Citroën DS amphibian

The Citroën DS amphibian is a one-off amphibious car with an all-aluminium body built around the complete mechanical components of a Citroën DS. It came to light in 2004, when its new owner, Doug Hilton, wrote to Hans Rosloot asking for help in tracing its history before a faithful, working restoration.

Design

Dating of the components shows the donor was a brand-new UK-specification DS of 1965, and witnesses place the amphibian in use in 1966. It therefore kept the DS's hydropneumatic suspension and powered steering, brakes and gear change, which together with the aluminium body would have made it one of the most advanced amphibians of its day. The body was even shaped to resemble a Citroën.

The front-wheel-drive engine was moved to the rear, together with the original front wheels, which were locked straight to act as the rear axle, and a second set of front wheels was fitted for steering. Power for the water drive appears to have been taken from the timing-shaft end of the crankshaft, but how the drive continued from there is unknown, because the engine, gearbox and power take-off were removed for restoration some 20 years earlier and lost after the then owner died.

History

The builder is unknown. Citroën's former UK chief engineer said it was not made at the Slough works, and suggested it might have been built in France, where many DS customisations were made, though a British origin is also possible. It was reportedly used to reach a small island in North Wales, possibly by a family connected with the Ferranti engineering company. One witness recalled that, when Amphicar claimed in the 1960s to make the only roadworthy amphibian, Citroën published a photograph of this car, or a twin, to dispute the claim.