22-01-2015, 10:34 PM
OK, I know it isn't a 306 or even a Peugeot, but I got to drive one of these things tonight which I have always wanted to do and I thought I'd share my thoughts with you guys, I mean it is a legendary French car.
I've driven a DS before, and that was a major high point in my life, every bit as amazing as I'd hoped, but for me the SM is the ultimate Citroen. All the awesome technology and comfort of the DS, but replacing the DS's weak point, its underpowered and old-fashioned 1950's 4-pot engines with a big, smooth Maserati V6 from the Merak
Got a call from a mate when I was finishing work. His dad has been restoring one for 3 years, and now it's driveable. Not finished, because the interior retrim isn't finished and the bodywork is still part primer, part paint, and missing a lot of chromework, but all the mechanical bits were finished. Did I want a go? Hell yes!
Now in case you don't know what we have here, this is an SM:
![[Image: Citroen_Sm_020510_3.jpg]](http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc35/smcitroen/Citroen%20Sm/Citroen_Sm_020510_3.jpg)
And some info on them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_SM
So i got there to see a pretty sad looking thing in 5-6 different colours, only a drivers seat, no working dash lights, but was reassured that everything is fine mechanically. Got my phone out to take some photos, but my mates dad asked me not to because he doesn't want anyone seeing it like this, he'll have me back to take photos when it's done.
So sat in the big, cushioned leather armchair and fired it up. 10 seconds turning over and it fired into life, tappety at first but settling after 15 seconds into a beautifully smooth and quiet idle, big twin Webers sucking away under the bonnet as the suspension pressurized and lifted the car off it's bump stops. Got out and just walked around it, getting a feel for the size of the thing, really great lines.
Got back in as it warmed up, slid a Crosby, Stills & Nash tape into the 8-track and dropped it into drive, and feathered the throttle. The big Maserati V6 barely changed note and the silky box took up drive and took us out of the barn, my mate sat on the floor as there's no passenger seat, his dad looking very nervous. Riding at about 10mph down the gravel track to the road felt like being on tarmac through the hydro-pneumatic suspension, literally shaking with nerves, one at driving Kevan's pride and joy, two at driving a car I had on my wall as a kid.
Got to the end of the drive and made a dick of myself, locking up the wheels. Forgot about the "bulb" brake and how sharp they are, needing just a tickle from your toe. Recovered my composure and eased it out onto a single-lane NSL road at a secret location. Near York
Foot down, smooth, linear power and unnoticeable gearchanges, with a lovely growl from the 6-pot, and that magic carpet ride making it feel like a Rolls on acid. Massive grin on my face. First corner, long left hander, and the big bonnet swings into the bend, feeling composed and controlled despite a fair amount of body roll. Steering is quite communicative, and with the DIRAVI system weights up as you go faster. Pretty amazing in a car built in 1974 and designed in the 60's.
The rest of the drive is a blur, went a couple of miles up the road and then Ciaran wanted the drivers seat for another go, so I rode home sat on the floor carpet, but I couldn't stop grinning - I'd finally driven an SM!
Thanked his dad and talked plans for a while - he's waiting on the payment for a house he's built from scratch and then it goes for paint and trimming, and I'm having another go and getting photos then. Drove back in the Merc smiling all the way, and noticing for the first time how harsh coils are, even in a big boat like the 190........
Sorry to ramble on and go into too much detail but that is like an amateur boxer meeting Ali. Can not stop smiling!
I've driven a DS before, and that was a major high point in my life, every bit as amazing as I'd hoped, but for me the SM is the ultimate Citroen. All the awesome technology and comfort of the DS, but replacing the DS's weak point, its underpowered and old-fashioned 1950's 4-pot engines with a big, smooth Maserati V6 from the Merak
Got a call from a mate when I was finishing work. His dad has been restoring one for 3 years, and now it's driveable. Not finished, because the interior retrim isn't finished and the bodywork is still part primer, part paint, and missing a lot of chromework, but all the mechanical bits were finished. Did I want a go? Hell yes!
Now in case you don't know what we have here, this is an SM:
![[Image: Citroen_Sm_020510_3.jpg]](http://media.photobucket.com/user/smcitroen/media/Citroen%20Sm/Citroen_Sm_020510_3.jpg.html)
And some info on them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_SM
So i got there to see a pretty sad looking thing in 5-6 different colours, only a drivers seat, no working dash lights, but was reassured that everything is fine mechanically. Got my phone out to take some photos, but my mates dad asked me not to because he doesn't want anyone seeing it like this, he'll have me back to take photos when it's done.
So sat in the big, cushioned leather armchair and fired it up. 10 seconds turning over and it fired into life, tappety at first but settling after 15 seconds into a beautifully smooth and quiet idle, big twin Webers sucking away under the bonnet as the suspension pressurized and lifted the car off it's bump stops. Got out and just walked around it, getting a feel for the size of the thing, really great lines.
Got back in as it warmed up, slid a Crosby, Stills & Nash tape into the 8-track and dropped it into drive, and feathered the throttle. The big Maserati V6 barely changed note and the silky box took up drive and took us out of the barn, my mate sat on the floor as there's no passenger seat, his dad looking very nervous. Riding at about 10mph down the gravel track to the road felt like being on tarmac through the hydro-pneumatic suspension, literally shaking with nerves, one at driving Kevan's pride and joy, two at driving a car I had on my wall as a kid.
Got to the end of the drive and made a dick of myself, locking up the wheels. Forgot about the "bulb" brake and how sharp they are, needing just a tickle from your toe. Recovered my composure and eased it out onto a single-lane NSL road at a secret location. Near York
Foot down, smooth, linear power and unnoticeable gearchanges, with a lovely growl from the 6-pot, and that magic carpet ride making it feel like a Rolls on acid. Massive grin on my face. First corner, long left hander, and the big bonnet swings into the bend, feeling composed and controlled despite a fair amount of body roll. Steering is quite communicative, and with the DIRAVI system weights up as you go faster. Pretty amazing in a car built in 1974 and designed in the 60's.
The rest of the drive is a blur, went a couple of miles up the road and then Ciaran wanted the drivers seat for another go, so I rode home sat on the floor carpet, but I couldn't stop grinning - I'd finally driven an SM!
Thanked his dad and talked plans for a while - he's waiting on the payment for a house he's built from scratch and then it goes for paint and trimming, and I'm having another go and getting photos then. Drove back in the Merc smiling all the way, and noticing for the first time how harsh coils are, even in a big boat like the 190........
Sorry to ramble on and go into too much detail but that is like an amateur boxer meeting Ali. Can not stop smiling!
