Citroën ID20F Break — 1973

This car was registered for traffic on 24 August 1973. It has had seven owners and has long been in Norrbotten. In October 2004 it was acquired by a well-known figure within racing and motor history. He had come into contact with Mats Jakobsson at Jakobssons Bil in Kiruna, a firm that has successfully sold Citroëns since the 1950s. During a visit to Kiruna he saw an ID20 Break standing in a corner; it had been there since 1987. Jakobssons had sold it new to a firm, and it subsequently had a few owners in the area before it came back. It was awakened from its Sleeping Beauty slumber and received a new clutch. After that it made its way down to Gothenburg, all documented by the TV programme Motorjournalen. Thereafter the Break was used during the summers as a family enthusiast car, sometimes with scooters on a trailer. It covered approximately 35,000 km over 17 years. It has always been stored in a heated garage during the dark half of the year and has always been well serviced and cared for. It received a new water pump, the power steering box was renovated and the clocks were pressure tested. A craftsman-like respray was carried out in 2007 in the original colour Rouge Masséna along with new upholstery on the front seats and door sills, new carpets and new headlining. Despite a fine friendship, it had to give up its garage space to a Porsche 911. So four years ago the latest owner took over and continued in the same spirit. In the engine bay there were new air ducts for air/heating, new insulation under the bonnet, a renovated generator and a new solenoid for the starter motor. He has also changed the upholstery on the rear seat and fitted new door panels all round, and the plastic condensation shields behind were also replaced. New gaskets were fitted under all door handles at the same time. The boot has been resprayed. There was a spot on one of the occasional seats, so it received new fabric from the old rear seat upholstery. A new cable for the electric rear window was also fitted along with a period-correct functioning radio in its intended position on the dashboard with a new speaker. The clock has been repaired. The linkage to the headlight height adjustment has been repaired. The wheels have been professionally resprayed, two tyres have been replaced with good used ones of the same type. New (NOS) hub caps. The front axle beam on the right side was rattling in the bearings, so it has been replaced with a renovated one from Holland. The drag link on the right side is new. All rubber gaiters and bellow sleeves in the suspension, steering and drive axles likewise. There are new mudguards in the wheel arches and new rubber buffers on the rear bumper. Recently a major service has been carried out with new spark plugs and drive belts, oil change, oil and air filter replacement as well as the hydraulic fluid and cleaning of the filter. The odometer now reads 1,787 mil, according to information it has done one full revolution, so it has covered 17,870 km.
Now it is the current owner's turn for a change - one car out and a new one in the garage.
The car comes with original instruction book and workshop manual as well as some older paperwork. Duplicate keys. The car is inspected through the end of the century according to current regulations and is ready to drive. Tow bar.

• Mechanical condition

  Starts easily and runs smoothly in the engine. During the test drive, everything functioned well regarding steering, clutch, gearbox and linkage to the steering box. Fine and comfortable road-holding where the hydraulics do their job and the brakes likewise. The car has recently been driven from Umeå to Stockholm, and the driver who made that trip gave the same assessments. A delightful road car, quite simply. Regardless of which roundabout one navigates, the feeling is that one proudly and with dignity makes one's way around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
  Not inspected on a lift, but what could be seen looked good. Driven in Norrbotten with low mileage speaks in its favour.

• Interior condition

  Fine interior in original condition, much of which has been renovated in recent years. Lovely comfort with the soft, floating French feel. Fine door panels, upholstery, headliner and carpets, including protective mats. A fine period-correct Abiko radio in working order. A well-functioning luggage compartment with the practical occasional seats.

• Exterior condition

  Fine and glossy paint finish with a small scratch on the right rear door. Glass, glossy trim, emblems and lighting details are in the same fine condition. There is a stone chip in the windscreen to note, as well as slightly dented roof trim. The front headlight bulbs do not match completely. Fine wheels that have been freshly painted with new hub caps. Fine Michelin tyres. The engine bay is in fine condition. Lovely original roof rack.

• General condition

  Break versions are becoming increasingly rare and fine examples are increasingly sought-after. This car, with its history and delightful condition, is no exception – a lovely Latin estate car from the early 1970s that is a given classic and enthusiast car.

At the Paris Motor Show in October 1955, Citroën presented the DS 19. It may not have triggered an earthquake, but it was one of the greatest talking points and commercial successes in automotive history. An utterly futuristic creation packed with innovative technology generated enormous attention and excitement. During the show week alone, 12,000 advance orders were placed, despite a requirement for 10% down payment. Be that as it may, the rest is automotive history and an icon was born right then and there. Certainly, there were major delivery problems and numerous teething troubles with the new creation, but eventually both production and the cars themselves began to roll smoothly.

Development and updates followed, and in March 1957 production began of a simplified version, the ID 19. It featured a conventional braking system, no power steering, simpler interior trim etc. In a way perhaps more reliable and trustworthy. The model quickly found its buyers here as well; according to reports, 213 DS and 77 ID models were sold in Sweden in the 1957 model year. The ID model was a simpler and more affordable version that subsequently largely followed the development of the DS model through various updates during the 1960s. The simpler ID model was eventually replaced by the D-Super for the 1970 model year.

At the Paris Motor Show in 1958, a station wagon version, the Break, was presented. This practical vehicle subsequently largely followed the development of the Berline versions with certain exceptions. A practical feature was the folding seats in the cargo area - two, primarily for children, could be positioned sideways facing inward. The tailgate was also conveniently divided in two. In June 1975, production ceased and the CX model took over. As with many other marques and models, station wagon and utility versions have largely become obsolete and extinct.