Citroen SM Maserati 5 Speed Restored. Jerry Hathaway of SM World Assembled

1973 Citroën Other Jerry Hathaway Assembled Sorted. maserati ferrari Description

In 1961, Citroën began work on 'Project S' — a sports variant of the revolutionaryCitroën DS. As was customary for the firm, many running concept vehicles were developed, increasingly complex and upmarket from the DS.[2]Citroën purchasedMaseratiin 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance engine technology to produce a trueGran Turismocar, combining thesophisticated Citroën suspensionwith a MaseratiV6.[3]

The result was the Citroën SM, first shown at theGeneva Motor Showin March 1970. It went on sale in France in September of that year. Factory produced cars were all left-hand-drive, although RHD conversions were done in the UK and Australia.

The origin of the model name 'SM' is not completely clear. The 'S' may derive from the Project 'S' designation, the aim of which was to produce what is essentially a sports variant of theCitroën DS, and the 'M' perhaps refers to Maserati, hence SM is often assumed to stand for "Systeme Maserati" or "Sports Maserati". Another common alternative isSérie Maserati,[4][5]but others have suggested it is short for 'Sa Majesté' (Her Majesty in French), which aligns with the common DS model's nickname 'La déesse' (The Goddess).

The SM was Citroën's flagship vehicle, competing with other high-performance GTs of the time from manufacturers such asJaguar,Lotus,Ferrari,Aston Martin,Alfa RomeoandPorsche.Francehad not had a production vehicle in this segment afterWorld War II, except for the export orientedChryslerV8 engineFacel Vegain the late 1950s.[6]The thriving French luxury car industry was decimated by post-World War IIpuissance fiscaleregulation, which has hamstrung French manufacturers for decades.

The SM did not find a sufficient customer base in the European GT market, but much of the SM's technology was carried forward to the successfulCitroën CX, launched in 1974theDIRAVIsteering being the most obvious example. The same basic engine in enlarged 3.0L form (some in Italy had 2.0L) was used in Maserati's ownMerak(1,800 units) and later with some modification in theBiturbo(40,000 units).[7]The Merak,Khamsin, andBora, used Citroën's high-pressure hydraulics for some functions, and the Citroën gearbox in the Merak, during the Citroën-Maserati alliance.

Contemporary automotive journalists were effusive about the SM's dynamic qualities, which were unlike anything they had experienced before.[8]The SM provided a combination of comfort, sharp handling, and braking not available in any other car at the time.[9]The magazinePopular Sciencenoted that the SM had the shortest stopping distance of any car they had tested.[10]

Automotive journalists marveled at the resulting ability to travel for hours at 200km/h (120mph) in comfort.[11]In 1972Motorsport(U.K.) noted ..."that rare quality of being a nice car to be in at any speed, from stationary to maximum."[12]The touring range based on the SM's fuel economy and the large 90l (20impgal; 24USgal) fuel tank made long, fast, relaxing journeys possible.[13]

Because the SM had a small 170PS (130kW) engine, the acceleration was adequate rather than exemplary - some competitors were quicker. Some owners have fitted the similar sized 220PS (160kW)Maserati MerakSS engine, which does improve the driving experience considerably.[14]

Fuel consumption compares favorably to most competitors.