The Citroën SM is a high-performance
coupé produced by the French manufacturer
Citroën from 1970 to 1975. The SM placed third in the 1971
European Car of the Year contest, trailing its stablemate
Citroën GS
The GS is a front-engine, front-drive, four or five door, five passenger family car manufactured and marketed by Citroën in two series: for model years 1970-1979 in fastback saloon and estate bodystyles and subsequently as the GSA for model yea ...
, and won the 1972
''Motor Trend'' Car of the Year award in the U.S.
History
In 1961, Citroën began work on 'Project S' – a sports variant of the
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS () is a front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1955 to 1975, in fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations, across three series of one generation.
...
. As was customary for the firm, many running concept vehicles were developed, increasingly complex and upmarket from the DS. At some stage in the 9-year project, it evolved from developing a faster variant of the 1955 DS to developing an entirely new, thoroughly engineered car – in terms of engineering effort, a replacement for the high volume DS model. Citroën purchased
Maserati in 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance engine technology to produce a true
Gran Tourer car, combining the
sophisticated Citroën suspension with a Maserati
V6.
The result was the Citroën SM, first shown at the
Geneva Motor Show in March 1970. It went on sale in France in September of that year. Factory produced cars were all left-hand-drive, although RHD conversions were done in the UK and Australia.
This car was unusual for France – production of luxury cars was heavily restricted in the country by post-World War II ''puissance fiscale''
horsepower tax, so
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
had not had a production vehicle in this market sector since before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
[
]
The SM had an engine of only 2.7 liters owing to these regulations; it was the first response to the luxury/performance sector since the export oriented
Chrysler Hemi V8 engine Facel Vega
Facel S.A. was a French manufacturer of pressed steel automobile components, later complete automobiles of their own design.
To intensify its World War II war effort, French subcontracting company for military aeronautics Bronzavia created a s ...
in the late 1950s.
Citroën's flagship vehicle competed with high-performance GTs of the time from other nations and manufacturers, such as
Jaguar,
Lotus,
Ferrari,
Aston Martin,
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. () is an Italian luxury car manufacturer and a subsidiary of Stellantis. The company was founded on 24 June 1910, in Milan, Italy. "Alfa" is an acronym of its founding name, "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili." "A ...
,
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquartere ...
, and
Porsche.
The origin of the model name 'SM' is not completely clear. The 'S' may derive from the Project 'S' designation, the aim of which was to produce what is essentially a sports variant of the
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS () is a front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1955 to 1975, in fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations, across three series of one generation.
...
, and the 'M' perhaps refers to Maserati, hence SM is often assumed to stand for "Systeme Maserati" or "Sports Maserati". Another common alternative is ''Série Maserati'', but others have suggested it is short for 'Sa Majesté' (Her Majesty in French), which aligns with the common DS model's nickname 'La déesse' (The Goddess).
The SM did not find a sufficient customer base in the small European GT market, but much of the SM's technology was carried forward to the successful
Citroën CX, launched in 1974 the
DIRAVI
DIRAVI is the name given by Citroën to its proprietary power steering system, first seen in 1970.
DIRAVI is an acronym for "''Direction à rappel asservi''" literally meaning "steering with controlled return" more accurately described in English ...
steering being the most obvious example. The same basic engine in enlarged 3.0 L form (some in Italy had 2.0 L) was used in Maserati's own
Merak (1,800 units) and later with some modification in the
Biturbo (40,000 units). The Merak,
Khamsin
Khamsin, chamsin or hamsin ( ar, خمسين , meaning "fifty"), more commonly known in Egypt as khamaseen ( arz, خماسين , ), is a dry, hot, sandy local wind affecting Egypt and the Levant; similar winds, blowing in other parts of North ...
, and
Bora, used Citroën's high-pressure hydraulics for some functions, and the Citroën gearbox in the Merak, during the Citroën-Maserati alliance.
Performance
Contemporary automotive journalists were effusive about the SM's dynamic qualities, which were unlike anything they had experienced before.
The SM provided a combination of comfort, sharp handling, and braking not available in any other car at the time.
[ CAR Magazine 1972] The magazine ''
Popular Science'' reported that the SM had the shortest stopping distance of any car they had tested.
Automotive journalists marveled at the resulting ability to travel for hours at in comfort.
