Seattle Citroën
1959
UPDATED
8/2024
REAR REFLECTORS
Starting in the middle of 1959 (July), the rear fender reflector changed on USA DS’s to a round reflector that was installed in a slightly asymmetric hexagonal aluminum housing. This reflector, which was never used on Euro models, was used from July, 1959 to November, 1961 on both DS19 and ID19 models in the USA. It is believed that an SAE design standard for reflector design was behind this change.
Greg Long
Bringatrailer.com
Reflector used from about 1959-1961 on USA cars
If you look closely at these odd reflectors, you can see that they were made by a company named Stimsonite. Stimsonite was an American company based in Illinois that has made reflectors and reflective devices since the 1930's. These rear reflectors were clearly sourced in the USA, probably to ensure compliance with USA rules on reflector design.
Canadian cars also used this odd reflector. The following photo is George Dyke’s Canadian 1960 ID19.
George Dyke
Canadian 1960 ID19 with the oddly shaped reflector that USA cars used
ID19 REAR BUMPER
The parts books show that the rear bumper changed on USA ID19's in July of 1959. Before that, I think that the blades and risers were made of un-plated aluminum, same as on Euro ID19's. But after July of 1959, USA cars had stainless horizontal pieces with chrome-plated Zamak risers. (Zamac is an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper.) Euro ID19 models had to wait until 1963 to shed the all-aluminum bumper. I think that Canadian ID19's followed the USA bumper configurations.
Looking at surviving cars, I can find a few exceptions to the above, but it is very hard to know if bumpers have been replaced over the years.
nuancierDS.fr
Aluminum rear bumper on early USA ID19.
George Dyke
Stainless steel horizontal bumper pieces with Zamac risers used since July of 1959 on USA ID19's
Zamak riser, used on USA ID19 rear bumpers between mid-1959 and 1962
ID19 12 VOLT CHANGE
ID19's changed from 6 volt to 12 volt in May of 1959 for USA cars. In Europe, ID19’s had to wait a year (until the middle of 1960) for this change. The 12V change required a different dynamo, voltage regulator, starter, horn, starter relay, bulbs, coil, turn signal flasher, wiper motor, battery support, and a ton of other small stuff. Click HERE for an old dealer memo listing all of the differences associated with the 12V changeover.