1970

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The exterior lighting on 1970 USA cars was similar to that of the 1969 ½ USA cars except two more changes occurred:  

• First, the side reflectors became illuminated (amber in the front, red in the rear), thus driving more wiring changes as compared to Euro models. The side marker light housings were still metal for 1970 and the lamps were made by Seima. Note that US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) #108 only required reflectors for 1969 cars but in 1970, the requirement was revised to require that the side reflectors be illuminated.

• Second, the Lucas roof-mounted rear turn signals on USA sedans became amber in color instead of red and the lens changed shape to be a bit longer.  Also, there was a more substantial reflector inside the lamp to improve light output. 

Illuminated side marker light. For 1970, the housing is still stainless steel with a plastic chafe strip

Seima side marker lamp, amber for front, red for rear 

Lucas roof-mounted turn signal lens - different shape and amber color for USA 1970-1972 sedans and from mid-1971 on Canadian cars

Lucas rear turn signal and mounting bracket as used on 1970-1972 USA cars and Canadian cars from mid-1971

DS21 with features found on a 1970 USA car: Sealed beam headlights in cast aluminum buckets, Scintex turn signals under the bumper, blanking plates covering the Euro turn signal locations, and illuminated side marker lights with a stainless steel frame

To refresh your memory, Canadian DS's had full euro exterior lighting in 1968 and 1969. But Canadian sedans may have taken a strange turn for exterior lighting in 1970. According to the parts books, 1970 Canadian DS sedans continued to have full Euro lighting in all locations, except for the tail lights.

The parks books show that Canadian sedans in 1970 received the round Lucas tail lamps with red lenses, no back-up lights, and no license plate light extender plates. But all other exterior lighting was Euro. UK cars were delivered in a similar configuration in 1970. There are a few photos and memories that support this configuration, such as this very original blue 1970 DS21.  However we have found other 1970 Canadian DS sedans with Euro tail lamps. So the jury is still out on the tail lights on Canadian 1970's. By mid-1971, the picture for Canadian cars would become clear...

1970 Canadian sedans may have been equipped with Euro lighting in all locations except for the tail lamps.

DASHBOARD AND WIRING

Beginning in model year 1970, both Euro and North American cars had a major dashboard redesign.  This new dashboard had three large dials (one containing warning lights, one for the speedometer, and one for the tachometer).  

As was typical, there were some dashboard differences between Euro cars and USA cars, most notably the gages in English, speedometer in MPH, and different headlight and turn signal switches: 

• The USA headlight switch did not incorporate the function to turn on/off the inner headlights.

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• The USA turn signal switch did not incorporate the passing flasher function.

We believe that Canadian cars had the Euro switches until mid-1971, at which time the configuration of Canadian cars essentially became the same as USA cars.

For 1972, the US/Canadian wiper and headlight switches underwent more minor changes. See the 1972 section for details. 

It seems that all USA and Canadian cars had engine temperature gauges (many Euro versions had blanking plates in the dash instead of a temperature gauge). We also believe that all USA and Canadian DS’s had clocks (with the exception of 1970 USA-bound D-Specials, which were unusually stripped-down cars). 

Headlight switch used on 1970 and 1971 USA cars (left), Euro headlight switch with extra function for inner lights (right)

All USA and Canadian cars seemed to be equipped with a temperature gage

A door buzzer was incorporated on 1970-1972 USA and Canadian cars.  The buzzer module, made by AXO, was hooked into the door switches and the ignition switch. Most them were disconnected many years ago due to the irritating noise they made when a door was open. The logic for the door buzzer was:

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Either front door open + ignition key inserted = buzzer on

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As part of this door buzzer system, the interior light switches in the door jam were changed on all USA / Canadian DS's between 1970-1972 to a plastic switch that required a bigger hole in the "A" pillar. This new switch was wired in such a way that interior light operation was no longer a simple grounding operation at the switch. As you can imagine, this door buzzer system drove many more wiring changes between USA / Canadian models and Euro models.

AXO door buzzer module, mounted under the dash on driver’s side, P/N 5422812 (DX614113A)

Door switch used on 1970-1972 US and Canadian cars, P/N  5412813 (DX522263A)

Dashboards and wiring on Canadian cars were similar to USA cars in 1970, but not identical.

Canadian cars finally received USA-style hazard lights starting in 1970.

The glove box was different on USA models starting in 1970.  USA cars had a glove box door latched by a rotary knob, while the Euro cars initially had a rectangular grab pocket to open the glove box.  It has been speculated that this change was due to a US safety requirement to have a positive latch on the glove box door so it could not pop open during an accident.  This rotary knob drove a number of changes to the dash, including a different glove box door, glove box, latch mechanism, and related hardware. In mid-1971, Canadian cars would get the USA glove box door.  Eventually the Euro cars would get a rotary glove box door knob, but lockable with a key. 

Euro glove box with rectangular grab pocket

USA glove box door with rotary knob to latch the door (1970-1972)

INTERIOR APPOINTMENTS

Before and after 1970, ID19’s and D-Specials for the US market had always been well appointed with features not found on their French counterparts. Examples include carpets with foam backing, padded door panels, cloth headliners, padded vinyl in the trunk, a clock, etc. 

In an unusual move, 1970 D-Specials sold in the USA and Canada had stripped-down interior appointments, similar to what would be found on French cars. They had simplified door panels, plastic head liners, floor mats with no foam backing, no trunk vinyl, and no clock. 

The uncomfortable headrests used on some USA 1969 ½ cars disappeared by 1970 in favor of a flatter headrest that we are calling the "second generation" headrest. More information on headrests can be found in the 1969 ½ section. 

Simplified door panels found on USA  D-Special in 1970 only

"Second Generation" headrests were used on 1970 models

EMISSION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

USA cars received three extra data plates not found on Euro cars; one for pollution data, one for safety data, and an additional plate that had the car's serial number. Taking one at a time:

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1) The pollution data plate was installed in the right side of the engine compartment near the wiper motor, starting with 1970 models.  Green plates were used for D-Specials and black plates for DS21’s. 

Emission control data plates in the engine compartment as found on 1970-1972 USA model cars. Note that D-Specials received the green plate and DS21’s received the black plate

2) The safety equipment data plate was in the left door jam.  This data plate first showed up in 1969 1/2 (see the 1969 1/2 section for details). But for 1970, the plate slightly changed design and wording. This new plate was used on 1970, 1971, and early 1972 cars. Late 1972 cars received different color plates (see the 1972 section for more detail). 

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Yellow safety equipment data plate in the left door jam of 1970, 1971 and early 1972 sedans and wagons for USA

3) Finally, an aluminum plate with the car's serial number was pop-riveted to the left side of the steering pod on all USA cars. This type of plate first showed up on 1969 1/2 cars (refer to the 1969 1/2 section for details). 

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Between 1970 and 1972, all USA cars received a serial number plate that was riveted on the steering wheel pod.

None of these data plates were initially included on Canadian cars, but all three did appear, probably in mid-1971 when the configuration of Canadian cars essentially merged with their American counterparts. 

TIRES

Between 1969 and 1972, all DS’s in the USA had 180-380 (180-15) Michelin XH tires.  Euro equivalent cars would have had XAS tires, with most Euro models having narrower tires in the rear. 

We believe that Canadian 1966 to 1972 sedans and wagons were delivered with 180-380 XAS tires. 

USA glove rotary knob detail (1970-1972)