Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I know your probably just being obstinate for the fun of it, and I generally agree with you but a DS is one car that would probably benefit from electrification more than anything. Or a gas turbine. Just think, silent running, floating ride, just waft through the countryside in complete comfort... Batteries in old Alfas etc... That is wrong.

@Dammit in relation to the comfort issue, if you're not averse to mismatched seats, you may find a non AMG version of your car has a more comfortable seat. Would be an easy swap?

I think the question to ask here is "would Citroen have fitted this car with an electric motor rather than the van engine that they did use, should that have been an option?'

It certainly fits with the ethos of the ds

Given that the DS was designed for a completely different engine anyway, probably.

You can now buy an electric Méhari. No one buys an old Citroen for the engine after all.

Would you not lose the essence of a DS by sticking batteries in it? According to Wikipedia they only weigh 1300kg which by modern standards is light. I'd imagine they are quite fun to hustle along a wide A road with the body rolling about but the wheels staying where they should because of the suspension. Also the puggy engine would be part of the fun as you roll along puffing on a Disque Bleu, half cut from the carafe of wine you shared over lunch.

Bombed (wafted) down from Wiltshire to Cornwall in mine yesterday, went to Looe in it today.
Not fast or economical but bloody good fun. Daughter prefers it to our modern car

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The essence of a DS is not its light weight though, it's not a Lotus 7. Wouldn't the hydro suspension take care of the extra weight anyway?

Can’t tell you how much these cars evoke amazing childhood memories. ♥️♥️♥️

Nice one dude.

Put it this way, the DS would not be my choice for dynamic aplomb- to view it through that lens is I think to miss the point of the car, which was (to me, anyway- I may also have missed the point of course) about transport, not sport. High tech, clever, beautiful transport- transport from the future, at the time it was released, which is why I think silent electric power would suit it.

It’s not a Stratos- and if you wanted the driving dynamics of a Stratos then picking a car other than the DS might be wise, unless you fancy a fairly impressive technical challenge.

Finish that 911 engine nonsense and start shopping for a DS please.

Agreed. If you're purely interested in speed then an interest in cars is a bit unsustainable, there's always going to be something faster than your vehicle. If you're wafting along in a leccy DS you're probably not going to be overtaken by anything cooler.

I think the fact that the DS still sparks this much conversation shows how special it is

My electrified DS would have to be cream roof, teal metallic blue body, blue velour interior.
Mechanically I'd keep it fwd, batteries filling the voids in the floor. And figure out a way of pumping and pressure regulation of the LHM without killing the range. Although the mad scientist version would be some kind magnetic damping system that mimics the oleopneumatics....

This one was electric I think 🤔?

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Hmm, more like eclectic?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magazine-Featured-1971-Austin-Mini-Van-K1400cc-Twin-Cam-FAST/294107059625?
Surely that's the answer @Dammit

Why is the ride height so high? Looks like it's on stilts.

Following Nurse Holidays seat position advice I successfully cured myself of horrible back-ache 2 hours into a journey in the E63 - and sent my right buttock into a deep coma. This is progress, however, as it shows that back-ache is not inevitable. I'm astonished that it's so hard to find a position that "just works" though.

Fuck yea!

absolutely superb. could not get bored of seeing that DS.

though I also have time for the BTTF one too.

Chasing that EML is proving expensive.

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Not sure how @johnnettles2 finds his later car but my dad's earlier ID19 isn't something that could really describe as "hustling". It is incredibly fun though and a real occasion every time you drive it.

It'll be in there somewhere, just need to keep digging. I'm guessing it was more than valve stem seals given the state of disassembly that you've achieved so far?