Sculpted Performance - Sometimes, a car is more than just a machine—it’s a statement, a piece of art on wheels. In the golden age of European coachbuilding, a handful of visionaries took already beautiful vehicles and transformed them into something truly extraordinary. Among those rare gems stands one of the most intriguing reinterpretations of a French classic: the Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe. Even today, decades after it first appeared, this car feels like a whisper from a time when elegance, experimentation, and engineering brilliance walked hand in hand.
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| The Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe embodied Belgian racer and designer Hector Bossaert’s vision of a sleeker, more dynamic coupe that preserved the DS’s spirit while expressing a bold new character. (Picture from: OtoBlitz) |
The original Citroën DS was already a sensation when it debuted in 1955. With its futuristic shape, innovative hydropneumatic suspension, and unmatched ride comfort, it instantly became an icon. But for Belgian racing driver and designer Hector Bossaert, the DS was not the end of the conversation—it was the beginning of a daring new one. He envisioned a sleeker, more performance-oriented coupe version that retained the DS’s character but spoke with an entirely different accent.
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| The Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe was crafted by Italy’s renowned coachbuilder Frua before production moved to Gete di Meteren in France near Lille, retaining its original front mechanical setup while adopting a sharper windshield rake and elongated doors for easier cabin access. (Picture from: OtoBlitz) |
To bring his vision to life, Bossaert partnered with two of Europe’s most respected names in automotive artistry. The Italian coachbuilder Frua, famed for its fluid, stylish lines, crafted the first examples. Later, production shifted to Gete di Meteren in France, near Lille. The year was 1960, and the result was nothing short of breathtaking—a DS with the heart of a grand tourer and the soul of a sculpture.
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| The Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe had a chassis shortened by 42 centimeters and lowered by 7, creating a taut, athletic stance with a roofline that swept into a plastic rear window and flowed down to a gently sloped trunk and notchback-style bumper. (Picture from: OtoBlitz) |
Bossaert’s approach wasn’t just about looks. The chassis of the original DS sedan was shortened by 42 centimeters and lowered by 7 centimeters, giving the car a taut, athletic stance. The front end, complete with its original mechanical setup, was kept intact, but the windshield was given a sharper rake, and the doors were elongated to ease access to the plush cabin. The roofline swept gracefully into a plastic rear window, flowing down to a subtly sloped trunk and notchback-style bumper—a profile that seemed to be in motion even while standing still.
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| The Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe featured a meticulously hand-finished interior, combining luxurious upholstery with four practical seats, offering both elegance and comfort for its passengers. (Picture from: OtoBlitz) |
Under the hood, the DS GT 19 was far from ordinary. Its 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine was given a sharper camshaft, a reworked cylinder head, and a higher compression ratio of 9.5:1. Twin 38 mm Zenith carburetors, a redesigned exhaust manifold, and a sportier exhaust system completed the transformation. The power climbed from 83 to 97 horsepower, nudging the top speed to 171 km/h—a respectable figure for a stylish coupe of its era.
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| The Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe featured a sharply edged rear wing in true Italian style, tapering to a point with lights reminiscent of the Pininfarina-styled Peugeot 404 Coupé or various coachbuilt Fiats, while its Carello tail-lights matched those of the Fiat 1500 Cabriolet. (Picture from: OtoBlitz) |
Exclusivity was part of its charm. Only about 13 examples were ever made—two by Frua, the rest by Gete. Owning one in 1960 required both deep pockets and impeccable taste. At 29,000 francs, the Bossaert DS GT 19 was pricier than even a Jaguar or a Facel Vega, positioning it as a rarefied indulgence for the few who valued artistry as much as performance. | EMI_YwulyM4 |
Now, more than sixty years later, the Citroën DS GT 19 Bossaert Coupe remains an object of fascination—not because it was produced in great numbers or won famous races, but because it dared to exist at all. It’s a testament to a period when coachbuilders could take a production car and, with skill and imagination, turn it into something utterly unique. In a world where mass production often leaves little room for individuality, this elegant coupe stands as a timeless reminder of what happens when passion, design, and mechanical craft collide in perfect harmony. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OTOBLITZ | CLASSICANDSPORTSCAR ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
