1972 Citroën DS 23

The 1972 Citroën DS23 is a rolling sculpture with a secret—a futuristic artifact from 1972 that still looks like it landed from another decade. Its teardrop silhouette, hidden wheel arches, and swiveling monoscope headlights give cinematographers an unmistakable silhouette, reading equally well as a détective’s understated weapon, a European aristocrat’s eccentric daily, or a time-traveler’s ride in a period sci-fi piece. Under the hood, the torquey 2.3-liter inline-four emits a whisper-quiet hum rather than a Hollywood rumble—a massive benefit for production sound teams, allowing dialogue to be captured live without engine noise drowning out takes, even during rolling shots. The true showstopper is the hydropneumatic suspension: self-leveling, impossibly soft, and adjustable for ride height at the flick of a lever.

For camera ops, this means gimbal-smooth tracking shots over cobblestones, railroad tracks, or gravel driveways without the need for costly stabilizer rigs. Raise the suspension for low-angle hero shots; lower it for high-speed highway work with zero body roll. Inside, the single-spoke steering wheel, plush lounge-like seats, and vast greenhouse glass provide unobstructed sightlines for low-profile interior rigs, hidden cameras, or talent to deliver dialogue without spatial restriction.

The trunk opens wide for gear or period costume changes, and the iconic rear lights—twin cat’s-eye slashes—track beautifully in night rain scenes. From noir Parisian escape vehicles to retro-future time capsules, the DS23 delivers visual distinctiveness, audio silence, and suspension that makes every location feel like a flat stage. It doesn’t just appear in your film—it elevates every frame it glides through.