A mere 10 years after the end of World War Two, Citroen leapt onto the world stage in a storm of publicity surrounding the launch of their ground-breaking new DS, a car which boasted more technological innovations in a single model than has ever been seen since.

Not only did it look completely different, it used a brilliant high-pressure hydraulic circuit to power almost all of its functions, including brakes, power steering, suspension and even a power-assisted gear shift.

From 1967 the headlights swivelled with the front wheels, lighting the way as the car was hurled into corners.

Undoubtedly one of the greatest industrial designs of all time, as late as 2009 it was voted ‘most beautiful car of all time’ by a panel of 20 world famous designers.

So right was the initial concept that it remained in production substantially unaltered for two decades.

In 1958 French coachbuilder Henri Chapron produced a fully convertible version of the DS, public reception being so enthusiastic that...