Citroen SM headlamps - a photo on Flickriver

            Undeniably one of the most intriguing cars ever made, the 1970-75 Citroen SM defined quirky. Featuring Citroens trademark hydropneumatic suspension that raised and lowered the car would be reason enough. Coupled to extremely aerodynamic styling on the 5.0 metre long car, this performance flagship was capable of 140 mph (235 km/h). In part this can also be attributed to the engine. At the time the Italian sportcar marque Maserati was owned by the French mass-manufacturer. The sportscar makers engine was enployed as a 2.7 (later 3.0 litre) vee-six developing approximatedly 200 hp (150 kW), with all the crackle and pop the era's vehicle legislation allowed. 

For such an exceptionally quirky car, it is somewhat strange that it shoul be awared car-of-the-year by a US motoring journal. Alas the US market which could have supported the vehicle though the fuel crisis modified vehicle bumper rules which all but elliminated all height varying suspension vehicles, including the SM. After a restricted build volume of 5 years and approximately 14,000 cars, it was no more.

The story.....

I saw her car lights illuminate. "Yellow?", I thought. The car sounded sweet. Light, fruity. The shape looked relatively conventional though. She light mover over to the car, opened the car, climbed aboard and arced around to where I was standing.

The form was long, slipery and clean. My additional clue came as she first moved off though. The car sighed lightly, and the rear lifted from the ground. "A Citroen." I thought, perhaps expecting a CX or DS.

Yes, and no. It was one of the rare and beautiful SMs, green in colour.

Again I thought to myself: "What else could she drive - the most intriguing and beguiling woman I had ever met."

To many strange thought in my head.

"I'll never... forget you." She said. A hint of regret or remorse in her voice.

It was late and my head was not clear enough to discerne.

"Yes." I said. "Likewise." Was the same regret in my own voice?

She smiled, powered her window back up and moved out onto the road.

The fruity exhaust again rasped in enjoyment and the car glided off into the fog. A phantom in the mist.

The model.

This miniland scale (1:21) Citroen SM features an front-mid-engined vee-engine, longitudinally mounted, driving the front wheels.

The front wheels are independently suspended with transverse arms and torsion bars (the real car featured oleopneumatics).

The rear suspension, which is height variable (four positions) features longitudinal trailing arms and torsion bars. I finally have found a use for the figure-8 rubber bush which acts as a damper and retains the suspension position under extension. As can be seen in one of the images, the suspension allows a full three plate diagonal articulation.

The bodywork features two doors, opening panoramic window rear liftgate and hood (bonnet). 

There are groovy brown bolstered seats in the interior.

The fully glazed front panel features lego LED light units with yellow lens covers.

Celebrating LUGNuts 50th - thanks Lino, Nathan and the moderators for all your effort, encouragement, criticism and awesome models.

Taken on: January 3, 2012

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Citroen

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vee-six

Maserati

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miniland

France

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Sets appears in: • 1970 Citroen SM • Classic French

Camera: Pentax K-7, f/5.6, 1/5 sec, 80mm (=120mm), ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Pentax K-7
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.2 sec (1/5)
Focal Length:	80mm (35mm equivalent: 120mm)
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	-0.7 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Contrast:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	K-7 Ver 1.00
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