Brezhnev’s Road Rocket: 1973 Citroen SM
As nonsensical as it seems, many of us who lived through the Cold War miss some aspects of it. We had basically one enemy, and the good guy and bad guy roles were clearly defined in contrast to our current clown world existence. There was one guy on the other side, Premier Leonid Brezhnev, who had something in common with us. He was a car guy of the first order. Take a look at this 1973 Citroen SM for sale on craigslist in Oakland, California. While not Brezhnev’s original ride, the Citroen SM was one of his favorites. At an asking price of $55,000 would this original but quirky Citroen appeal to you as well? Thanks to Pat L. for the tip!
For those of you that don’t remember, the Cold War was the overarching term that defined the fight against communism. The communist world was lead by the USSR, better known as the Soviet Union. They were our mortal enemy, and the United States and their allies spent trillions of dollars and many lives trying to keep the threat of communism from spreading. We also invested heavily in diplomacy with the Soviet Union.
One of the Soviet premiers that we faced was a guy by the name of Leonid Brezhnev. Straight out of central casting for a communist dictator, Brezhnev was chubby, had bushy eyebrows, and wore ill fitting suits. He was, of course, the enemy to freedom and all that. Still, he clearly abandoned the ideals of communism when it came to cars.
Cars were a luxury that few people living under the yoke of communism could afford. That didn’t seem to bother Brezhnev. He had a collection of cars that was rumored to be in the hundreds that were not his in name. Supposedly all his cars were “for the party.” Supposedly.
One of the ways that he amassed his collection, especially when he reached the position of Premier, was that someone on his staff would make gift “suggestions” to world leaders. Specific suggestions, like when he was to meet with Nixon. His “gift” was a beautiful Lincoln Continental that miraculously was in the same color and had all the options that Brezhnev wanted. Presented to him at Camp David, I believe that this is the same car that he took Nixon for a wild ride in.
So why mention Brezhnev when it comes to this beautiful but quirky Citroen SM? Brezhnev used the cars gifted cars to him to travel back and forth between Moscow and his country dacha. He drove fast. Really fast. One day, while driving the low slung Citroen SM at a ridiculous rate, he managed to rip the oil pan out of the low slung Citroen. There is no mention as to how the problem was solved. He probably just told his staff to plan another trip to Paris.
The 1973 Citroen SM you see in this ad is a stunningly well kept example of these amazing cars. A joint project that combined Citroen’s cutting edge suspension technology and quirky looks with a Maserati produced V-6, these cars were called “A Concorde for the Road” in this article by Hagerty. This particular Citroen SM has been under the care of the same owner since 1978 and is in running and driving condition. The engine was rebuilt, it was repainted 20 years ago, and is in great condtion for its age.
This car stands out from others because it has spent a majority of its life covered in a garage. It will need air conditioner work and a few other minor repairs to be 100%. However, finding a Citroen SM with no rust problems is a rarity. Finding one that runs and drives is also a challenge, as it is probably the most complicated car built in the 1970s. Add to that the rarity of these cars in the United States, and the asking price makes more sense.
Just check underneath to see if the oil pan is in good condition.
Do you have any Cold War car memories? If so, please share them in the comments.
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Comments
Fair price for one of the most innovative but complex cars of the 70’s. You can buy a fixer upper for 20 to 30 grand but you will end up with more invested in total than the sellers asking. Really nice color combination with the desired 5-speed transaxle. Only thing missing is the euro spec headlamps with the lights that track your steering input. I would like to own at least a DS model someday. The person that sold me my CX Turbo said he preferred the CX over his SM. Hopefully soon I can get started on that car over the winter.
One of my all-time favorites. I managed to put a week’s-worth of miles on a well-sorted SM (the late Jerry Hathaway’s car) and it was, after a few minutes spent getting used to the VERY sensitive steering, an absolute pleasure. Sadly, it didn’t have the Euro headlights, but I have heard the conversion is possible.
My experience is the opposite of “alphasud’s” guy: I liked the SM much better than the CX I drove later. It may have been just the conservative styling and the four-cylinder engine (the SM’s 75%-of-a-Maserati-V8 was a joy, at least after its cam-chain issues were sorted out.
Brezhnev seemed to like getting Free Cars. I can understand that! But his good taste in accepting an SM was somewhat counterbalanced (to me, anyway) when, on another occasion, Richard Nixon gave him a Chevy Monte Carlo….
What a great story! I do remember the Cold war and him of course.. but I must say that was a great story and that is a fine looking car!
He gave 3 different cars on different occasions, the Monte Carlo, the mentioned Continental and a 1972 Eldorado.
I saw a DS parked at the side of the road today; just a used car, which is a good thing. Maybe Leonid was sick of Packard copies?
As for cold war memories, I remember the sirens going off one morning (a shorted wire or something was the cause). I was out delivering morning papers, and more than 5 minutes on a bike from my house – so I just finished my round.
Packard copies – I personally owned the Gaz 13 Chaika formerly used by the last Soviet Premier of Lithuania. It’s now in the vast LeMay Collection in Washington state.
Could we PLEASE leave politics out of this?
Politics are history. Thus, reminiscing “cold war memories.”
Mitch’s comments aren’t “politics;” merely a statement of some facts with an opinion. I welcome his comments!
angl, I couldn’t agree with you more. In fairness, author Jeff kind of opened it up though. I actually like his reference to our “current clown world existence” but hoped no one would take the bait.
