Greater Wellington Citroen Car Club Inc

My D Special was purchased new from Archibalds Garage by my parents July 23, 1971. Original invoice shows the cost as $5,329. An interpretation of the 1971 chassis numbers from John Reynolds book indicates a Paris production date only a couple of months prior to delivery in Christchurch. The vehicle had been ordered for some time and on pressing Archibalds it was revealed to be in their panel shop having repairs effected. This due to mis-handling by ship’s crew and/or stevedores. It was apparently immobile on arrival so those nice people lifted the bonnet and threw a chain around the air cleaner as a tow point. Their heavy hands had also pushed in both the fluted alloy C-pillar panels. These were not effectively straightened until Stuart Craig got to them in 1998.

My parents previous car was a 1966 ID19A fitted with the 1911cc three bearing crank engine dating from Traction days. A higher geared and quieter running car than the D Special. We had all thought the newer car would be quieter and smoother but this was not so. The earlier car was also very stylish, resplendent in navy blue with the mandatory white glass fibre polyester reinforced roof. This vehicle was sold to John and Judy Patience, longtime GWCCC members. I do not know what happened to it after that. The later car was a less spectacular beige with white roof. Early in the D Special’s life and under warranty, Archibalds of their own volition identified a gearbox noise which led to removal and repair. Given that D transmissions are by no means silent, I don’t know how they identified this particular noise above all the others. The transmission has not given any trouble since.

My parents enjoyed many years comfortable and economical motoring in the D Special, mainly in the South Island as they had retired to Amberley from their Marlborough farm. I think my mother used it more than my father, tied to the farm and then his retirement job as he was. But he always kept the car clean and it was always garaged which undoubtedly contributed to its longevity. And I know it never missed a scheduled service. I spent most of my working life overseas and always looked forward to returning home on leave and taking the D out for a spin.

In 1983 my parents and their D came to live in Silverstream. At that point they moved to smaller cars such as Fiat and VW which they thought were easier to handle in the built up confines and denser traffic of the North Island. The D remained largely unused in its garage. They finally returned to the fold with a new automatic BX19TRS in 1987 (their current car). The automatic was more suited to these now ageing "hippies".

The current mileage of my D Special is 120,000. In that distance it has had the following major repairs:

2/11/87: Clutch and timing chain by Terry Faulkner

15/3/93: Steering rack overhaul by Rongotai Motors

26/2/96: Alternator rebuilt through Adlams European

9/8/96: Water pump rebuilt by Adlams European (There was a previous pump, too).

The head has never been off the engine and other repairs mainly brake pad replacements and sphere re-gassing. My mother has meticulously maintained a log book in which she recorded in detail everything ever done to the car. On one of her journeys in Canterbury the aluminium bonnet flew up and wrapped itself neatly along the car’s roofline. Because the trailing edge of the bonnet is deeply curved to accommodate the windscreen she was able to see ahead and bring the car to a safe stop. The bonnet was replaced.

In November 1994 I re-emigrated to New Zealand after an extended OE which had begun in 1964. Needing wheels, I purchased the D which was used until 1998 mainly only on weekends. By this time I had joined the GWCCC and had to decide whether I was going to appear at club events in an ever deteriorating vehicle or in one of which I was proud. The competitive part of my nature came in to play so it was off with the D to Stuart Craig for a full makeover. Rust was beginning to appear in most of the familiar places - front undertray, wheel arches, roof rail.

These days the D is used only for Club events or special occasions and spends its time garaged and wrapped in my grandmother’s heavy linen bedsheets. I am grateful to my parents for retaining this wonderful car long enough for me to acquire it and to Stuart Craig and his team for a fine restoration. The rest as they say, like my life savings, is history.