Roaring 70ties

One had come to expect quite a lot from Citroën, and when the SM model was unveiled at the 1970 Paris Motor Show, it seemed as though the automotive world was once again being thoroughly shaken up by the French brand with the “double chevron” logo. In Germany, the motoring magazine *Auto Motor und Sport* even headlined its review of the Citroën SM: “France’s Wonder Car!” The result was a supercar that was as futuristic as it was elegant, offering exquisite performance and handling, combined with a level of suspension comfort never before seen in a sports car. These characteristics were made possible by Citroën’s industry-leading expertise in tuning hydropneumatic suspension systems, paired with the commanding power of a Maserati engine. The SM was the first high-performance front-wheel-drive coupé; its features included a five-speed manual transmission, directional headlights, air conditioning, power windows, and a steering column adjustable for both reach and rake. It was also the first vehicle to feature speed-sensitive power steering—a system that automatically returned to the straight-ahead position and offered an extremely direct steering ratio, requiring less than two full turns of the wheel from lock to lock. This unique concentration of technical know-how was, in a sense, a product of the Michelin Group, which at the time owned both Citroën and Maserati. In 1970, an SM cost about 10% more than the most expensive Porsche 911 S available, making it the priciest mass-produced Citroën ever built. In 1974, Peugeot acquired Citroën, and in 1975—after a total production run of 12,920 units—the company discontinued the SM, which had proven to be not particularly profitable.

We acquired this particular SM in 2020 from a dealership friend in Paris, specifically for one of our valued clients. After some research, the car’s history was traced back to its original owner. The first owner lived in Provence and purchased the vehicle from the Citroën dealership “Salon Provence.” When he sold the car in 2001, he confirmed to the second owner that the original mileage was 45,368 km. This second owner—born in 1933 and a business owner—had previously owned two other SMs; this car became his third in succession. However, as it was part of a collection of 14 vehicles, the SM was driven only on special occasions. Records from the second owner’s tenure include repair invoices totaling €24,001, which cover, among other things, a fresh exterior paint job in the original color. The third owner purchased the SM in 2011 with 59,802 km on the odometer and sold it in 2016—with 62,216 km—to a collector in Paris. During the third owner’s period of ownership, one of the exhaust valves seized—a common fate for SM engines that have sat idle for long periods. Consequently, the engine was disassembled and overhauled by a firm specializing in Citroën SM and Wankel engines; a stainless-steel exhaust system was also installed. Invoices from the third owner’s time with the car amount to €18,282.92. The fourth owner was a collector from Paris who never registered the vehicle. In 2020, with 62,617 km on the clock, we sold the car to a valued client. Although the SM had always been his dream car, the retiree found that getting in and out of the low-slung sports car proved too physically demanding. Then, upon seeing a 1959 DS in our shop—in completely original condition—he became quite smitten with it and asked us to sell the SM on his behalf.

In 2022, with 62,726 km on the odometer, the car was purchased by a fan of classic French automobiles based in Berlin. Once again, the SM was in knowledgeable hands; the owner also owned a DS Cabriolet and a Facel Vega II—all sophisticated vehicles that were consistently maintained by us. During the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024, he used the coupé for trips to his holiday home near Bordeaux, covering between 3,500 and 4,000 km on each of these journeys. Before and after each trip, the car would come to us for a thorough inspection, and we were tasked with rectifying anything that was not in perfect working order. The air conditioning system was fitted with a new compressor, and separate, more accessible battery terminals were installed to make it easier to use jumper cables if ever needed. Furthermore, the following components were replaced: the rear brake discs, the main brake valve, the hydraulic pump, both rear wheel bearings, the alternator (upgraded to a higher output), and all V-belts—including a new main pulley—among other items. Throughout all three summer trips, the car proved entirely reliable, ensuring that the owner’s enjoyment of the vehicle remained undiminished. Since 2022, the coupé has covered 12,841 km, with over €22,000 invested in the aforementioned maintenance and repairs. It is a car that has been actively used for long-distance travel, with a current odometer reading of 75,367 km. Somewhat surprisingly to us, the owner has now acquired a Ferrari Testa Rossa and would therefore like to part with his SM. He says it is with a heavy heart—as he had a great deal of fun with the car—but the Ferrari is now the priority. Even 56 years after its debut, the SM still manages to look somewhat futuristic. Aside from contemporary supercars like those from Ferrari or Lamborghini—which were ill-suited for “normal” use—the Citroën SM and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 (which offered comparable performance) were considered the fastest cars for daily driving at the time. The “roaring seventies” had begun…

We subject every vehicle to a systematic inspection—covering everything from the bodywork and engine to the electrical system. Based on this, we provide three different purchase options; you can then decide which one best suits your needs.

Économie – €69,000
A thoroughly inspected, roadworthy vehicle with no outstanding maintenance requirements, complete with a classic-car certification (*H-Gutachten*) and a fresh technical inspection (*Hauptuntersuchung*).

Standard – €72,200
Includes a major service with an oil change, as well as the replacement of the primary throttle position sensor (addressing a slight hesitation at speeds below 30 km/h).

Suprême – €73,800
Includes everything in the Standard package, plus the application of a protective wax treatment to the vehicle’s undercarriage and internal body cavities.

We would be happy to send you further details regarding these three options—or simply give us a call, and we can walk you through everything personally.