Details:

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this delightful 1973 Citroen SM.

This car has the SC chassis number prefix which designates that it has the 2.7 litre engine, with fuel injection mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. This Euro spec car also features the desirable swivelling headlights, which were not offered on the American market cars. This is arguably the most desirable spec for a Citroen SM.

This particular car is understood to have been delivered new into Italy to a wealthy aristocratic family. It then remained in the same family for the next 44 years. In Italy the car was registered with the number plate MI 18555L

In 2017 the car was acquired by the owner of British classic car specialists DD Classics and subsequently imported into the UK. At the time the car was very original and beginning to show its age.

After arriving in the UK, DD Classics engaged the services of highly regarded Citroen and Maserati experts Andrew Brodie Engineering Ltd, to go through the car. In February 2017 they removed the cylinder heads and replaced the sodium filled exhaust valves. They also replaced the fuel injectors, the front & rear hydraulic spheres, the engine bay fuel lines and the fuel hoses from the tank to the fuel pump. Additionally, a new clutch slave cylinder was installed, the accelerator cable was replaced, work was completed on the brakes and the front anti roll bar was adjusted. The car then passed an MOT test on the 1st February 2017, at which time the odometer read 21,028 km.

In March 2017 the car was serviced by Andrew Brodie Engineering.

The car was registered on the 11th September 2017 and it carried the registration JKH 537L.

The next MOT took place on 14th March 2018 at which time the odometer read 21,541km.

The car has been repainted and retrimmed at some stage, though there is no documentation on file for this work. It is most likely it was completed as part of the refresh after it arrived into the UK,

In December 2019 the car was sold by DD Classics to its current Perth based owner. At that time the odometer read 21,600 km.

Prior to acquiring the car, the current owner engaged Andrew Brodie Engineering to complete a comprehensive pre purchase inspection. There is a detailed report on file.

Whilst there is no documentation on file to confirm that the mileage as shown was genuine, the current owner was advised that everything about the car suggested that this was most likely the case.

After acquiring the car and prior to shipping it to Australia the current owner engaged Andrew Brodie Engineering to complete more work. Notably, the exhaust heat shields were removed and all the asbestos in them was removed before they were reassembled with non-hazardous fire resistant material. The gearbox was removed and the synchros were replaced, the clutch was replaced, the anti roll bar was adjusted, the rear suspension gaiter was replaced, the secondary instrument binnacle was replaced and a correct French Continental Edison radio was installed.

The car was then imported into Australia. There is an import approval on file dated 13th February 2020.

After arriving in Australia the owner used and enjoyed his Citroen SM. From time to time it was used as a daily driver. In April 2021 he engaged the services of Maserati specialists Auto Delta in Perth to complete more mechanical work. New injectors and a new timing chain were installed, the clutch and flywheel were balanced and a new ring gear was installed. New gaskets and seals were used when everything was reassembled. Additionally, the exhaust manifold was ceramic coated and the starter motor was serviced.

In August 2021 Citroen specialist Stuart Perkin overhauled the steering rack.

The owner is very pedantic and has spent a lot of time trying to tune the original
D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection system to get the engine to run as smoothly as possible. He was never quite satisfied with the results and decided to replace the system with a more sophisticated and tuneable Haltech unit. Most of the sensors were also upgraded and he also added individual coil on plug ignition to allow better tuning.

The end result is a credit to everyone who has a hand in improving this car to its current level. Over the years we have had the privilege to sell a number of Citroen SMs and this particular example has to be one of the most sorted.

Today the odometer reads 32,341 km.

The Citroen SM is one of the most unique cars ever built. It is hard to believe the design dates back to the 1950s. We can only imagine the impact the Citroen DS must have made when it first hit the streets in 1955! The Citroen SM took the DS design to another level and when introduced in 1970 it was more akin to something from a science fiction movie! Even today the Citroen SM looks so futuristic.

As noted above, it is understood this SM was repainted when it was owned by DD Classics. . It was decided to repaint the car in noir (black), which is the most striking colour for this car. The repaint was completed with the engine in situ and even though it is hard to tell, the engine bay remains in what we assume to be the cars original colour, being a very dark blue.

The paint is in excellent condition having retained a strong depth of colour and a high gloss finished. You have to look hard to find any blemishes or stone chips. The panel fit is excellent on this car.

The chrome on the car is generally in very good condition, though there is some very light pitting on the door handles. The bumpers are similarly well presented, though we did notice some minor imperfections to the rubber on the front bumpers. All the lights and lenses are in excellent condition, though there is some light fading of the chrome finish which separates the tail lights. The swivelling headlights are such a cool feature and importantly they are in working order.

All the glass, including the headlight covers and the panel covering the front number plate is in very good condition.

The wheels present very well with no scrapes or kerb rash evident. They are shod with correct Michelin XWX tyres, size 205/70 VR5. They are date stamped 3017 (week 30, 2017) and are still in excellent condition.

Open the door and you are welcomed by a beautifully presented and fresh looking interior. There is no doubt that the red upholstery contrasts perfectly with the black exterior. When the current owner acquired the car he did notice the headlining and the fabric covering the inside of the boot lid was not in great condition and he had that replaced. As a result, the presentation of the interior is just stunning. The seats are in excellent condition. There are no cracks or tears in the leather and they are extremely confortable, providing ample support. The rear seats look like they have never been used.