In 1972 ''Motorsport'' (U.K.) noted ..."that rare quality of being a nice car to be in at any speed, from stationary to maximum." The touring range based on the SM's fuel economy and the large fuel tank made long, fast, relaxing journeys possible.
Because the SM had a smaller engine than competitors, the acceleration was adequate rather than exemplary – some competitors were quicker. Some owners have fitted the similar sized
Maserati Merak SS engine, which does improve the driving experience considerably.
Fuel consumption compares favorably to most competitors.
Technical innovations
The SM combined many unusual and innovative features, some of which were only becoming commonplace on cars manufactured many decades later.
It borrowed heavily from the innovations introduced on the DS, by including
hydro-pneumatic (oleo pneumatic) self-leveling suspension Self-levelling refers to an automobile suspension system that maintains a constant ride height of the vehicle above the road, regardless of load.
Purpose
Many vehicle systems on a conventional vehicle are negatively affected by the change in attit ...
, and
self-leveling lights that swiveled with the steering (except in the United States, where these were illegal at the time).
The SM was Citroën's means of demonstrating just how much power and performance could be accommodated in a
front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitu ...
design. This was novel, and many technical issues needed to be overcome, especially related to
torque steer
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of the ...
, where excessive steering feedback affects control of the vehicle.
A solution was found – no road feedback at all – the driver points and goes, regardless of what the driven wheels are experiencing.
Hitting a pothole at high speed would not turn the steering wheel in the driver's hands.
This new type of
variable assist power steering was later fitted to the Citroen CX in large numbers and its basic principle has since spread throughout the vehicle production.
DIRAVI
DIRAVI is the name given by Citroën to its proprietary power steering system, first seen in 1970.
DIRAVI is an acronym for "''Direction à rappel asservi''" literally meaning "steering with controlled return" more accurately described in English ...
as it was called, allowed great assistance to the motorist while parking, but little assistance at motorway speeds. The system adjusts the hydraulic pressure on the steering centering cam according to vehicle speed so that the amount of steering feel remained almost constant at any speed, counteracting the tendency of manual and ordinary power assisted steering to feel light at high speed. Thus the car turns easily at low speed, emphasized by high gearing given two turns lock-lock, and relatively more effort is required at higher speed.
If the driver released the steering wheel, then the steering would center back to the straight ahead position. It was geared for minimal steering input – with 2 turns from lock to lock, often described as like a ''
go kart
A go-kart, also written as go-cart (often referred to as simply a kart), is a type of sports car, close wheeled car, open-wheel car or quadracycle. Go-karts come in all shapes and forms, from non-motorised models to high-performance racing ...
.''
Many contemporary reviewers remarked that this system would take at least of driving to become familiar, but once the driver is accustomed to the system, then traditional steering feels old-fashioned.
This steering was controversial at the time – the exaggerated, ''strong-arm'' steering inputs required in contemporary cars could cause abrupt manoeuvres in the SM.
When the SM was cast as a TV series regular on ''
The Protectors
''The Protectors'' is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series to exclusively use live actors as opposed to marionettes (following ''UFO''), and his second to be firmly set in ...
'' (1972), the lead actress refused to drive it, because of the familiarization required from the steering.
The ''
DIRAVI
DIRAVI is the name given by Citroën to its proprietary power steering system, first seen in 1970.
DIRAVI is an acronym for "''Direction à rappel asservi''" literally meaning "steering with controlled return" more accurately described in English ...
'' steering is self-centering and fully powered (as opposed to hydraulically assisted). This feature allows the front wheels to run near-zero caster, and means that there is no camber change as lock is applied, and also ensures that the maximum amount of tyre area is in contact with the road at all times.
The wiper mechanism, when on the "low speed" setting, is 'sensitive' to rain, by measuring the current needed to drive the wiper motor, while the steering column is adjustable in both height and reach.
The braking system, adapted from the DS, employs
disc brakes at all four corners (the DS has
drums at the rear), with the front brakes being
inboard
An inboard motor is a marine propulsion system for boats. As opposed to an outboard motor where an engine is mounted outside the hull of the craft, an ''inboard motor'' is an engine enclosed within the hull of the boat, usually connected to a pr ...
