Wednesday 22nd August 1962

President Charles de Gaulle of France survived one of several assassination attempts against him thanks to the Citroën DS 19, known as ‘La Déesse’ (‘The Goddess’). As his black Citroën sped along the Avenue de la Libération in Paris at 70 mph, 12 OAS (Organisation de l’armée secrète) gunmen opened fire on the car. A hail of 140 bullets shattered the car’s rear window and punctured all four of its tyres. The Citroën went into a front-wheel skid, which de Gaulle’s chauffeur was able to accelerate out of and drive to safety, all thanks to the car’s unique hydropneumatic suspension system. De Gaulle and his wife were unharmed.