The Citroën is named for the company's founder, André Citroën. As fruit merchants in Amsterdam, André's family took the name Limoenman, but his grandfather later changed the name to Citroën, the Dutch word for lemon.

The DS, which is the model Giles drove, was first introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1955 and sold an astounding 12,000 in its first day (749 of them in the first 45 minutes!). It was built at the Slough factory in England from 1957 to 1966 and is known for its unique and aerodynamic styling. Among the DS's features were front wheel drive, self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension, power brakes, rack and pinion steering, and semi-automatic gearchange (without a clutch pedal), and the body was deigned by Bertoni. In addition to numerous wins in the Monte Carlo Rally, the DS also won the World Cup Rally in 1974.

(information from Citroën and the SVVS)

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