Description
This Slough built Citroen ID19 Safari must be one of the rarest Citroen’s built with fewer than 300 having been completed before UK manufacturing ended.
Unique features included full leather interior and a walnut dashboard, all designed to appeal to the traditionalist UK market. The requirement to use at least 50% UK manufactured parts also saw these cars fitted with numerous other peculiar elements, such as Lucas lighting and electrical components. 12V electrics (as opposed to 6V on French cars) and different finishes for the Safari estate like a body-coloured chassis. The front bumper is also unique to accommodate a UK number plate.
The originality of this car is remarkable. The interior is completely original, and whilst it was repainted 20 years ago, there are areas of original paint still visible in the door shuts for example. Even the original sales invoice remains with the car, along with its first registration and even dealer network books.‘HMK 6B’ was delivered new on the first July 1964 by Frank Dell Ltd of Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire to Mr C. R. Freund, Director of Parkfield Ltd, designers and manufacturers of equipment for the film industry. Given that these cars were often used as camera cars I wonder if he chose this then very expensive and unusual car based on his professional experience.
The car quickly passed in 1965 to John McClements of Hornby, Lancaster. The remarkably original condition of the car today is in no small part thanks to Mr McClements who kept the car for 27 years. The history file is full of fascinating correspondence from his ownership, including his purchase receipt, and countless sometimes exasperated correspondence to Citroen Slough requesting hard to obtain parts and advice on maintenance.
Briefly passing to a third owner in 1992, by 1995 the car belonged to a Mr & Mrs Fletcher near Halifax, who would also contribute to preserving HMK 6B. They record that it has around 80, 000 original miles upon their acquisition. In 1999/ 2000 they rebuilt the engine and embarked on numerous transcontinental road trips with the car, taking it as far as France, Austria and Italy.
In 2004 the body was restored, and the car repainted in its original colour. Some welding was carried out to the lower door panels and sills, and they opted to replace the roof panel which had been fitted with a Webasto sunroof. At this time the French model aluminium wheel finishers were also added and the correct Marchal ‘bullet’ spot lamps.
In approximately 2014 the car became part of the James Hull collection which was ultimately sold to Jaguar-Land Rover. Indeed, the car retains a J-LR inventory sticker in the driver’s door shut. Effectively stored in museum conditions for a number of years, J-LR dispersed the non-Jaguar parts of the collection via auction and HMK 6B was purchased by a noted Porsche restorer and race preparer who fell for its obvious charms and ‘Safari’ nomenclature. I acquired the car in 2021 and set about trying to improve reliability following a period in storage.
The car was sent to a Citroen specialist in Norfolk, and some £10, 000 were spent to replace perished hydraulic hoses, fit new spheres and a new power steering rack. The brakes were replaced and adjusted and various small details like the window seals corrected. Today the car retains its original ‘red fluid’ hydraulic system which functions correctly.
HMK 6B was entered into the Citroen class at Salon Prive in 202 and was recognised with an Honourable Mention in class, as well as successfully completing the pre-show tour … possible the only car to have also been driven to and from the event!
We’ve loved owning HMK 6B for the past couple of years, however more professional travel means I’m just not using the car enough and I don’t want it to deteriorate having survived so remarkable over the past sixty years.
Slough ID/ DS’s rarely come up for sale, and this is the only ‘Safari’ variant I have ever come across. I’d like it to go to someone who is able to ensure that it is preserved, used and enjoyed for many decades to come.
Please don’t hesitate to call if you are seriously interested in the car.
