Classic car holidays

If you’re planning your holiday in France and day dreaming of touring the French countryside in classic, Gallic style but the baggage allowance on your flight won't permit even a few issues of Classic & Sports Car magazine, here's the answer … Here at La Ferme de l'Église we have two Citroën DS cars for hire, only available in conjunction with the rental of the gîtes, either on a daily basis or as part of a holiday package: a DSuper 5 and a DS 23ie.

This iconic car is the epitome of French stylish motoring and is the perfect conveyance for touring the regions.

The Citroën DS is quintessentially French, timelessly stylish, and miraculously hi-tech. They are, in the opinion of many, the most beautiful motorcars ever built.

Charles de Gaulle swore by them (and one saved his life); trenchcoated gendarmes and Gauloise-chewing gangsters raced heroically through the darkened streets of Paris in them; starlets from Bardot to Birkin draped themselves seductively across them.

Recapture some of the romance and drama of the ’50s and ’60s by hiring on of our Citroëns.




	Hire the Presendential DS – the Citroën DS 23ie – 1973 model – 2347cc 4-cylinder engine – 4-speed automatic transmission – seats 5 occupants including driver

Picture of an advert for the Citroen DS from the 1950s

Above
Citroën advertising from the 1950s. Structuralist philosopher Roland Barthes, in an essay about the car, said that it looked as if it had ‘fallen from the sky’.

The Citroen DS 23ie in the farm courtyard




	Hire an extensively restored Citroën DSuper 5 – 1973 model – 1983cc 4-cylinder engine – 5-speed manual transmission – seats 5 occupants including driver

Right top
Lustrous black exterior perfectly complemented by sumptuous black leather interior ... the Citroën DS 23ie.

Right bottom
Extensively restored over the past two years, our beautiful Citroën DSuper 5.

A lovely place to stay en-route to the Circuit des Remparts at Angouleme.

Lorna and Chris
Buckinghamshire, UK

The Citroen DSuper 5 in the French countryside

The cars

After 18 years of development in secret as the successor to the venerable Traction Avant, the DS 19 was introduced on 5 October 1955 at the Paris Motor Show. The car’s appearance and innovative engineering captured the imagination of the public and the automobile industry almost overnight. Far from being just a fascinating technology in search of a purpose, contemporary journalists were effusive in noting how the DS dramatically pushed the envelope in the ride versus handling compromise possible in a motor vehicle.

Outside of France, the car’s radical and cosmopolitan design appealed to non-conformists. An American advertisement summarised this selling point: It takes a special person to drive a special car.

The DS was historically significant for many reasons, one being that it was the first mass production car with front power disc brakes. It also featured hydropneumatic suspension including an automatic levelling system and variable ground clearance, power steering and a semi-automatic transmission, and a fibreglass roof which reduced weight transfer. Inboard front brakes (as well as independent suspension) reduced unsprung weight. Different front and rear track widths and tyre sizes reduced the understeer typical of front-engined and front-wheel drive cars.

The DS was placed fifth on Automobile Magazine ‘100 Coolest Cars’ listing in 2005. It was also named the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car magazine after a poll of 20 world-renowned car designers, including Giorgetto Giugiaro, Ian Callum, Roy Axe, Paul Bracq, and Leonardo Fioravanti.

The DS advanced achievable standards in automobile ride quality, handling, and braking. Citroën sold nearly 1.5 million D-series during the model's 20-year production run. The DS came in third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, recognizing the world's most influential auto designs, and was named the most beautiful car of all time by Classic & Sports Car magazine.




	Half day or full day itineries Explore the surrounding countryside with the assistance of our maps and routes showing points of interest and lunch recommendations. John (the site owner) a fellow classic enthusiast, is available for accompanied drives.



	Picnic hampers for days out A traditional wicker picnic basket packed with the best French produce, with crockery and cutlery.



	Airport collection/return We’ll drive to the airport to collect you in the DS you have hired, and allow you to drive back to Vanzay if you wish. If you would rather we’ll chauffer you to the gîtes. Please ask when making your booking.