Cars behind the French presidency

[video]"The start of the Fifth Republic, with President de Gaulle, was also the start of the DS. The DS was launched in '55, de Gaulle comes in in '58 - he adopted the car because it was the most modern French car of the time."

"With its hydraulic suspension it's very comfortable. It will actually save his life in a way, with the Petit Clamart attack, which he survived - he was in this DS which despite a burst tyre was able to continue its journey with its hydropneumatic suspension. After that attack someone suggested armoured cars but he never wanted that, he used a DS until 1969 when he left office."

"It was only made for the Elysee [the French president's official residence], no other vehicles like this exist. It was so popular that it was used by Pompidou, by President Giscard d'Estaing, President Mitterrand and President Chirac, so it had a great career welcoming a lot of heads of state and kings and queens on their visits to France."