RE: Citroen SM: Spotted
Sunday 5th November 2017
If you want to be a great car designer an exotic name helps. Think Giorgetto Giugiaro, Marcello Gandini and Sergio Pininfarina.
Compared with those, Robert Opron doesn't sound so exotic. Nevertheless, behind that simple name is an artistic genius fit to rival any - he was the man who designed the Citroen SM and then, as if that weren't enough, went on to sketch the GS and the CX. Later still, his preliminary sketches became the Alfa Romeo SZ that, depending on your point of view, is either truly stunning or unhesitatingly awful, but either way difficult to ignore.
Why buy an SM? It was a triumph of systems engineering, for one, and, like the GS and CX, and the DS before that, it was, by the standards of its time, a remarkably modern car. Then there's that wonderfully aerodynamic shape, the magnificent hydropneumatic suspension, the unparalleled ride comfort, the pin-sharp steering (with its zero castor, zero camber and zero kingpin inclination), those weird brakes, the delicious seats, the swivelling lights and, oh okay, that engine too, the Maserati V6.
Citroen SM: Spotted
What's in a name? Why this Spotted is worth its price tag.
The London-based specialist dealer Classic Chrome has been very apposite in using his name in the blurb accompanying the sale of this wonderful SM. All SMs are wonderful, of course, but not all are in as good a condition as this one appears to be. First registered in 1973, the car has covered only 76,000 miles from new, and, even better than that, has recently been maintained by renowned Citroen SM specialist Andrew Brodie, a man who knows his oleo-pneumatics. It has a full and comprehensive service history and looks good value at £34,995, especially so considering how much more is often charged for classic cars of considerably less interest.
Of course it'll cost a fortune to maintain, but you would be joining the ranks of past SM owners that included two Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. Charlie can't even drive, but presumably he too couldn't resist the allure of the SM...
Mark Pearson
CITROEN SM
Engine: 2,670cc, V6
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 170@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 170@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1973
Recorded mileage: 76,000 miles
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £34,995
See the original advert here
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Discussion
Just a minor clarification - Andrew Brodie didn't have anything to do with the eponymous Andrew Brodie Engineering since around the turn of the millennium, IIRC, and died last year.
http://citroen-sm.uk/2016/10/24/andrew-brodie-obit...
http://citroen-sm.uk/2016/10/24/andrew-brodie-obit...
In a word, 'fab'. First became aware of these exotic spaceships when Nyree Dawn Porter drove one in 'The Protectors' (as well as an NSU Ro80) and have been beguiled by them ever since. Sat in a beautiful metallic gold example at the NEC a few years ago, it felt so modern despite being forty years old.
I spent an hour or so yesterday perusing (daydreaming more like) online ads for various classic exotica from the same period, most of which started at £50k, £35k for the SM looks great value - I just wish I were brave enough!
Pure Gerry Anderson...
I spent an hour or so yesterday perusing (daydreaming more like) online ads for various classic exotica from the same period, most of which started at £50k, £35k for the SM looks great value - I just wish I were brave enough!
Pure Gerry Anderson...
Edited by P5BNij on Sunday 5th November 11:39
Lovely car, shame its a left hooker. My old man worked for Citroen in the 70s and frequently came home with one of these, or a DS. Loved the DS safari huge thing and the most comfortable seats I have ever experienced..
I remember him saying the CX was crap in summer, as there wasn't a foot level blower and the heat from the engine bay cooked his feet.
I remember him saying the CX was crap in summer, as there wasn't a foot level blower and the heat from the engine bay cooked his feet.
I am lucky enough to have one of these. I bought it at auction a couple of years ago. The previous owner, who was a Dutch chap, had managed to buy the best one he could find and then spent EUR85,000 on it making it even better! These cars seem to have quite a following in Holland and a lot of cars originally registered elsewhere in Europe seem to gravitate there.
Stuart Ager who now runs Brodie Engineering knows the cars inside out and has been very impressive. I think it is important to have a car which is, shall we say, quite idiosyncratic regularly looked after by the guys who know them if you want a reliable machine.
My experience has been pretty good save for one headlight cover smashed by a stone on my first venture onto the motorway. In fairness, I cannot really blame the car for that. The covers are neither cheap nor easy to track down but Brodies came to the rescue. That was pretty bad luck as people manage to run these cars for decades and keep their headlight covers intact. I also had a failed head gasket which Brodies again sorted out. There are apparently three types of head gasket touted for the SM on the market. Two are apparently crap and will turn to porridge in pretty short order and the third is bullet proof. The Dutch had plumped for the wrong one. Otherwise all fine and dandy (so far).
