Dusty 1973 Citroen SM Project
Because they’re complex and very few Americans can fix them, Maserati-engined Citroen SMs tend to get hidden away when they break down. This 1973 example on eBay in Bullhead City, Arizona has been stored for 20 years, and was inherited from the car’s second owners—the vendor’s parents. Bidding has been slow, and the reserve has not yet met with two days left in the sale.
The car was originally gold with a brown interior, but it was repainted silver in the late 1990s. “There is absolutely no bondo on this car, and the damage you see on rear quarter was done pulling it out of corner,” the vendor says. “No rust! It lived its life in California, and was only registered in Montana when my parents were retired and traveling full time.”
The car has not run or been driven since the early 2000s, after mom passed away. It is 100 percent complete, and the sale includes a replacement for the missing rear window (a big deal on one of these) and also a spare wheel and tire, plus “the goofy-ass jack setup with tools.” Inside, the driver’s door panel is shot, and the car also needs a headliner, a rear deck, and all of the trim pieces around the rear window. The seats are reportedly salvageable, but the inserts have faded colors and a complete interior is warranted. It’s unclear if the car runs.
The $199 Maaco re-paint job is also disintegrating. “This car is a solid survivor and could be a great restoration project,” the vendor says.
These high-performance exotics were produced from 1970 to 1975 and won the Motor Trend Car of the Year award circa 1972. The 2.7-liter V-6 Maserati engine produced 174 horsepower and could attain 137 mph while maintaining up to 22 mpg. Later three-liter versions made 190 horsepower. The car used the all-purpose hydraulic system from the DS, which is one of the reasons it was a maintenance nightmare in the U.S. Nothing is said here about the state of the hydraulic system, but the suspension seems to be preventing it from sinking into the ground. Judging by the uncovered headlights, this is a U.S.-spec car.
Also inherited from the DS was aerodynamic styling, said to be 25 percent better in this car’s slippery shape. Reviving this car, despite the absence of rust, will not be cheap by any means. It needs just about everything but corrosion repair. It’s not clear that a restoration would be a wise investment. Classic.com says the average price for a 1970-1975 Citroën SM is $44,207, and the market appears to be holding fairly steady. The bills would quickly mount when restoring this lovely car.
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Comments
French countryside yes. Citroen no.
This car has tons of upside potential, an automatic which most disparage/some prefer. The larger 3L, non-rusty sheetmetal at a low price is a Citroen sm dream. 👍
Didn’t Burt Reynolds ruin one of these in The Longest Yard?
If you have ever driven one you will never forget it..amazing.I nearly bought one at two different times but talked myself out of it.I would love to have one but think I’d go for the very best I could afford that’s been gone thro by SM World.These are stunning cars all around when they are maintained correctly. Jay Leno loves his!!
I sure have, I owned one for 12 years, I know all about them, they’re horrible to work on also
My dad had a few Citroens: wagon & a Chapron convertible. Great cars to drive but troublesome to acquire parts and repair. He always wanted an SM, but decided that ALFAs were easier to own. That 2.7 Maserati engine had some flaws.
I had both an SM and a 69 duetto. both were difficult to own and maintain. kind of like what would you rather have? an IRS audit or DUI?
I have one in 1974 when I was 20. without a doubt of the 50 plus cars I have owned, it was the most remarkable as a new car. that said, I had to keep a box of rubber/metal flanges that connected the rod that ran all the systems as the flange would just rip apart and they were impossible to get in Orlando. I also had an alfa 1750 duetto and my alfa mechanic, and old guy with the ubiquitous cigarette hanging out of his mouth at all times just stared at the nightmarish plumbing under the hood the first time the car stranded me on the road side and stated: this is an engineers dream and a mechanic’s nightmare. if you bid on this car, remember that comment. he was correct. I would ONLY own one of these now if the car were perfect at point of sale, low mileage, and I had gobs of money. otherwise, like an old rolls, this car is best admired from afar.
Even if you acquire this car for nothing you will soon be upside down on it’s resale value. No such thing as a cheap SM.
I think l’éléphant dans la pièce is that rear window. Installing that seems as stressful as an early Barracuda rear window.
…..or a Jensen Interceptor rear window…
deep pockets = dream rides.
Wanna play? gotta pay!
(4 me? great looks’n driving/riding experience. not so much on ownership)
As once said “I’d gladly pay U 4 a hamburger tomorrow for one today.” I will repeat: “If U buy it I’ll test drive it for you?”
8^ )