As for the car, I always pictured Ray Walston driving one of these, antennae protruding from both sides of his head.
To clarify, when I mention “clown world,” I am referring to a world that is increasingly makes no sense and is losing its ability to function efficiently. In my mind, politicians of all varieties have played a major part in getting us to this point. Plenty of blame to go around, and nobody is coming to rescue us. It is up to us to work together to make things better.
The automobile world is still pretty cohesive and we still have a whole lot in common. I’d like to keep it that way. I appreciate everyone’s perspective, and often the comments I read open my eyes to other people’s viewpoints on what I wrote and the cars featured. Thank you to all who comment and keep this site interesting!
Paul Crewe jammin to Mr. Saturday night special.
The first memories that come to mind from the Cold War and its influence on my young life at the time were the frequent moves dad was required to make as a member of the USAF attached to NORAD. The second memory that comes to mind of that same period in time was a Rambler always parked in the driveway.
Our little towns “convenient” store’s owners son had one of these. I thought it was one of the strangest things I ever saw. But then, the son was definitely one strange dude.
Fascinating car. I’d rather have this than some plain old car. Wouldn’t want to try to restore an old neglected one however.
In my youth there was the Citroen Maserati dealer in Kansas City. I was there with my boss to pick up parts for a Maserati 3500 GT and there was this chocolate brown SM that had just been delivered and gone thru dealer prep. The thing was so amazing and different. The paper work for the parts was going to take a while and I was offered a ride. My boss said go and I had one of them most amazing rides in my life.
There is a road in South Kansas City called Little Blue River Road and it is twisty with few straight sections and not all that smooth. I had driven it in my Europa S2 many times. We went first on the highway where you can see the radar trap miles away and he took it up to speed, and then to Blue River road and the smoothness of the ride was amazing. The only car I have ever been in where you felt like you were sitting still and the world was moving around you. The same thing happened on Blue River Road. We were not exactly floating but all the undulations went away and I looked over and saw an instrument staying 35 something. I thought it was the speedometer. I WAS WRONG. It was the tack. We were doing something close to 90 MPH in the gear he was in (also a 5 Speed). I knew where we were and there was a rail road crossing that was very bumpy and I never felt it when we went over it.
There are cars that are special in almost every way and this is one of them. I does not look like anything else. It does not ride like anything else I have ever been in and is a ride almost beyond exception. There are many reasons not to purchase one. But I am of the mind that there are many more reasons one should. I have never been able to find one in good shape when I had the funds and when I did not have the funds they seem to drop out of the trees. ( I have the same problems with 70, 71 Barracudas) but since that ride I have always wanted one. To the new owner my best wishes and please share the pleasure this car gives you with friends and those young men and women who will surround it with mouths watering and forgive the finger prints they put on the windshield and side glass.
This car is far from perfect with the V-6 Maserati engine being a short coming especially given todays engines that would out perform it with ease. But as a piece of automotive history it is a benchmark. Sadly it was expensive and complex with few in this country willing to maintain them properly. I would love to see this body and chassis re-introduced with a newer proper engine. I think people today would be more accepting of the design and the performance than in the day.
What engine would you suggest?
What??????
You and me both! Could it be that Mitch’s post was auto translated on a TRS 80 computer? Obviously JE Klinz
speaks the same language…
I’m thinking 18″
That’s not the size of the erection this car gives me – it’s the tires I’d want to put on it!
I have always enjoyed unusual cars like this: you are not likely to see another SM coming at you on the road,. The fact that this one is about a dozen miles from me so the likelihood of having local service expertise is good. Too bad that adding this pretty hydropneumatic is not in my capabilites now but I can fantasize about showing up at a local Cars & Coffee or a Cruise Night with the other hydropneumatic (low rider) cars.
I had an SM in 74 when I was 21. of the 50 or so cars I have owned, it was by far the most exotic car I have ever had, much less driven. I even outran a cop one day in it, he was going the other way, I gunned it, turned a corner doing a ridiculous speed and never saw him again. refined, fun, not the quickest but at high speeds quiet and elegant in it’s movements, hardly reliable, but simply without compare. I often think it would be fun to have another, then I remember the mechanical issues (even as a new car). better as a memory than a current reality. im only sad most will never experience such a fine car, still today elegant and contemporary, 50 yrs later.
As the owner of an SM since I purchased mine from SM World in 1980, I m impressed by this car. It has the desired 5 speed. Most came with the auto as they “were a doctor’s car” as told to me by a Beverly Hills dealer. The price is very reasonable as in Europe they are now at 6 figures. As to the rotating headlites?, more trouble than they are worth. There are 2 types, hydraulic and mechanical. US cars were required to have traditional 4 headlites. Headlite covers are available. If buyer is from San Francisco, there is a great mechanic that knows Citroens in Santa Cruz Ca.
It must be just me but I have yet to see a Citroen that looked anywhere even close to attractive, consistency is ok in some cases but in the case I find these incredibly ugly vehicles!
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”
Citroens are like Studebaker Champions, ugly but in a beautiful way. When in Army in the 70’s my boss(Warrant Officer) was married to a German and they owned a guesthaus (bar) and he owned one. He would take a few of us out to his bar in his DS I think. What a ride!! Going around 2 lane road curves at 80+!! And the headlights following the wheels was so cool. The beer helped also. Always wanted one but luckily never found one.
I read the same story 35years ago and it was a Mercedes 350 SL that had its oil pan ripped out. He did crash and destroy his Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow though.