Flèche d’Or

People were used to a lot from Citroën, and when the SM model was presented at the 1970 Paris Motor Show, the automotive world seemed to be thoroughly shaken up once again by the French brand with the double chevron. In Germany, the motoring journal Auto Motor und Sport even headlined its review of the Citroën SM with the headline “France’s Wonder Car!” The result was a super sports car that was as futuristic as it was elegant, with exquisite performance and handling, as well as supremely comfortable suspension characteristics never before experienced in a sports car. These qualities were realized through Citroën’s leading expertise in tuning hydropneumatic suspensions, coupled with the superior power of a Maserati engine. This unique concentration of know-how was, in a sense, a product of the Michelin Group, which at the time included both Citroën and Maserati.

We acquired this SM in 2020 from a friendly car dealership in Paris, especially for a good customer. After some research, the car’s history was traced back to the first owner. According to this, the car has had six owners to date. The first owner lived in Provence and bought the car from the Citroën dealer Salon Provence. When he sold the car in 2001, he confirmed the original mileage of 45,368 to the second owner. This second owner, born in 1933 and owner of two companies, had previously owned two SMs, and this car was his third in a row. However, the SM joined the line of 14 cars and was therefore only driven on special occasions. There are repair invoices from the time with the second owner totaling €24,001, which include, among other things, a new exterior paint job in the original color. The third owner bought the SM in 2011 with 59,802 kilometers and sold it to a collector in Paris in 2016 with a mileage of 62,216. During its time with the third owner, one of the exhaust valves jammed, a fate shared by many SM engines that have not been started for a long time. So, the engine was disassembled by a company specializing in SM and Wankel engines from Citroën, who overhauled it and installed a stainless steel exhaust. The existing invoices from the time with the third owner amount to €18,282.92. The fourth owner was a collector from Paris who never registered the car. We sold the car to our customer in 2020 with a mileage of 62,617. The car had always been his dream, but getting in and out of the low-slung sports car has become too strenuous for the retiree. Then he saw a 1959 D-model in our completely original condition, fell in love with it, and asked us to sell the SM again.

In 2022, at 62,726 kilometers, a fan of French classics in Berlin bought it. Once again, the SM was in capable hands, as the owner owned, among other things, a DS Cabriolet and a Facel Vega II, all sophisticated vehicles that were always serviced by us. In the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024, the car was used for vacation trips to a holiday home near Bordeaux. On each of these trips, the car traveled between 3,500 and 4,000 km. Before and after the vacation, the car came to us for a major checkup, and we were always able to repair anything that wasn’t quite perfect. The air conditioning system received a new compressor, and separate, more accessible battery terminals were installed to make it easier to start the engine with jumper cables if necessary. Also replaced were the rear brake discs, brake master valve, hydraulic pump, both rear rotors, alternator (with higher power), all V-belts including a new main pulley, and much more. During all three summer vacations, the car was always reliable and did not detract from the enjoyment of driving it. Since 2022, the coupé has driven 12,223 km, and a good €22,000 has been invested in the aforementioned work. It is a car currently used for long-distance trips and has a current mileage of 74,972. Somewhat surprising to us, the owner has now purchased a Ferrari Testa Rossa and therefore wants to part with the SM. He says it is with a heavy heart, as he had a lot of fun with the car, but the Ferrari is now his priority. Even after 52 years, an SM still has a somewhat futuristic feel, and in its gold metallic paint, it looks like a golden arrow – Une Flèche d’Or.

We subject every vehicle to a systematic inspection – from the body to the engine to the electrical system. Based on this, we usually make three offers. However, with this car, there’s no need to do anything – get in, drive off, and enjoy…