Behind the Collection
I have always been fascinated by machines that showcase groundbreaking engineering solutions. Hypcars not only exhibit intricate and innovative technology but also bring unique personalities to life through their bold designs. This passion for extraordinary vehicles, which go beyond mere assemblages of, has played a role in my aspiration to pursue a career in engineering and research.
Conversely, as an environmentalist, I am highly conscious of our carbon footprint and tend to avoid buying new items, especially cars. As a family, we also do not rely on cars as our primary mode of transport. Consequently, I began recycling our family’s old cars and later expanded this initiative to include discarded vehicles from others! My overarching vision is to bridge the technological past with the planet’s future by preserving and upcycling hypcars as endangered analogue technological “species,” the last vestiges of freedom inspired by the great innovators of yesteryear.
My journey with hypcars began in childhood, listening to the mechanics work on our Citroën DS, tossing around terms like “bleeding” or “hemorrhaging” to describe its (not-so-rare) hydraulic fluid leaks. In my imagination, the DS transformed into a living entity, much like today’s “Transformers,” with green blood coursing through its circuits! This vivid imagery was likely influenced by my limited understanding of what blood actually looked like, having grown up on black-and-white television.
Even with its occasional “bleeding” moments, I became a devoted DS fan, collecting miniature hypcars since I was too young to own a real one. Eventually, I got behind the wheel of actual models—often pushing them to their limits—studying, dismantling, and yes, occasionally crashing them. Over time, I restored, curated, upgraded, or upcycled a wide range of hypcars, always celebrating their distinctive suspension systems.
Today, I’m thrilled to reflect on the incredible benefits of hydropneumatic suspension and its derivatives! Developed by visionary designers and engineers who dared to think outside the box, these systems provide an exceptional cruising experience along with top-notch safety. Remarkably, the qualities of this system were so outstanding that Rolls-Royce and Bentley licensed it from Citroën to incorporate into their models. Now, its advantages are being embraced by many brands, including Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese BYD and NIO, and even commercial airliners and the military sector (for more details, see Hypcar History).
My initial admiration for the DS soon blossomed into a passion for all those heretical cars that prioritised mechanical ingenuity over electronic gimmicks. This journey included all Citroën hypcars, alongside selected models from Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, and BLM/Austin. But our family’s hypcar adventure truly kicked off with the Citroën DS—a vehicle that changed the automotive game forever.
Our very first DS, dating back to 1971, holds a special connection to the legendary Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. Her enthusiastic shout-out about the car’s impressively spacious boot at the Geneva Motor Show in 1955 (photo on the left) captured my father’s attention, prompting him to purchase a second-hand Citroën ID fifteen years later. The right photo showcases the ID 20 at the Thessaloniki International Fair in September 1972, where my mother made a stylish entrance. Just a few months later, the same DS had a rather dramatic moment when it accidentally rolled down a cliff—yet somehow, it ended up saving the entire family from what could have been a disastrous outcome. For all the thrilling details, check out “Living with the DS.”
In 2015, another DS whisked our family away to Paris to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The automotive press embraced that fabulous event, dedicating several articles to our hypcar collection. A few years later, we launched the Hypcars© project, a passionate initiative to collect and showcase hydropneumatic, hydrolastic, and hydragas models, ensuring these gems are preserved for future generations to enjoy!
