Pagodas on a loading dock in Cranford, NJ

[Mike Hughes]

I drove up to Cranford NJ this morning to pick up my 1933 M.G. from the customs and shipping agent.  When I entered the loading dock to retrieve my car what did I see, but a Pagoda!  After I went over to take a look, I turned around to go back to my car - and there was another one!

For the "trooners" among us, this juicy '72 DS was blocking the bottom of the ramp that I need to drive my car down to load it on my trailer.

[MikeSimon]

I assume they are intended for export? It has become somewhat popular lately to export Pagodas to Europe. It follows the trend that has been going on for some time in the Porsche world. 356es and 911s are significantly cheaper here and available in greater numbers, thus the stream of vehicles to the old countries.

[Mike Hughes]

I assume they are intended for export?

I suspect so.  When I first arrived they were just getting ready to close up a long container full of 50's and 60's era Alfa Romeos in similar shape. 

It was a busy place.  Five minutes after that container was hauled away another llong container was backed in.  When they opened it there were two vehicles inside bearing Armed Forces Europe plates.

[lreppond]

Hey Mike
Thanks for the pix and including the Citreon DS.  One of my all time favorite cars.  I know at a Pagoda forum it’s heresy to say this, but many consider the DS to be one of the greatest cars ever built.  This particular looks to be in perfect condition. 

[Paul99]

very cleaver suspension system - Magic Carpet ride - it was known as. In the uk the BBC used these cars to film horse racing - following along the race track as it get them a stable camera shot even though the grass track was very bumpy.  The suspension system was used by all Rolls Royce's of that era as well. very complex.

[Starchild]

Really hate to see these cars leave the USA! Probably good for the seller but someday we all may have to look to Europe to buy and that will prove to be expensive as the dollar sinks while the printing presses run overtime.

[Mike Hughes]

I should have mentioned it when I first posted, but in the photo of the white Pagoda one can just see the front end of a red car.  One might think it was a Mustang, but it was actually a Shelby fastback coupe!  It was just as down at the heels as the Pagodas, but all of the trim bits appeared to be there, inside and out.  If all these cars are destined to go to Europe for restoration and they are finished to the standard of the DS, some folks are going to have some nice cars someday!

The DS came in on the same container ship as my M.G. and looked to have been freshly restored.  It sounded great when they fired it up on the first turn of the key to move it out of the way so I could drive down the ramp. My container ship stopped at Le Havre, Rotterdam and Hamburg after it left Southampton for New York so the DS could have come from the mother country or countries more to the east as Hamburg is convenient to Poland and the Czech Republic.