The Connaught GT

Surrey-based former racing-car maker Connaught was still in existence in the 1960s as Citroën dealership Connaught Cars. One 1950s sideline had been tuning Traction Avants, and with one-time racing driver Alan Brown as MD it was no surprise that conversions for the ID and DS were subsequently available from the Send workshops. These centred on a double-Weber conversion for the DS and a twin-Solex

package for the ID. In mid-1963, as a follow-through, the company announced its own special ID, the Connaught GT, at a price £20 higher than that of a regular DS.

At that time — although this would change at the end of the year - the DS was only available with the ‘hydraulic’ transmission, so Connaught based the GT on the manual-shift ID, only fitted with power steering and given the more up-market British DS dashboard with its round dials.

The heart of the conversion was a modified engine with an 8.4:1 compression ratio, a ported and flowed head, and twin SU or Solex carburettors - plus a lightened flywheel; output was estimated at 90bhp. Inside, there was a'Stirling Moss’ wood-rimmed wheel and Microceli competition-type reclining seats; other features included extra soundproofing and side rubbing strips.

Weekly magazine Autocar found the Connaught GT’s performance ‘decidedly crisp' and recorded a 0-60mph time of 16.3 seconds, against 21.1 seconds for a regular ID19.  This treatment of the Citroën by Connaught makes the car a real “road burner” with a genuine 100mph reached easily on motorways and held at a mere 4,325rpm,’ it commented. 'For touring in the grand manner, the GT is very attractive.'

It is thought that in all maybe 200 Citroëns were converted by Connaught, including a relatively small number of full-blown Connaught GTs.

Left Connaught offered this twin-Solex modified head for the DS, as well as the full-blown Connaught GT conversion.