, and cooled via large ducts on the front underside of the car. The hydraulic braking pressure front to rear balance is self-adjusting according to the weight in the rear of the car, so on hard braking the entire car lowers evenly.
Standard wheels are steel with stainless trims, but for the rigors of off-road racing,
Michelin developed a unique solution – a lightweight
carbon-reinforced resin wheel, which became a factory fitted option. These ''
plastic
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...
'' wheels weigh less than half the standard weight and were decades in advance of similar applications. The construction method is similar to the more brittle
fiberglass
Fiberglass (American English) or fibreglass ( Commonwealth English) is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass clo ...
material (some hobbyists even refer to them this way), but the wheels contain carbon fibers, not glass fibers.
Styling
Designed in-house by Citroën's chief designer
Robert Opron
Robert Opron (22 February 1932 – 29 March 2021) was a French automotive designer. He created or collaborated on numerous projects that became production cars for brands that included Simca, Renault, and Fiat. He is best known for his work at ...
, the SM bears a family resemblance to the
Citroën CX and
Citroën GS
The GS is a front-engine, front-drive, four or five door, five passenger family car manufactured and marketed by Citroën in two series: for model years 1970-1979 in fastback saloon and estate bodystyles and subsequently as the GSA for model yea ...
, and to some extent the
Maserati Mistral
The Maserati Mistral (''Tipo AM109'') is a 2-seat gran turismo produced by Italian car manufacturer Maserati between 1963 and 1970. The successor to the 3500 GT, it was styled by Frua and bodied by Maggiora of Turin. A total of 828 coupés ...
. Like the CX, the SM retains the rear
fender skirts
Fender skirts, known in Australia and the United Kingdom as spats, are pieces of bodywork on the fender that cover the upper portions of the tires of an automobile. They are usually used on rear wheels only, but some models have them on all ...
, and seen from above, the SM resembles a teardrop, with a wide front track tapering to a narrower rear track.
The SM was unusually
aerodynamic
Aerodynamics, from grc, ἀήρ ''aero'' (air) + grc, δυναμική (dynamics), is the study of the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dyn ...
for its era, with
Kamm tail and low
drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: c_\mathrm, c_x or c_) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag e ...
of 0.26. The ventilation intake is located in a "neutral" area on the hood, which makes the ventilator fan regulate the interior ventilation at all road speeds.
With its distinctly
modernist
Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...
influence, the interior styling of the SM is as dramatic as the exterior. The small oval steering wheel is matched by oval gauges. The manual shift lever 'boot' is a highly stylized chrome gate. The seats are highly adjustable buckets with centre padding composed of many individual 'rolls'. High-quality materials are used throughout. The bonnet is aircraft grade aluminum, while the external bright work is stainless steel, rather than 'cheaper' chrome (except for "plastichrome" "SM" trim at the rear base of the rain gutter).
In 1970, it was the fastest front-wheel-drive car, with a factory-quoted top speed of , and independent tests achieving as much as . It was an example of the car as a symbol of optimism and progressive technology, similar to the SM's contemporary, the
Concorde
The Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde () is a retired Franco-British supersonic airliner jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
Studies started in 1954, and France an ...
aircraft.
The SM's design placed eleventh on ''
Automobile Magazine
''Automobile'' was an American automobile magazine published by the Motor Trend Group. A group of former employees of ''Car and Driver'' led by David E. Davis founded ''Automobile'' in 1986 with support from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, u ...
''s 2005 "100 Coolest Cars" listing.
US exports
The main export market for the SM was the U.S, where the market for
personal luxury car
Personal luxury car is a North American car classification describing somewhat sporty, sophisticated mass-market coupés that emphasized comfort over performance. The North American manufacturers most often combined engineering, design, and ma ...
s was much larger than in Europe. Competitors included the
Cadillac Eldorado
The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car manufactured and marketed by Cadillac from 1952 until 2002 over twelve generations.
The Eldorado was at or near the top of the Cadillac line. The original 1953 Eldorado convertible and the Eldorado Brougham ...
,
Lincoln Mark IV and
Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car produced by Ford from model years 1955 until 1997 and 2002 until 2005 across 11 distinct generations. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was pr ...
alongside Italian, British, and German imports.
The unique design of the SM made quite a splash and won the ''
Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
'' magazine's
Car of the Year Car of the Year (COTY) is a common abbreviation for numerous automotive awards.
