A remarkable driving experience

[s class]

Citroen SM.

The cosmetics are rather polarising - there is no way to feel indifferent about this car.  I've admired them since I was a youngster in the 70's and today I had the opportunity to drive a well-sorted example.  I was rather apprehensive that the experience might not live up to expectations...... but I was very, very wrong.

The SM was sold between 1970 and 1975, and was a very expensive car, costing as much as a Porsche 911.  It was Citroen's attempt to compete at the top level of the executive sports-GT cruiser segment.

As expected for Citroen, everything is hydraulic.  An engine-driven pump powers a central hydraulic system feeding the suspension (similar to a 6.9), plus the totally unique self-centering hydraulic steering, the hydralic handbrake, and the hydraulic brakes (which work on hydraulic fluid, not brake fluid). 

Thereafter everything gets even less conventional.  It is a front-mid engine vehicle, with the engine well behind the front axle, and behind the transmission, and tucked up under the firewall.  And that engine is the highlight of the vehicle - a Maserati 2.7 litre 90 degree v-6 fed by 3 x downdraft Webers.  The engine has astonishing torque.  The transmission is a 5-sp manual, with very long gearing - at first it feels like one is in second or even third when trying to pull off in 1st, but after an acclimatisation period, the astonishing torque of the engine proves that the choice of gearing is perfect. 

Braking and steering are both tricky to get to grips with - there is no brake pedal - only a 'button' on the floor, and brake 'feel' is very unconventional.  But the braking is excellent - absoluteyl immediate with no dead pedal travel.  The brakes are in-board discs all round, improving unsprung weight (but probably a bastard to work on...).  The steering is fiercely precise, far more precise and accurate than any MB steering I've encountered. 

Of course the hydro-pneumatic suspension means that , like a 6.9, road corrugations and potholes can only be heard, not felt, yet the suspension is taut and hard when the car is driven aggressively.  The very wide front trackwidth, and very narrow rear trackwidth are unusual, but give the car fine, predictable road manners. 

The exhuast note is just to die for.... the Maserati engine happy to pull fiercely from low revs, yet also revving cleanly and smoothly to the red line. 

The combination of the handling, engine note, and abundant torque urged me towards hard driving, and I was well rewarded for this.  What a brilliant, brilliant car.  Current pricing (in the South African context) starts at the top end of the 107/129 price levels, and goes on up towards Pagoda pricing.  I have to say, if I had to choose between an SM and a 107/129, I might just go towards the SM. 

A huge thank you to the owner GrantV for allowing me this real treat. 

[s class]

This youtube video gives you a good idea of what the experience is like :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D9YgMD85OM

[motec6.9]

Sounds like you had fun sclass they are a great car . I used to own a cx2500 manual and I had the chance to drive a very nice SM at the time over here if and when they come on the market. Rebuilders start at 20000 and good 1 go for 40000 . Geoff 

[JasonP]

That's a James Bond car.

[Squiggle Dog]

I LOVE old Citroëns. They may be my favorite make next to Mercedes. I appreciate how non-conventional, original, and creative the vehicles are. I really like the DS as well. If they made them with diesel engines and had the same parts availability and support as Mercedes (and if they could be found regularly in wrecking yards for parts), I'd probably be driving one. Way cool.

[djenka018]

Well said, there is no way to feel indifferent about this car
This car was actually meant to compete with Mercedes SLC, BMW635csi and Jag XJ-S.
Suffered the same fate as D-Jetronic

One of my childhood dream cars was a Citroen CX... naturally SM too.

[jbrasile]

Very interesting cars indeed!!! When I was a kid, a friend's dad owned an SM here in Sao Paulo, it was metallic brown with a black interior. I can still remember just standing to watch the suspension do its magic when we happened to go out at the same time from our building's garage...

I wonder why the Merak, which uses the same mechanicals is such an unloved exotic... the driving experience should be similar since Citroen used so many parts from the SM in that beautiful little sports car, even the dashes are pretty much identical.

Nice write-up sclass!

Tks,

Joe

[TJ 450]

Awesome car,

I personally love the concept.

Tim