1972 Citroën SM – Project Profile

When it comes to making cars that are weird and wonderful, the French have been at the forefront. If they can engineer something that is, quite frankly, a little bit bonkers, they will. And nine times out of ten, they’ll do so in a way that stuns the motoring world. Take the Citroën DS of 1955. It looked like it had come from outer space, but at the same time, it revolutionised vehicle comfort. Its weird, liquid-filled suspension served to make the DS a wheeled magic carpet. It was, and still is, an exceptional automobile. The Traction Avant was, as the name suggests, front-wheel drive. But did you know it was the first mass-produced front-wheel drive car? Both cars were mad, but they were innovative. 

Then of course, there was the car we’re looking at here. The Citroën SM was a wheeled lunatic, but in the best possible way. Citroën wanted a fast, comfortable GT car. It had comfort covered thanks to its hydropneumatic suspension, but it had to look outside to sort the ‘fast’ bit. It could have just built its own engine, of course. Instead, because Citroën was bonkers, it bought Maserati just to use one of its engines. The resulting SM could cruise at over 100mph for hours on end in total comfort. The suspension was so clever that, in rally guise, an SM lost a wheel yet managed to finish on three. Madness. But brilliant madness. The SM is, quite frankly, an icon. 

What is it? 

The car we’ve found here is an early 1972 Citroën SM with a carb-fed 2.7 Maserati V6 and manual transmission, which is a pretty tasty specification. While it may be a GT car, it’s one that is so much better with a manual gearbox, which makes this car so desirable. Another thing that makes it so desirable is the fact it’s come from California. The SM, while beautiful, is also a car that attracts rust in a big way. Thankfully though, the dry climate in which this car has lived has helped preserve it. Of course, there is some work to be done, but not much. Though, we’ll get to that later. 

This SM has just 47,000 miles on the clock, it’s complete and it comes with spares, which is useful on a rare car like this. While it does need a small bit of metalwork, it’s worth noting that the car has never been welded in the past, making this a wonderfully honest project. You won’t have to pick through years of bodges. The seller, All American Imports, has had the car running and driving, and has all the paperwork needed to get this SM registered in the UK. And it can be yours for just £10,995. That, for such a rare and complete, rust-free car is a bargain!

Why is it a project?  

While we don’t know how long this SM has been off the road, we would be confident to say it’s been a while. As such, it’s going to need a complete mechanical service and overhaul. The car was running, however, it’s developed an electrical/earth issue since and now won’t fire up. So that’s something else you’d need to tackle. If it were our money, we’d get an auto electrician along for the viewing and see if he or she can get the SM fired up. This is an incredibly complicated car, and as such, seeing it running would be wise. Just for peace of mind. 

As mentioned earlier, some metal work is required, but nothing major nor structural. There is some rot in the boot floor, along with the front passenger footwell/floorpan. Simple, easily accessible stuff, which is good. What’s not good is the way the old SM looks. Yes, the California climate is great for keeping rust at bay, but it takes its toll in other ways. The paint is faded and cracking, rubbers are perished and the once sumptuous interior is now in tatters due to being dried out. You’re going to need to budget for a full re-trim. 

Five things to look for:

1) Trim

This is a rare car, and while some of the trim is past its best thanks to the California sun, it’s still better if it’s all there. At least then it can be used as a template. 

2) Engine

The vendor states that the car did run. However, even in its now ‘non runner’ state, you can still check the engine. How does the oil look, what about bolts and fixings? Does it look like it’s been apart in the past? Also, check the condition of the carbs, as they’re notorious for failing. 

3) Electrics

The car currently has an earthing issue, which needs investigating. As we said above, we’d take an auto electrician with us to have a look over the wiring to see what’s needed, and to assess how safe it is.

4) Suspension

The hydropneumatic system on the SM is clever and comfortable, but it’s not what you’d call robust. Check the spheres, the fluid condition and the lines. Look for leaks or any evidence of past leaks. There are specialists out there, but they’re not cheap. 

5) Paperwork

We say this with every imported car, but do check the paperwork, if only to satisfy yourself that everything is in order. Andy at All American Imports has been doing this for a long time though, so there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. 

What should you do with it? 

It’s an SM. The only way to go with this would be to restore it back to its former, factory condition glory. We would be inclined to sort the mechanicals out and then drive it around ‘as found’ for a while, not just for the cool points, but also to give the oily bits a chance to prove themselves before you start down the long road of sorting the paint and interior. 

It’s a complete, low-mileage car and deserves to one day be fully restored. Plus, by doing so you will be building value into the car, and that’s never a bad thing. And yes, if it were us, we would keep that glorious turquoise colour. If you’re going to have a car like the SM, you want it to stand out!