Seattle Citroën
1965
UPDATED
1/2025
Citroën sold 1063 cars in the USA in 1965*. Almost all of these would have been DS's.
* According to a 1981 United States Trade Commission report
USTC, Dec 1981
ID19 TURN SIGNAL SWITCH
For 1965 models, USA ID19’s and wagons would finally get the same turn signal switch that DS19’s in the USA were using (P/N DW 522 05b). This switch has a black (or perhaps dark gray) knob and was still unique for the USA since it still had no internal flasher and no passing flasher function. I think that Canadian cars matched USA cars for turn signal switches.
Bringatrailer.com
For 1965, ID19's finally receive the same turn signal switch that USA DS19's were using
TAIL LIGHTS
In November of 1964 (which means most 1965’s), the tail lamps on USA DS19’s and ID19’s changed from the Lucas twist-off lamps to Lucas lamps where the lens was held on with two Pozidriv screws. I think that Canadian cars received this change at the same time.
A summary of sedan rear tail lights can be found HERE.
Greg Long
Lucas twist-off lamps used before Nov 1964
Chris Dubuque
Lucas lamps with lenses held on with screws for 1965 and on
THE CANADIAN SPECIFICATION DS
By 1965, Citroën finally reacted to customer complaints that DS's were not suitable for the harsh Canadian climate. Reports of rust and inadequate heating were common. Citroën responded by developing special versions, just for the Canadian market.
Citroën widely advertised their Canadian Specification DS's in 1965, such in the two Montreal Gazette newspaper articles HERE and HERE. A 1965 press release discussing the Canadian Specification DS can be seen in our Library, HERE.
One of the changes Citroën made was to put the -15C cold weather option on as standard equipment for Canadian cars. Citroën had cold weather options available for the DS/ID since the early 1960's, mainly consisting of a supplemental heater and a cable-operated flap to block air flow to the radiator. By the mid-1960's they were calling these options the -5C, -15C, or -20C cold weather options, each with different details.
For the wagons, the auxiliary heaters are very rare at this point and there seems to have been a number of different versions. Someday I would like to have a complete story of the -15C wagon heaters in Canada, but until I do, you can see some of them on the fantastic nuancierDS.fr website, HERE and HERE.
All Canadian DS's and ID's from 1965-1972 had the -15C option as standard equipment.
Jeff Lannigan
Rear seat heater behind rear backrest
nuancierDS.fr
Cable-operated flap in radiator duct
nuancierDS.fr
Knob and chain under dash to operate flap
In addition to the -15C option, Citroën claims to have incorporated other unique production processes in 1965 for the Canadian market, including special paint and graphite undercoating which allowed them to claim that cars for Canadian market were now "...fully rust-proofed..."
I guess it didn't work...
ID19 REAR VIEW MIRROR
ID19's and wagons in the USA and Canada started out with a unique rear view mirror that was larger than the Euro version and had a DAY/NIGHT function. The use of a special mirror for North American cars was probably due to a SAE rear visibility requirement. This mirror was sourced in the USA and we think was port-installed, once the cars were on North American shores.
By 1965 Citroën finally offered their own rear view mirror for ID19's and wagons that met USA/Canadian requirements. This mirror was listed in the parts books and is identified by DM 551-3a (still unique for North American cars). But this mirror only lasted a year and by 1966, they changed it again!
USA rear view mirror on 1965 ID's/Wagons
COLOR AND INTERIOR OPTIONS
The undisputed master of DS/ID color and interior options is Dr. Danche, the creator of the fabulous nuancierDS.fr website. We urge you to refer to his website for colors/interiors. However, USA and Canadian DS's sometimes had different color and upholstery options than were offered in Europe.
One difference we found is that for 1965 DS19 Pallas models, USA cars were available with black exterior and brown leather interior, a combination not available in Europe.
In Europe, almost all 1965 Pallas models had cloth interiors. The only way you could have a 1965 Pallas with leather was to have the body color gray (Gris Palladium - AC108) and then you could get brown leather (cuir naturel).
A surviving example of this is Chris Middleton's 1965 DS19M Pallas. This car, undergoing a restoration in this photo, was originally sold by Sagner's Motor Mart in Portland and is still wearing its original colors and interior:
Black body - noir AC200
Gray roof - Gris Argent AC141
Brown leather interior - Cuir Naturel
Chris Dubuque
Chris Middleton's 1965 Pallas - black, gray roof, and brown leather interior
For standard (non-Pallas) DS19 models in 1965, the colors were the same as in Europe except Isard Brown (AC414) is not listed in American brochures. I am still looking for 1965 ID19 color options.
USA colors, according to a 1965 DS19 brochure
1965 PRICELIST
Georges Menguy from Citrowagon.fr found a 1965 price list from Citroën Los Angeles.
This website is not focusing on the two-cylinder cars, but it looks like 1965 was the last hurrah to buy a 2CV or Ami6 in the USA. The price list is only showing Ami6's, but Richard Bonfond indicates that 2CV's were theoretically still available in 1965.
Richard goes on to say that one could order a 2CV as part of Citroën's European Delivery Plan for another two years. But as of January 1, 1968, myriads of new American pollution and safety laws kicked in, thus preventing any more 2CV's or Ami's from being imported.
Citrowagon.fr