1972 CITROËN DS23 SAFARI - LHD

This Citroen DS23 Safari is one of the most stylish and sophisticated classic family cars, which would make a great project for a professional restorer or passionate enthusiast. It is powered by the 2.3-litre inline-four engine, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 19,666 km, which is not warranted.

The DS is widely considered to be one of the most elegant car designs of all time, but the quality of the ride and handling was also another reason that it stood out from the crowd, not to mention its use of discs to improve braking performance.

Understood to have been manufactured in 1972, this DS23 Safari is an estate car that benefits from two additional seats that fold away into the boot floor. It was imported to the UK and re-registered in March 1995, and since then has had three previous keepers on the log book over the last 25 years. It is now offered by the trade.

The detailed set of photos presents an honest illustration of the structural and cosmetic condition. While the car appears to be largely straight and solid, there is visible rust throughout various sections of the body, notably around the boot panels and tailgate - the latter of which is full of existing fibreglass repairs, and needs to be replaced. There is also evidence of other repairs by a previous owner, including renewal of all of the door skins.

Its brown and beige paint is in poor condition, with scuffs in the finish, and bubbling on the offside front wing and offside rear door. The nearside front door has been scraped, the bonnet has a crack in the paint, and the roof panel will also need some attention. There are some wonderful original features that survive, including the Cibie headlight pods with the swivelling driving lamps, the stacked tail lights, and the period roof rack.

Its interior is scruffy, with splits in all sections of the brown vinyl upholstery. The steering wheel trim is cracked, though the dashboard appears to be in generally good order. The door cards are present but are worn, and the headliner has come unstuck from the roof in places. Ultimately, the cabin will require a full re-trim.

The seller states that the car starts, stops, and steers, and that the suspension raises and lowers. However, it will require a thorough overhaul and proper recommissioning as numerous functions are currently not wired up or are inoperative. The alternator light stays on after the car is started, and several wires have been disconnected so that headlights and indicators do not function at present. The wipers work and the horn compressor makes a nose, but the horn trumpets are not present so no noise is emitted.

All of the doors lock and unlock using the internal mechanisms, and also with the key for the front pair. The seller also notes that the manual winding windows in both the front and rear work correctly. There is a small puddle of fluid that accumulates beneath the car when parked up, which is believed to be fluid from the hydraulic systems, so this will also need investigation and rectification. Strictly speaking, the car does run and drive, but it is not safe or sensible to do so - so it will need to be collected with a trailer to be transported away by the winning bidder.

While there is evidence of previous refurbishment works, and perhaps even the beginning of an attempt at restoration, there is no history whatsoever that accompanies the car - the only paperwork being the current UK V5C log book. When the seller purchased the car from a Citroen specialist, he mentioned that the previous owner had done some work to the car, though there are no records of this.

While the car is exempt from annual inspections, the last recorded MOT test was on 22 June 2016 at an indicated 19,349 km. On the day before, a number of defects were noted - mainly regarding exterior lights and suspension hydraulics - but the history suggests these may have been rectified, as it subsequently passed with only advisories noting slight corrosion on the rear chassis outriggers. The Vredestein Classic tyres currently fitted to the car have plenty of tread, but have some cracking to the sidewalls and need to be replaced on the basis of age.

This Citroen DS23 Safari is a charming estate car, which deserves to find another enthusiast owner who has the time, resources and passion to bring this beautiful classic back to a great standard. Undoubtedly an iconic vehicle, the DS is a beloved design from Citroen’s back catalogue, and this rare seven-seater variant is a car that the whole family can enjoy once restored.

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