The "Car of the Year" phrase is considered to have been introduced by ''Motor Trend'' magazine in 1949 when the new publication named Cadillac as Motor Trend Car of the ...
award in 1972, unheard of for a non-US vehicle at the time.
The SM's system of six replaceable-bulb composite halogen
headlamp
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for ...
s with swivelling high beams was illegal in the U.S., where regulations at the time required all vehicles to have two or four round
sealed-beam headlamps on fixed mounts and with no lens or other covering in front of them.
So, SMs for the U.S. market were fitted with four exposed round non-swivelling sealed beams.
Despite initial success, U.S. sales ceased suddenly when Citroën did not receive an expected exemption for the 1974 model year
bumper regulation imposed by the
NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rel ...
.
The integral
variable height suspension of the SM made compliance impossible.
The 1974 SMs built for the U.S. market (134 cars), could not be supplied to Americans due to the effective date of the bumper regulation, so were sold in Japan instead.
Engines
The SM was sold with a small, lightweight engine in various forms, designed from scratch by
Giulio Alfieri
Giulio Alfieri (10 July 1924 – 20 March 2002) was an Italian automobile engineer, affiliated with Maserati in Modena, Italy since 1953, where he was central to the development of racing and production cars in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Alfieri ...
but capable of being assembled on existing
V8 tooling. Because of this, the engine sported an unusual 90° angle between cylinder banks – a trait shared with the later
PRV V6. It was a very compact and innovative design that allowed the use of just one pattern for the cylinder heads and an intermediate shaft extended out to drive the auxiliaries.
The engine was aluminum, weighing just , and was always mounted
behind the front axle.
The size of the 2.7 L engine was limited by French
puissance fiscale taxation, which made large displacement vehicles too expensive to sell in any quantity in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
.
One SM had a Maserati V8 motor – this was a heavily used test bed developed by
Maserati for the 1974
Maserati Quattroporte II.
Despite developing , the car required relatively modest adjustments, and the performance made the SM into a true sporting car.
One SM had a V6 twin Turbo – developed by specialist Jerry Hathaway (''SM World'') for
land speed record
The land speed record (or absolute land speed record) is the highest speed achieved by a person using a vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C ("Special Vehicles") flying start regula ...
testing at
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. A remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, it is the largest of many salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake. It is public land managed by the Bur ...
– achieving .
Smooth shifting 5-speed
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear change ...
s were fitted to most SMs.
A 3-speed
Borg Warner fully
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving ...
was an option in North America in 1972–73, and in Europe 1974–75.
The engine was also used in the
Maserati Merak from 1972 to 1982. Later versions of the Merak ''SS'' had much larger valves and developed . The
Ligier JS2
The Ligier JS2 is a mid-engined sports coupé that was built by Ligier in the French commune of Abrest near Vichy in the department of Allier between 1971 and 1975. Road-going and competition versions were built.
Conception and predecessor
Gu ...
sports car
A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
also used this
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a six-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, Deutz Gasmotoren Fabr ...
. The final SMs were produced in the
Ligier
Ligier (() is a French automobile and minibus maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier (1930–2015), specialized in the manufacturing of microcars.
Ligier is best known for its involvement in the Formula 1 World Champ ...
factory in
Vichy
Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais.
It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...
.
Under new ownership,
Maserati developed the 1981
Biturbo model, by applying
turbocharging
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pr ...
to this engine, and sold 40,000 units.
Motorsport
The SM won its first competitive outing, the gruelling 1971
Rallye du Maroc
The Rallye du Maroc (Morocco Rally) was a marathon rally, similar to the Safari Rally, but that should not be confused with the Rallye du Maroc (rally raid), Rallye du Maroc rally raid introduced in 2000.
History
It was first run in 1934, and hel ...
. Citroën continued rallying the SM, eventually developing a "breadvan" short-wheelbase racing variant.
SM World, a marque specialist in Los Angeles, California, produced a
turbocharged SM, which in 1987 set the land speed record for production vehicles in its class at the
Bonneville Salt Flats
The Bonneville Salt Flats are a densely packed salt pan in Tooele County in northwestern Utah. A remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, it is the largest of many salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake. It is public land managed by the Bur ...
