Automotive

A car which was born in 1970, for a short 5 years life, and a very short production of a bit less of 13 000 examples. Starting with a 2, 7 engine, it ended with a 3 liters. From 170 to 190 HP all along these 5 years. The car was quite unique with its looo...  

The car was not very reliable, and I don't like hydraulic suspensions . Best, Nicolas

Cars of this age are as much dependent on the quality of the restoration as of the original engineering... That said, the hydropneumatic suspension is not very ddifficult to keep in good order. The Maserati/Citroen engine and the engine bay are... I've dr... 

So the feelings are much better, if so. I know what you mean with these mushrooms brakes. I was on to have an accident, once, with a CX, just because of that and the waaay to light assisted direction. Best, Nicolas

It was a really fun car. Also drove a DS21, amazing ride for such a funny looking car. Was not my car but I seriously thought of buying one. Wish they would bring the line back to the US. JerryW

But lovely, yes... Best, Jerry. Nicolas

UFO: http://2. It was so futuristic! Marcus ...  

the Maserati shared engine adds to that interest of course. I guess I can find the ADN of my own old faithfull C4 from 2008 in that car with its 4,60 mts length and 1.300 kilos of weight. Mine is not a collector´s car for sure but has been faithfully serv...  

... but it was made here in Argentina for local market and for export to Spain and Turkey. Very comfortable and with a really big big trunk. Discontinued now. Citroen is now offering the current C4 which though much better technically, it is regrettably a... 

The SM is not attractive in any conventional sense. Maybe "grotesquely attractive" is about as close as I can get, but however one describes it the car definitely exudes a certain aloof elegance, though not to the same extent as does the DS. As I get long... 

...appalling? By what standard?

Again, this falls into subjective territory. I simply find the 2CV an ungainly car from an aesthetic point of view. Also, mechanically, there's something less than appealing the way they sort of pootle around, which is, I suppose, only to be expected give... 

Did you hear that sweethearts? Don't take offense, he doesn't really mean it ... Although the build quality can sometimes appear to be appalling, the cars are quite charming On multiple continents and for unexplainable reasons, they appeal to me ...  

and not get a single customer - "what? No air bags? No air con? No luggage space? No music? No doors?? The deal is off!!" Cheers, Mike ...  

It was featured in the opening scene of the movie "The Longest Yard" in a very famous chase scene, and it met with a bad end. Despite the Citroen badging, it was referred to in the film as a Maserati. Thanks for posting these pics.

Wow, I need to check out the Automotive forum more often! This was an absolute dream car from my teenage years. I was the "car guy" among my group of friends, and the SM was a car that haunted my dreams in the late 1990s and early 2000s. If these are rare... 

Did you know that Yves Montand drove one, in a movie whose name just escapes me? Best, Nicolas

It also has a special aura for french people as it was on the road at teh same time as the Concorde and TGV came some years later. Citroen are always very special, a friend is considering buying one seriously, and he is a true Citroen lover. I also consid... 

If yes, you are intriguing me a lot.... Which car? Hmmm? ;) Best, Nicolas

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I have long been drawn to classic cars and once I finally succumb, something tells me the SM will be high on the list of candidates, in spite of the reliability and engine problems it has been known for. It is not conventionally pretty but certainly strik...  

As for driving old cars... Yes, they are, in more than one way, not as efficient as modern cars, but they have an incomparable charm. Best, Nicolas

There was also the 4 door Opera version of the SM - another rare version, and I belive a single prototype with the Maserati V8, too. ...  

... of the decades past and the relatively lax regulatory standards was a much higher diversity of cars, with many adaptations and one-offs, which were much more affordable than today's handful of remaining efforts.

-Quattroporte II was conceived under Citroen but axed when De Tomaso came in´which asked for the quattroporte III with more power (with the legendary V8) underpower for so much weight. 13 built "pre Serie" built, didn't reach production. Very intesresting... 

For the additional comments. Will see if I manage to check the SM book at home today, for additional details - but do not promise anything ;)

...that the V6 wasn't just a chopped V8. Too many differences in architecture to be reasonable. Alfieri only did 90deg engines even (stupidly/ignorantly?/point of difference with Lancia/tooling limitations) on his V6s - his Laverda V6 was 90deg ... As an ... 

The Frua is a beautiful one off, but, as much as I love italian cars and style, I think the SM is more interesting with the typical Citroen Style and Quirkiness :)

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...mainly due to the background ;-) ...  

In the Long & Claverol book on the SM (' SM: Citroen's Maserati-engined Supercar' ) and it is stated that the C114 V6 was a 'clean sheet' design by Alfieri, albeit based on a V8 architecture (and capable on being produced by the same tooling), as evid... 

I do believe that ! Thanks for your input ! cheers François

While my husband had an Alfa, his friend Claud had a Citroen. It was the strangest car I'd ever seen. It must have been one of the earlier models built being that it didn't have the long front. Did the newer versions also appear to sit? Curious, Helen

I have driven this car (delightful) and considered buying one (frightful) but the normal version isn't extreme enough for me (insightful). Thus my imagination reaches farther into impossibility ... The most unattainable version would be the 4-door preside...  

But very, very cool it is, too!

Much trouble for the upholstery shop! and an easy way to collect spare change without having to use up the ashtray. I think some of those bars can be sewn in and/or attached with Velcro for adjustable back pressure.