Seattle Citroën
1959
UPDATED
2/2023
REAR REFLECTORS. Starting in the middle of 1959 (July), the rear fender reflector changed on USA DS’s to a round reflector that was installed in a slightly asymmetric hexagonal aluminum housing. This reflector, which was never used on Euro models, was used from July, 1959 to November, 1961 on both DS19 and ID19 models in the USA. It is believed that an SAE design standard for reflector design was behind this change.
Greg Long
Bringatrailer.com
Reflector used from about 1959-1961 on USA cars
If you look closely at these odd reflectors, you can see that they were made by a company named Stimsonite. Stimsonite was an American company based in Illinois that has made reflectors and reflective devices since the 1930's. These rear reflectors were clearly sourced in the USA, probably to ensure compliance with USA rules on reflector design.
Canadian cars also used this odd reflector. The following photo is George Dyke’s Canadian 1960 ID19.
George Dyke
Canadian 1960 ID19 with the oddly shaped reflector that USA cars used
ID19 REAR BUMPER. On ID19 models in the USA, the rear bumper became stainless steel in July of 1959. Before that, they were made of aluminum. Euro ID19 models had to wait until 1963 for this change.
nuancierDS.fr
Aluminum rear bumper on early USA ID19.
George Dyke
Stainless steel bumper after July of 1959 on ID19's
DS19’s in the USA had the same rear bumpers as their Euro counterparts (chrome-plated until 1959, then stainless steel).
ID19 12 VOLT CHANGE. ID19's changed from 6 volt to 12 volt in May of 1959 for USA cars. In Europe, ID19’s had to wait a year (until the middle of 1960) for this change. The 12V change required a different dynamo, voltage regulator, starter, horn, starter relay, bulbs, coil, turn signal flasher, wiper motor, battery support, and a ton of other small stuff. Click HERE for an old dealer memo listing all of the differences associated with the 12V changeover.