, Utah – traveling .
Demise
After the 1974 bankruptcy of Citroën,
Peugeot
Peugeot (, , ) is a French brand of automobiles owned by Stellantis.
The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was founded in 1810, with a steel foundry that soon started making hand tools and kitchen equipment, and the ...
took ownership of the company and, in May 1975, divested from
Maserati. Peugeot quickly decided to stop building the SM, as production had dropped to 294 cars in 1974 and 115 units the final year.
Observers often attribute the demise of the SM to the
1973 oil crisis and
economic recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be triggered by variou ...
.
While the oil shock certainly affected sales, many far more profligate cars were introduced at the same time the SM ceased production, including the
hydropneumatically suspended Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9
The 450 SEL 6.9 is the high-performance version of the W116 S-Class saloon. It was based on the long-wheelbase version of W116 chassis introduced in 1972 and equipped with Mercedes-Benz M100 V8 engine and full hydropneumatic suspension system. T ...
. Peugeot even introduced a V6 powered car of similar displacement and fuel consumption in 1975, the
604
__NOTOC__
Year 604 (Roman numerals, DCIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 604 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini ...
. In the U.S. (the main export market for the SM), the SM was actually an economical vehicle relative to its competitors. However, the U.S.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) is an agency of the U.S. federal government, part of the Department of Transportation. It describes its mission as "Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes" rel ...
(NHTSA) imposed new automotive design regulations in 1974, effectively banning the Citroën from the U.S. market.
As illustrated under production numbers, SM sales declined starting in 1972. This appears to be attributable to maintenance issues.
Like an exotic Italian car, the Weber carburetors require frequent adjustment. Many engines experienced failure at 60,000 km – it was unclear to most owners that the
interference engine design has
timing chains that require manual adjustment, an issue not corrected until long after production ceased. The 90° engine timing was unfamiliar to mechanics in the 1970s. Only Buick (1962–66; 1975–) and Jeep (1966–71) used a V6 with 90° between banks of cylinders. Another issue that has been resolved with retrofit is the unreliable ignition breaker cassettes.
Most vehicles require only generalist maintenance, where any competent mechanic can properly maintain the vehicle. Certain vehicles – like Citroëns and
Ferraris – require specialist care due to their unique design.
While a sturdy car if maintained rigorously, an SM requires two sets of specialist care – Citroën specialists, which are widespread in Europe, and a rarer
Maserati specialist, to keep the engine in tune. Once potential buyers began to realize this, sales dropped precipitously.
The
Quai André-Citroën factory on the banks of the
Seine River
)
, mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur
, mouth_coordinates =
, mouth_elevation =
, progression =
, river_system = Seine basin
, basin_size =
, tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle
, tributaries ...
in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
closed in 1974. Both the DS and the SM had to find new manufacturing facilities. The runout DS models were built at the new
Aulnay-sous-Bois
Aulnay-sous-Bois () is a commune in the Seine-Saint-Denis department in the Île-de-France region in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the Kilometre zero.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Aulnaysiens'' ...
factory, while the final 135 SM's was built by the
Ligier
Ligier (() is a French automobile and minibus maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier (1930–2015), specialized in the manufacturing of microcars.
Ligier is best known for its involvement in the Formula 1 World Champ ...
company.
Components of the SM lived on, albeit mirror imaged – in the
Maserati Merak (engine, transmission) and the
Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit is a British sports car that was built by Lotus Cars at their Hethel factory in England between 1976 and 2004. It was among the first of designer Giorgetto Giugiaro's polygonal "folded paper" designs.
Background
In 1970 Tony ...
(transmission). The successful
Citroën CX carried forward most of the SM's dynamic qualities, including the trendsetting
speed sensitive power steering.
Production numbers
A total of 12,920 SMs were produced during its lifetime. Sales declined steeply each year following the first full year of production. The North American market took 2,400 cars, in 1972 and 1973.
Variants
The factory always produced just one body style – a
LHD two-door
fastback fixed head coupé, but the design did inspire a variety of variants, none produced in any quantity.
