De Gaulle wanted a limo bigger than Kennedy's!

General de Gaulle always had a weakness for the chevron brand, even before he became President of the Republic. A preference that, in 1962, is reinforced when he is the victim of a failed attack. The qualities of his DS, which could run on flat tires, combined with the coolness of his driver, allowed him to escape unscathed. Unsurprisingly, the General will remain addicted to Citroën until the end of his days. True to his factory DS and refusing to move in an armored car to be closer to the people, he even ordered a presidential limo in 1962. Just a requirement: that it be longer than that of his American colleague, John F. Kennedy ...

It is the bodybuilder Chapron who is in charge of developing the model. The operation will require no less than six years! It was only in 1968 that the general public discovered a DS21 of 6.53 m in length, a model that does not have much in common with the original DS. Very tall pavilion (the General 1.96 m is no accident), truncated back face and disproportionate front wings, the result is intriguing.

Designers Opron and Dargent will allow for many eccentricities in the design of this sedan. They go so far as to modify the Citroën logo that it will not hesitate to attack the gold! Yvonne de Gaulle, the president's wife, is also involved. He opts for a two-tone gray tone, while the cabin is made of stretched leather and rare wood. A bar, refrigerator, reading lights and a folding table are also part of the on-board equipment.