Partner of the 2025 edition of Rétromobile – February 5 to 9 – DS Automobiles chose this premium event for a Exceptional Tribute for the 70th Anniversary of the DS and celebrate a historic anniversary with panache.
An unmissable event in the automotive calendar, Rétromobile attracts enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world every year, confirming its status as an international meeting place for automotive heritage.
With over 130 visitors in 000, Rétromobile is much more than a show: it is a celebration of automotive genius through the ages. Since its creation in 1976, it brings together exceptional vehicles – from classic cars to motorcycles, including trucks, tractors and visionary prototypes – exhibited by museums, builders, clubs and private collectorsIts prestige is amplified by spectacular auctions orchestrated by houses such as Artcurial Motorcars, where the most beautiful automotive gems reach sales records.
The 2025 edition: a celebration not to be missed for the 70th anniversary of the DS
This year, DS Automobiles has a unique experience to visitors with an exceptional exhibition entitled “The DS, a work of art for 70 years”A true retrospective of the audacity and avant-gardism that has characterized the DS since 1955, this exhibition will highlight rare models selected by L'Aventure DS. Among the key pieces, the revival of the legendary DS Balloons, an iconic creation from 1959, revisited by the GARAC, promises to amaze enthusiasts.
A visionary heritage: the DS legacy
Since its presentation in 1955, the DS embodies innovation, elegance and technology. Its revolutionary design, unrivaled comfort and hydropneumatic suspensions have made it an absolute icon, adopted by heads of state, artists and celebrities around the world. Its legendary role in the Petit-Clamart attack in 1962, where his mechanical ingenuity allowed General de Gaulle to escape an attack, remains one of the many testimonies of his technological advancement.
More than a car, the DS is a timeless mechanical work of art. Exhibited at New York MoMA and awarded the Industrial Art Prize at the Milan Triennale in 1957, she inspired renowned thinkers such as Roland Barthes, who compared it to Gothic cathedrals in his work mythologies.
An exceptional exhibition for a journey through time
At the heart of Hall 1 of the Exhibition Center, DS Automobiles invites visitors to immerse themselves in its iconic universe. The space, enhanced by the luminous creations of the master bronze caster Régis Mathieu, will host a prestigious lineup of iconic models:
- DS 21 Pallas from 1969, sporting a new livery Crystal Pearl and a two-tone black paint,
- DS No. 8 of 2025, a contemporary embodiment of luxury and innovation according to DS Automobiles.
Another major attraction, the DS Balloons will be exhibited in a spectacular setting, highlighting its visionary design where the car seems to float on spheres reminiscent of its hydropneumatic suspensions.
History and design enthusiasts will also be able to admire rare pieces:
- Black DS 21 Prestige from 1972, having belonged to Michel Debre,
- DS 19 Cabriolet “Factory” from 1961, symbol of refinement and exclusivity,
- Totem DS 19 metallic gray, icon of the 1962 Paris Motor Show.
Two masterpieces will enrich this prestigious collection: a model of a streamlined DS 21 from 1968, and an contemporary sculpture of the DS 19 in aluminum, designed by the artist Frédéric Girard.
DS jewels at the heart of Rétromobile
In the Village Clubs of Hall 3, other exceptional models will complete this celebration:
- A unique prototype of the DS 21 competition (1972), powered by a Maserati engine from the SM,
- A blue DS Break Delta (1975), the perfect embodiment of French travel.
An unbreakable link between past and future
Seven decades after its revelation, the DS continues to inspire and fascinate. DS Automobiles, direct heir to this avant-garde spirit, perpetuates The Art of French Travel by revealing in national premiere of its new model, the DS N°8. A masterful statement of his commitment to innovation and absolute refinement.
An exclusive souvenir to take away
To extend the experience, the DS store will offer unique collector's items:
- The 1959 DS Ballons “Blonde Tortoiseshell”, 1/12 scale reproduction,
- A 19 Speedform DS 1955, available in a limited edition in 1/43 scale.
The highlight of this tribute will take place during the preview evening on Tuesday, February 4, from 19 p.m..
From February 5 to 9, 2025, Rétromobile will be the scene of a grandiose tribute to the DS, a legend who, 70 years after his birth, continues to captivate and inspire the automotive world.
Patrick KOUNE