File:Citroën SM présidentielle - trois-quart.JPG, 1972 Citroën SM présidentielle – inaugural drive by Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou ( , ; 5 July 19112 April 1974) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 until his death in 1974. He previously was Prime Minister of France of President Charles de Gaulle from 1962 to 196 ...
and Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
File:Paris - Retromobile 2014 - Citroën SM Mylord Cabriolet Chapron - 1975 - 003.jpg, 1975 Citroën SM Mylord – sold at auction in 2014 for €548,320 (US$754,220)
File:SM Opera ar.jpg, 1974 Citroën SM Opéra
File:1972 Citroën SM breadvan.jpg, Breadvan short-wheelbase racing variant
File:1972 Citroën SM Frua.jpg, 1972 Citroën SM Frua concept
Coachbuilder
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron (30 December 1886 - 14 May 1978) was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His carrosserie, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret.
Chapron was born in Nouan-le-Fuzelier (Sologne), and began his c ...
from
Levallois-Perret
Levallois-Perret () is a commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department and Île-de-France region of north-central France. It lies some from the centre of Paris in the north-western suburbs of the French capital. It is the most densely populated ...
produced several very collectible variants of the SM.
French Presidents from
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou ( , ; 5 July 19112 April 1974) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1969 until his death in 1974. He previously was Prime Minister of France of President Charles de Gaulle from 1962 to 196 ...
to
Jacques Chirac enjoyed touring Paris in the two 4-door convertible Citroën SM ''présidentielle'' models, sharing them with such notables as Queen
Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
and
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
. These manual transmission cars have special low gearing suitable for parade use.
Chapron also created five convertibles (SM Mylord) and seven sedans (SM Opéra). Original examples of these rare models are very valuable – the last ''MyLord'' sale recorded was for €548,320 in February 2014. Some SM owners have made their own copies of the SM convertible in particular. Unlike the DS, the factory never authorized a convertible model, as Citroën felt the roof was integral to the structure of the SM. On the SM, the roof and rear quarter panels were welded on.
In 1971,
Heuliez
Heuliez was a French company that worked as a production and design unit for various automakers. It specialized in producing short series for niche markets, such as convertibles or station-wagons.
The business activity ended on 31 October 2013. ...
produced two examples of
pillarless targa top
Targa top, or targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The term was first used on the 1966 Porsche 911 Targa, and it remains a registered trademark of Porsc ...
convertible, the SM Espace. Unlike the factory SM, the rear quarter windows could retract into the bodywork.
Just before the SM's demise, Citroën produced several short-wheelbase racing versions with squared-off rear sections and highly tuned engines – known as the "breadvan" model.
In the UK, three official RHD prototypes were constructed by ''Middleton Motors'', a Citroën dealer in
Hertfordshire, England. At least one of these prototypes still survives.
In Australia, 12 cars were converted to RHD by ''Chappel Engineering'' in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, Australia for ''Dutton's'' (the Australian importer of Citroën at the time). Cars are still being modified with RHD controls and dashboards for the Australian market, where RHD is mandatory.
In the U.S., 100 cars were fitted with an electric sliding steel sunroof built by
ASC.
Frua also proposed a concept car based on the SM, a front-wheel-drive car that closely resembled the mid-engine
Maserati Merak.
In the spring of 1974, Maserati created a special 4.0 L V8 engine based on the latest C114-11 engine variant. This engine, installed in a standard SM, tested over 12,000 kilometers. The engine was then removed and preserved, while the rest of the car was destroyed by
Alejandro de Tomaso. The SM Club of France created an exact replica of this car using the actual engine from the original and displayed it at the
Rétromobile 2010 show.
Unfortunately, the intended recipient never received this V8. The
Maserati Quattroporte II was a
Maserati-badged, four-door variant of the SM with an angular body and lengthened floorpan. The six headlights were retained and the later 'SS' version of the engine fitted. This model was introduced at the time of Citroën's bankruptcy in 1974. It entered production in 1976 and only twelve were produced between then and 1978.
Prominent owners
Like the
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS () is a front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1955 to 1975, in fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations, across three series of one generation.
...
, the SM has had many celebrity owners.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev; uk, links= no, Леонід Ілліч Брежнєв, . (19 December 1906– 10 November 1982) was a Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between 1964 and ...
