| At first sight this looks
like a normal 2nd front DS. On closer inspection however some anomalies
are easily discovered : - The doors have the later type handles - The front number plate is behind glass. - There are also two extra lights behind that glass. - The upper part of the dash is cream coloured - etc., etc. In fact this is a highly modificated (originally 3rd front) DS23 injection. This is a convertible in the true sense of the meaning of the verb "to convert". |
 |
| The owner of this car is Ed Davidge who came up with
the concept for this "convertible". The car was build by Adie Pease
(e-mail : adie@acpease.freeserve.co.uk )
who
gave me the following information : Basically it is a late model DS23 efi with an early front, but as far as the conversion is concerned there is a substantial amount of extra metal in the chassis to retain the structural integrity and torsional rigidity without a roof. All the vertical sill planes have been plated, there is a substantial cross member behind the front seats which is angle braced towards the front at each side and also in the middle which doubles as the seat belt mount (moved from the cut off B pillars). Behind the rear seats is more bracing in box section steel, and as there are more modifications to the boot in order that the rear screen can be fitted into it (through the now hinged rear parcel shelf) there is another cross brace around the rear edge of the parcel shelf. The cant rail and rear quarters are all detachable and are held in place with over centre clips for ease of dismantling and all parts can be fitted into the boot or behind the front seats. The roof is currently a standard one piece item but Ed is working on his ideas for a multi part system which will allow it to be stored in the car when in decap mode. The boot is now hinged on modified bonnet hinges and there are cover plates for the B and C pillar positions. |
Pictures made by Alasdair Mackintosh (UK) and Manuela Gebauer (UK).
