Seattle Citroën
Photo Sleuths #5
NEW
4/2025
Have a vintage photo of a Citroën in the USA or Canada? Send it in and we will see what we can learn about it!
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC, 1975
Two different people recently provided this photo for sleuthing. But was it even taken in North America? At first glance, I would have thought not.
Google street view
NOW
THEN
The banner above the cars provided the clue to figuring this one out. With some research in newspaper archives (and some help from Citroënvie editor, George Dyke) it turns out that the photo was indeed taken in North America - Quebec City to be exact. The race was called the Esso Ice Racing Grand Prix. The 1.2 mile track was in a large, historic park in Quebec City called, The Plains of Abraham. This particular race was held in the second week of February, 1975.
Once the name of the race was identified, I searched through the Canadian National Archives and found a few more photos showing the Citroën, including one where the DS became a bit airborne.
Canadian National Archives
Canadian National Archives
It turned out to be difficult to find current views of the photos. The vegetation, roads, and some buildings have changed in the last 50 years, but I think the current view I included above is reasonably close (the tower from the Charles Baillairgé Pavilion can be seen in the background).
The DS has 5-lug wheels so it is a 1966 or 1967, but I cannot decide if it is a DS or ID. Oddly, it has European front turn signals, so it may not be a Canadian model, which would have had Lucas front turn signals. If you look closely, it looks like this car had a hard life.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, EARLY 1960's
The location of this photo was easily solved!
Google street view
chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com
There are three clues I used to locate this photo. The main clue is that the streetcar has the name BLOOR on its marquis. It turns out that Bloor is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario. Two other clues came from the signs on the brick building; Walmer Beauty Salon and Coles.
Searching for the the business names in old Toronto newspapers and/or old phone books quickly led me to the exact location; the intersection of Walmer and Bloor, looking West. The gas station on the right of the photo is long gone, but the brick apartment building is still there.
THE DS LOOKS PRETTY WORN OUT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT VERY OLD!
The DS (or ID?) looks haggard. The rear bumper looks twisted and the door bottoms appear to be rusted out. The Lucas tail lights indicate that it is a North American model, but I cannot identify the year, although it is clearly a DS19 or ID19, probably from the early '60's. The mudflaps in front of the rear tires indicate that the car cannot be newer than a 1964.
I am guessing that the photo is from the early to mid-1960's. Most of the cars are late '50's, but I do think I see a 1963 Chevy Impala behind the streetcar.