Issue 5

A thrilling blend of art, myths and technology

Hellish Weather on Other Planets

Wild, Untamed, and Uncut

Medieval Suits of Armor

Metal Body Suits vs. Weapons of Medieval Destruction

World's Strangest Theme Parks

Amusement to the (twisted) extremes!

Enchanting Victorian Fairy Tale Art

"Then world behind and home ahead..."

Adorable Pedal Cars

Collectable Pedal Vehicles Showcase


Japanese Arcades: Gundam Pods & Other Guilty Pleasures

These machines have gone up to the next level


Modernist Tallinn Architecture

Delicious blend of old and new!


Early Supercomputers: A Visual Overview

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons"


Futuristic Concept Cars of the 1970-80s

French, Italian & Japanese rare beauties


Epic 1970s French Space Comic Art

DRB Time-Slice: Valérian and Laureline


The Trees Are Escaping! The Abandoned Prison in French Guiana

"Great Escape" from the Devil's Island



FULL ARCHIVES
(with previews, fast loading):

2022/16
2015/14
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

Link Lattes

Feel-Good & Biscotti Issues





CATEGORIES:
Feel-Good! | airplanes | animals | architecture | art | auto | boats | books | cool ads | famous | futurism | food
gadgets | health | japan | internet | link latte | military | music | nature | photo | russia | steampunk
sci-fi & fantasy | signs | space | technology | trains | travel | vintage | weird | abandoned