The dashboard and all the instruments present well. On our resent test drive everything appeared to be in good working order.

The current owner talked up this car and said it drives exceptionally well. We know Citroen SMs well and were keen to verify this cars credentials. We are pleased to confirm that it drives as well as we were promised and every bit as good as it looks! There is no doubt it is one of the best driving Citroen SMs to come through our showroom.

Driving a Citroen SM is an experience. They are unlike any of their German or American counter parts. The experience starts as soon as you start the car. The first thing that will happen is that the hydraulic system will starts charging itself and the car will rise from its resting position to the appropriate ride height. The actual height can be controlled by a lever next to the driver seat. Once the hydraulic system is completely charged you are ready to go for a drive. When you drive a Citroen SM, there are two other things you will notice very quickly. The first one is that there is no brake pedal as such, only a small mushroom button on the floor. This is what operates the brakes and it is very sensitive. You only have to just touch it for the brakes to work. The second thing is the steering. The steering on a Citroen SM is very direct. It only takes two turns to go from full lock to full lock. The steering is also self-centring, which will take a little while to get used to. However, once you do you really appreciate that a Citroen SM was and still is, a brilliant piece of engineering and way ahead of its time. There was nothing like it back then and quite frankly there was nothing like it ever built. A Citroen SM is totally unique and it is all its quirky features that make driving the car such a cool experience.

Thia car starts easily, even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle. After starting the car from cold one has to wait patiently for the suspension to raise itself to the correct height.

The engine feels strong with loads of power on tap and once it has warmed up the car just wants to go. That combined with a very smooth ride does mean you have to keep an eye on the speedo as it is all too easy to exceed the speed limit. The gearbox feels firm and the gear changes are smooth both up and down the box. As mentioned before, the steering on a Citroen SM is very direct and the self centring steering takes some getting used to. You kind of have to guide the car around corners. Like everything else about the Citroen SM, it is ridiculously smooth and once you get used to how to drive the car, it is quite frankly brilliant.

Out on the open road this car just glides along. The hydraulicly controlled suspension evens out any imperfections in the road and absorbs all the bumps without any problem. Even a speed bump is a non event for a Citroen SM! Its amazing how quickly you forget that you are driving a 50+ year old car.

This car presents beautifully and it is an absolute delight to drive. It wont win a concours, but it is stunning and it is ready for its next owner to use and enjoy.

Accompanying the car is a spare wheel and specialised tools. There is also an original owners manual, a reasonable history file which includes copies of the Italian registration papers and the UK V5 registration certificate. The current owner also has acquired a number of spare parts as a precaution. These include replacement glass headlight covers and a replacement full hydraulic unit for the swivelling headlights. The original D-Jetronic fuel injection system is also with the car.

Highlights:

- SC model with the 2.7 litre engine, fuel injection mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox.
- Desirable Euro spec example, fitted with swivelling headlights.
- Presented in a stunning colour combination of noir (black) with a red leather interior.
- Fully sorted, ready to be used and enjoyed.

Price $119,950.


Background:

Citroen is one of the worlds most iconic and innovative automobile manufacturers. Founded by André-Gustave Citroen in 1919, the company produced its first motor vehicle, the Citroen Type A, immediately following the First World War. Prior to this and during the War, Citroen supported France by manufacturing armaments from its then modern factory. Throughout the War, Citroen realised that he had to plan for the future and decided he would manufacture motor vehicles once peace returned to Europe.

In the early years Citroens plans were to bring mass production to Europe using the principles developed by Henry Ford. In 1934 Citroen introduced the 7CV or Traction Avant which today is recognised as one of the most important automobiles ever built. The Traction Avant pioneered unitary body construction (with no separate chassis), four wheel independent suspension and front wheel drive. The early 1930s were tough times for Citroen and the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy in December 1934. Andre Citroen passed away in July 1935 after losing his battle with cancer at the relatively young age of 57. Michelin subsequently took over Citroen and the company went on to become a power house of French industry.

The Citroen brand is synonymous with innovation; however, their cars were also well built and very reliable. Other key milestones in Citroens history were the introduction of the Deux Chevaux or 2CV in 1948 and the Goddess DS Series cars in 1955 (which featured a hydro pneumatic self-levelling suspension system, a high pressure hydraulic system, disc brakes and later swivelling headlights). What is often overlooked is that Citroen has a rich motorsport pedigree, particularly in rallying, where it has won many events and championships over the years.

Citroen always had a vision to build a sporting version of their iconic DS series cars. The missing piece of the puzzle was found following Citroens acquisition of Maserati in 1968. Citroen decided to use a Maserati engine to power their new sports saloon.

The result was the Citroen SM, first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970. It went on sale in France in September of that year. Citroen only built left hand drive SMs, although right hand drive conversions were done in the UK and Australia. The SM was a success for Citroen with 12,920 examples built from 1970 through until 1975. The majority of the cars were built in 1971 and 1972. The oil crisis in 1973 and Citroens bankruptcy in 1974 ultimately led to the demise of the SM.