What Is It?, Looks a bit CX to me

[minijet]

Browsing through the XM images on the net I came across this machine.

It looks distinctly Citroen.........or could it be a left over from a 70's sci-fi TV programme....UFO perhaps.

It's certainly different, and it looks fast.

I'm sure someone on here will know what it is.

[XM v6 sadist]

Hi Minijet

That beauty is a citroen SM. They were a V6 2.7 hydropneumatic coupe collaboration between citroen and Maserati when citroen briefly owned Maserati. They were one of the fastest GT cars of the early 70's. Extremely desirable (too me anyway). I'm sure that if you look on wiki then you'll find more. They also had a bit of interesting engine destroying reputation.

Good ones seem to be around £15K and poor ones are £money pits.

They look even more interesting close up.

Cheers

Tony

[citroenxm]

Isnt the engine destroying thing a fire cause - due to too much engine heat - hardening fuel pipes - then splitting them all over the hot engine???

Citroen wanted a much faster coupe car in the 70's but had NO IDEA of a decent fast engine... So they accuired Maserati briefly and got them selves their engine. It was orginially a V8 unit, but they lobbed off two cylinders, so it too exsists with a 90 deg unit... The same engine is in the Maserati Merak!!

Im not surprised that some people get the XM engine mixed up with this one, as they are both 90 deg.. What a shame Citroen didn't keep the rights to it, I'm sure its a much better unit then the PSA 90 deg V6!!


Rgds
citroenxm

[XM v6 sadist]

Hi

The SM engine thing....I've heard from SM owners that the V8 with two cylinders lobbed off story is not true. Anyway the engine has a mid range resonance whether this is due to v8 story or not. Other engine problems are due to the lightweight valves originally used breakign and the chains that need to be serviced every 6Kmiles. With valve modifications the engines should be OK. You are also right about the fire problems with the early EFi. I guess that a car that is around now should have the EFI lines and valve issues sorted.

You can probably tell by my nerdy response - I've been looking at SMs for a while with a view to buying one. The guys at BL autos reckon that by buying a bad one you can spend the same amount as the purchase price putting it right!

I must say that given the problems and high maintenance of the SM 2.7 V6 the S1 24v manual seems like a better engine.

Cheers

Tony

[minijet]

Thanks for identifying it Tony. I don't think I've seen one before.

I googled SM, and found some nice pics. It's a beautiful car, shame about the engine.

This must be the ultimate SM.........



I thought the DS was the ultimate classic Citroen but the SM takes some beating

Not sure which I like best .............I'll take the pair

[citroenxm]

Hi Tony,

Appriciated, I'm no real SM fanatic, but Yes it would have to be in my Citroen Museium Barn if I had one and could afford one.

I didn't know of the valve problems, I'd thought Maserati would have it correct from the start...

The PRV 24v, after the modification work was done FOC , was sorted. I love my S1 24v, and the sound it makes with those twin throttles! I cant wait till summer to get her restored and back on the road!

Rgds
citroenxm

[citroenxm]

Red SM is a USA Spec car - Identified by the 4 round FIXED headlights

That Blue one looks a stunner in that colour and is a Euro or French one has it has the Quad headlights, and that the better looking front too..

Americans always have to have a car look different then then us euro/uk cars!!


Rgds
citroenxm

[wirdy]

Lovely cars.

Out of general interest, does anyone know why my Xantiae and XM's all have a plate under the bonnet stating they do not conform to US standards? I presumed it was because everything is run from the hyd system and the US were unsure of the safety aspects of a failure. How did the SM get around this?

[aengus-xmv6]

probably minimum ground clearance requirements

Dave

[Peter.N.]

I am informed by my son that shortly after they started having problems with them the spares dried up and apparantly Citroen didn't want to know.

Peter.N.

[SamWise1972]

"Shame about the engine"??? Seriously! It's an exotic Italian engine, so you can expect the usual high cost of keeping it running, and finickiness, but that's one of the great engines!

[citroenxm]

As to the Plates about no CONFIRMATION for the USA market.

Citroen pulled out of the USA I THINK late 70's early 80's - so to cover their backs they issue the plate, so any personal exports to USA they wont get any claims as they aren't supposed to be officialy sold in the USA


C

[DrTim]

Not the greatest pic I am, afraid but I spotted this down the road next to my indies earliere in the year, I think one of the idie guys is running it.

[XM v6 sadist]

Hi Tim

....don't give it up to be a photographer but seriously it does nicely show how different the SM is compared most other cars on the road!

Cheers

Tony

[minijet]

I'm surprised at how small it looks compared to the 'small' hatchbacks around it.

I bet it still turns a few heads though.

Thanks for posting the pic.