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1964 Citroen DS With LS V8 Crate Engine Swap Isn’t Your Typical French Hot Rod

Ah, the DS! One of the most beautiful designs ever sold to regular people like you and me, the Goddess entered production in 1955 with self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension. By the time it was discontinued in 1975, Citroën had built a little more than 1.4 million examples.
Corvette-engined 1964 Citroen DS with LS1 swap 43 photos
Photo: Kumbera Motors
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As fate would have it, one of them wound up in the United States even though the Double Chevron had trouble selling the DS in this part of the world. The simplest explanation as to why the Déesse failed in North America is, well, its Frenchness. No air conditioning, no power windows, no automatic transmission, and four cylinders instead of eight made it a hard sell compared to luxury-oriented rivals from the Big Three in Detroit.

This particular model, however, features a V8 and a torque-converter box. Listed by Kumbera Motors for the princely sum of $115,000 with 700 miles (1,127 kilometers) on the odometer, the Franco-American hot rod hides an LS1 crate engine that develops around 400 horsepower at the crankshaft.

Not only does it pack a bigger punch than the fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette with the 5.7-liter lump, but the list of upgrades doesn’t appear to end. From a fully-custom interior with four seats to a roll cage and adjustable independent suspension on every corner, this unconventional build is genuinely outstanding. Leather upholstery, thick carpeting, air conditioning, a one-spoke steering wheel, Wilwood power-assisted drilled brakes, as well as a NASCAR-style frame are highlights in their own right.

Currently rolling on five-spoke chromes, the DS also sweetens the deal with roof-mounted modern stereo, a body-matched engine cover, and a cone-type air filter. “Owned by a collector and builder of show-winning street rods,” this one-of-a-kind sleeper has reportedly been modified to the tune of $300,000.

“This car is unbelievable up close,” reads the ad's description on Kumbera Motors. “It shocks and surprises people when driving it."

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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