Rare Citroën DS ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolet by Chapron – From DS 19 Origins to DS 21 Elegance

Coachbuilt Royalty - Seventy years have passed since Citroën stunned the world at the 1955 Paris Motor Show with a car that seemed to have rolled straight out of the future. That car was the Citroën DS, a design and engineering milestone that redefined comfort, style, and innovation in motoring. It didn’t just transport people — it made them feel as if they were gliding on air, thanks to groundbreaking technology wrapped in a body that was as daring as it was elegant. 

The Citroën ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolet, shown here in a 1965 model based on the DS 21 platform, is regarded as one of Henri Chapron’s most elegant creations. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

The DS’s creation was the result of a collaboration between some of France’s greatest talents. Pierre Boulanger initiated the project as a successor to the legendary Traction Avant. Aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre shaped the car’s sleek, aerodynamic form to reduce drag and improve handling. Paul Magès revolutionized ride comfort with his hydropneumatic suspension system — a self-leveling, fluid-based setup that absorbed road imperfections like no other — and added hydraulic assistance for steering, brakes, and clutch. Finally, Italian-born designer and sculptor Flaminio Bertoni gave the DS its unmistakable lines, a body that looked both futuristic and graceful, setting a new design language for decades to come.

The Citroën ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolet, shown here as a 1965 model based on the DS 21 platform, features a hand-finished interior with luxurious upholstery. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

And while the DS appeared in many forms over its production life, perhaps its most captivating incarnation came from outside Citroën’s own factory: the rare and exquisite “Le Caddy” Cabriolet by Henri Chapron, first based on the DS/ID 19 and later elevated further on the DS 21 platform. 

The Citroën ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolet, shown here as a 1965 model based on the DS 21 platform, is powered by a 2.1-liter engine with greater power and torque, paired with refined hydraulics and improved braking. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

The earliest ‘Le Caddy’ cabriolets emerged from Chapron’s workshop in the late 1950s, based initially on the simpler ID 19, itself derived from the DS 19. The DS 19 was powered by a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine, adequate for its time but tuned for refinement rather than outright speed. Chapron’s conversions transformed these sedans into elegant open-top cruisers, reshaping body panels, shortening overhangs, and adding bespoke chrome trim. Each car was hand-finished with luxurious upholstery, unique paint choices, and detailing that reflected Chapron’s background as the “Car Couturier” of France. Between 1959 and 1968, only 34 units of Le Caddy based on the ID/DS 19 were produced, making them exceptionally rare even among coachbuilt classics. | 0hr7z__vQYk |

By 1965, Citroën had introduced the DS 21, featuring a 2.1-liter engine with greater power and torque, paired with refined hydraulics and improved braking. This made it a far more capable base for Chapron’s creations. The DS 21 ‘Le Caddy’ offered the same flowing lines and artisanal craftsmanship as the earlier ID/DS 19 versions but with stronger performance, more effortless cruising, and better high-speed stability — a perfect match for the long, scenic drives such cars were destined for. While production numbers for the DS 21-based Le Caddy remain undocumented, it is believed they were made in far fewer quantities than the already-scarce ID/DS 19 versions.

The earliest Citroën ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolets — such as this 1962 example — emerged from Chapron’s workshop in the late 1950s, originally based on the simpler ID 19, itself derived from the DS 19. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

The ‘Le Caddy’ was never meant to be a mass-produced car. Between 1959 and 1968, only 34 examples were built, making each one a singular piece of automotive artistry. When new, its price was nearly double that of Citroën’s top-of-the-line DS Pallas sedan. The cost reflected Chapron’s meticulous, time-intensive process: custom-shaped panels, hand-applied paint, individually tailored interiors, and finishing touches like specific badges, chrome accents, and even period-correct accessories.

The Citroën ‘Le Caddy’ Cabriolet, shown here as a 1961 model based on the DS 19 platform, was powered by a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine and transformed by Chapron into an elegant open-top cruiser with reshaped body panels, shortened overhangs, and bespoke chrome trim. (Picture from: Auta5p.eu)

Henri Chapron’s relationship with the DS went beyond a business venture — it became an obsession. From his first DS convertible, the ‘La Croisette’ in 1958, to the peak of refinement in the DS 21 ‘Le Caddy’, his designs balanced aerodynamic purity with French luxury, producing cars that felt as much like sculpture as transportation. The DS 19-based versions carry the charm of the model’s earliest years, light and understated, while the DS 21 ‘Le Caddy’ adds the maturity of stronger performance and mechanical polish without sacrificing elegance.|

The Citroën ‘La Croisette’ Cabriolet known as Henry Chapron's first DS convertible crafted in 1958, is distinguished by its elongated door. (Picture from: Citroenvie)

Today, whether it’s an early DS 19 ‘Le Caddy’ or the later, more powerful DS 21 version, these cabriolets remain among the most coveted classics in the world. They are rare sightings even at top-tier concours events, where they command attention not through ostentation, but through an effortless blend of innovation, beauty, and craftsmanship. Seeing one in motion — its long lines catching the light, the soft-top folded neatly behind — is a reminder that some cars transcend their era. They are not just made; they are created, each one a piece of rolling French art destined to be cherished for generations. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CITROEN DS MANUFAKTUR | CITROENVIE | CLASSICDRIVER | AUTA5P.EU ]

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