The most impressive thing apart from the ability to muller sleeping policemen is the way it tracks at high speed. The pronounced teardrop shape gives the sort of result that you get with ground effects on a modern exotic. The clack clack from the gate as you change gears is pretty nice too.
It is pretty much a marmite car. Most people do not give it a second glance on the road but it produces an extraordinary reaction in others. I had the Dinky version when I was a kid and always hankered after the real thing. Probably the only thing I would sell it for is an Espada.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ivTEtfUn.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/fxvIKxwl" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fxvIKxwl.jpg)
Stuart Ager who now runs Brodie Engineering knows the cars inside out and has been very impressive. I think it is important to have a car which is, shall we say, quite idiosyncratic regularly looked after by the guys who know them if you want a reliable machine.
My experience has been pretty good save for one headlight cover smashed by a stone on my first venture onto the motorway. In fairness, I cannot really blame the car for that. The covers are neither cheap nor easy to track down but Brodies came to the rescue. That was pretty bad luck as people manage to run these cars for decades and keep their headlight covers intact. I also had a failed head gasket which Brodies again sorted out. There are apparently three types of head gasket touted for the SM on the market. Two are apparently crap and will turn to porridge in pretty short order and the third is bullet proof. The Dutch had plumped for the wrong one. Otherwise all fine and dandy (so far).
The most impressive thing apart from the ability to muller sleeping policemen is the way it tracks at high speed. The pronounced teardrop shape gives the sort of result that you get with ground effects on a modern exotic. The clack clack from the gate as you change gears is pretty nice too.
It is pretty much a marmite car. Most people do not give it a second glance on the road but it produces an extraordinary reaction in others. I had the Dinky version when I was a kid and always hankered after the real thing. Probably the only thing I would sell it for is an Espada.
OLDBENZ said:
I am lucky enough to have one of these. I bought it at auction a couple of years ago. The previous owner, who was a Dutch chap, had managed to buy the best one he could find and then spent EUR85,000 on it making it even better! These cars seem to have quite a following in Holland and a lot of cars originally registered elsewhere in Europe seem to gravitate there.
Stuart Ager who now runs Brodie Engineering knows the cars inside out and has been very impressive. I think it is important to have a car which is, shall we say, quite idiosyncratic regularly looked after by the guys who know them if you want a reliable machine.
My experience has been pretty good save for one headlight cover smashed by a stone on my first venture onto the motorway. In fairness, I cannot really blame the car for that. The covers are neither cheap nor easy to track down but Brodies came to the rescue. That was pretty bad luck as people manage to run these cars for decades and keep their headlight covers intact. I also had a failed head gasket which Brodies again sorted out. There are apparently three types of head gasket touted for the SM on the market. Two are apparently crap and will turn to porridge in pretty short order and the third is bullet proof. The Dutch had plumped for the wrong one. Otherwise all fine and dandy (so far).
The most impressive thing apart from the ability to muller sleeping policemen is the way it tracks at high speed. The pronounced teardrop shape gives the sort of result that you get with ground effects on a modern exotic. The clack clack from the gate as you change gears is pretty nice too.
It is pretty much a marmite car. Most people do not give it a second glance on the road but it produces an extraordinary reaction in others. I had the Dinky version when I was a kid and always hankered after the real thing. Probably the only thing I would sell it for is an Espada.
...an Espada...you my friend have a wonderfully eclectic taste in cars.Stuart Ager who now runs Brodie Engineering knows the cars inside out and has been very impressive. I think it is important to have a car which is, shall we say, quite idiosyncratic regularly looked after by the guys who know them if you want a reliable machine.
My experience has been pretty good save for one headlight cover smashed by a stone on my first venture onto the motorway. In fairness, I cannot really blame the car for that. The covers are neither cheap nor easy to track down but Brodies came to the rescue. That was pretty bad luck as people manage to run these cars for decades and keep their headlight covers intact. I also had a failed head gasket which Brodies again sorted out. There are apparently three types of head gasket touted for the SM on the market. Two are apparently crap and will turn to porridge in pretty short order and the third is bullet proof. The Dutch had plumped for the wrong one. Otherwise all fine and dandy (so far).
The most impressive thing apart from the ability to muller sleeping policemen is the way it tracks at high speed. The pronounced teardrop shape gives the sort of result that you get with ground effects on a modern exotic. The clack clack from the gate as you change gears is pretty nice too.
It is pretty much a marmite car. Most people do not give it a second glance on the road but it produces an extraordinary reaction in others. I had the Dinky version when I was a kid and always hankered after the real thing. Probably the only thing I would sell it for is an Espada.
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