,
Rolling Stones bassist
Bill Wyman,
Adam Clayton
Adam Charles Clayton (born 13 March 1960) is an English-born Irish musician who is the bass guitarist of the rock band U2. He has resided in County Dublin, Ireland since his family moved to Malahide in 1965, when he was five years old. C ...
of the rock group
U2, and Emperor
Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie I ( gez, ቀዳማዊ ኀይለ ሥላሴ, Qädamawi Häylä Səllasé, ; born Tafari Makonnen; 23 July 189227 August 1975) was Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He rose to power as Ethiopian aristocratic and court titles ...
each drove SMs, while Ugandan dictator
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...
had seven of them.
The Shah of Iran drove an SM.
Actors
Lorne Greene
Lorne Hyman Greene (born Lyon Himan Green; 12 February 1915 – 11 September 1987) was a Canadian actor, musician, singer and radio personality. His notable television roles include Ben Cartwright on the Western ''Bonanza'' and Commander Ad ...
and
Lee Majors
Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. Majors portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series ''The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the American televisio ...
, composer
John Williams, author
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...
, and former Mauritian QC and Politician Sir Gaetan Duval (1930–1996), football player
Johan Cruijff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (, internationally known as Johan Cruyff; 25 April 1947 – 24 March 2016) was a Dutch professional football player and manager. As a player, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Cruyff was a pr ...
,
Rolling Stones drummer
Charlie Watts,
Cheech & Chong
Cheech & Chong are a comedy duo consisting of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. The duo found commercial and cultural success in the 1970s and 1980s with their stand-up routines, studio recordings, and feature films, which were based on the hippie a ...
's
Cheech Marin and
Thomas Chong
Thomas B. Kin Chong (born May 24, 1938) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, musician, activist. He is known for his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies with Cheech Marin, as well as playing the character Leo on Fox's ...
, motorcycle racer
Mike Hailwood
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, (2 April 1940 – 23 March 1981) was a British professional motorcycle racer and racing driver. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycl ...
, composer
John Barry, and musician
Carlos Santana, all owned SMs as well.
Yugoslav and
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
n singer
Mišo Kovač
Mate "Mišo" Kovač (; born 16 July 1941) is a Croatian recording artist. He is the best selling artist from Croatia, with well over 20 million records, cassettes and compact discs sold to date, and is often regarded as one of the most popular mu ...
had his very own golden SM.
As of 2019,
Guy Berryman
Guy Rupert Berryman (born 12 April 1978) is a Scottish musician, songwriter and producer, best known as the bassist of the rock band Coldplay and electronic supergroup Apparatjik. Raised in Kirkcaldy, he began to play bass from an early age ...
of
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University ...
was driving an SM. Television host and comedian
Jay Leno's SM is seen frequently in the background of his ''
Jay Leno's Garage
''Jay Leno's Garage'' is an American web and television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars and motorbikes starring Jay Leno, the former host of ''The Tonight Show''. Originally a web series for NBC.com, a special aired on CNBC in August ...
''
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
videos.
References
Notes
Bibliography
*'Citroën SM,' Osprey Autohistory, Jeff Daniels, 1981,
*
*'
Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
' magazine (USA), February 1972 issue
*'
Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was f ...
' magazine (USA), June 1972 issue
*'
Popular Science' magazine (USA), December 1973 issue
*'
Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 1998, when it was sold to ...
' magazine (USA), February 1974 issue
*'
Car Magazine
''Car'' is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Republic of Korea (since March 2016), Brazil, China, Greece, India, Italy (through 201 ...
' (UK), December 1979 issue
*'Collectible Automobile' magazine (USA), June 2001 issue
*'Thoroughbred & Classic Cars magazine (UK), April 1995 issue
*'
The Longest Yard – Lockdown Edition' DVD, selection 02638,
Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (formerly Paramount Home Media Distribution, and originally Paramount Home Video) is the home video distribution arm of Paramount Pictures, a division of Paramount Global.
The division oversees PPC's home entertainme ...
, 2005
External links
''Ate Up With Motor:'' She Likes Whips and Chains: The Pleasures and Pains of the Citroën SM– a retrospective of the SM
''Curbside Classic:'' 1972 Citroen SM – Gran Touring, Franco-Italian Style– another retrospective of the SM
Citroen SM Wiki*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Citroen Sm
Grand tourers
SM
Coupés
Cars introduced in 1970
Front-wheel-drive sports cars
Group 4 (racing) cars