An emblematic miniature of French automobiles
This blue Citroën ID19 estate car with off-white roof and roof rack represents one of the most sought-after versions of the famous DS/ID range. This miniature perfectly captures the elegance and functionality of this revolutionary family estate car that marked the 1960s. A true collector's item, it is a testament to French innovation in the automotive industry and naturally finds its place in any collection dedicated to French model cars .
The model presented here retains all the authenticity of the original vehicle, with its characteristic flowing lines and distinctive two-tone livery . The roof rack, a practical element essential to families of the time, is faithfully reproduced, recalling the spirit of the great holiday departures of the Trente Glorieuses.
Characteristics of the miniature
- Model: Citroën ID19 estate
- Brand: Citroën
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Year: 1958-1975
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Color: Blue with off-white roof
- Equipment: Roof rack
- Protective case included: Yes (plexiglass, used condition)
The ID19 estate: innovation and practicality combined
Launched in 1958, the ID19 estate was the family version of Citroën's revolutionary DS/ID range. This estate version met the growing needs of French families seeking space and comfort, while retaining the technical innovations that made the brand's reputation. The ID19 estate stood out for its exceptional loading capacity and its modular interior layout.
Technically, the ID19 shared with the DS the revolutionary hydropneumatic suspension , power steering and front disc brakes. These innovations, coupled with a spacious estate body, made it a unique vehicle on the European market. The line, designed by Flaminio Bertoni, retained all the elegance of the sedan while harmoniously integrating the constraints of the estate.
The ID19 estate's commercial success was immediate, particularly appealing to the liberal professions and wealthy families. Its exceptional versatility made it equally suitable as a travel car and a professional vehicle, helping to democratize the avant-garde image of the DS/ID range among a wider audience.
Citroën in the 1960s: technological audacity
At the time of the ID19 estate's launch, Citroën was undergoing a period of intense technological innovation . Under the leadership of André Citroën and later Pierre Boulanger, the French brand had forged a reputation for technical audacity that culminated with the DS/ID range. This avant-garde philosophy, initiated in the 1930s with the Traction Avant, reached maturity in the 1960s.
The company, then led by Pierre Bercot, focused on technical differentiation to stand out from the competition. This strategy, although costly, allowed Citroën to offer vehicles that were unique in the world, true concentrations of innovations that would not become widespread until decades later. The ID19 estate perfectly embodied this philosophy, combining technical revolution and family pragmatism.
This prosperous period for Citroën was also characterized by remarkable international expansion , with the brand exporting its innovations to Europe, Africa and even South America, helping to forge the image of French technical excellence abroad.
The ID19 break and the epic of paid leave
The ID19 estate is inseparable from the epic tale of paid holidays and the democratization of family vacations in France. In the 1960s, this vehicle symbolized the upward mobility of the French middle class, now able to afford family vacations with all the modern comforts. Its exceptional loading capacity allowed the entire family to carry luggage, while its roof rack accommodated skis, bikes, or additional luggage.
Many French families discovered the Route des Vacances at the wheel of their ID19 estate, unwittingly contributing to the writing of French social history. These vehicles were omnipresent on the roads leading to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, forming colorful processions that marked the automotive landscape of the time.
A particularly striking anecdote concerns the 1971 Paris-Persepolis rally , where several ID19 estates took part in this extraordinary adventure. These family vehicles, transformed for the occasion, demonstrated their robustness and reliability on the most difficult tracks, helping to forge the legend of resistance of the DS/ID range.
Closer to home, the ID19 estate has become a nostalgic symbol of the 1960s and 1970s, regularly featured in films and television series depicting this era. Its distinctive silhouette immediately evokes the carefree spirit of the Trente Glorieuses and the technological optimism of this golden era for French automobiles.
Complete your collection of French model cars
This miniature Citroën ID19 estate car naturally finds its place at the heart of a collection dedicated to exceptional French automobiles. It fits perfectly alongside other iconic models such as the Citroën DS saloon or the various versions of the Traction Avant , forming a coherent whole representative of the creative genius of the chevron brand.
Passionate collectors of miniature station wagons will particularly appreciate this model, which perfectly illustrates the evolution of this body style towards greater sophistication and elegance. It harmoniously interacts with other French model cars from the same era, creating a complete panorama of French automotive innovation.
This miniature is aimed at both experienced collectors and French car enthusiasts who want to own a tangible testimony to this revolutionary era. It is the ideal addition to a thematic collection dedicated to the 1960s or to classics from the years 1950-1979 , periods during which the French car industry reached peaks of innovation and creativity.
