Beschreibung:

In 1961, Citroën began work on 'Project S', a sports variant of the revolutionary Citroën DS. As was customary for the firm, many running concept vehicles were developed, increasingly complex and upmarket from the DS. Citroën purchased Maserati in 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance V6 engine technology to produce a true Gran Turismo car combining the sophisticated Citroën suspension. The result was the Citroën SM; first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1970 and which went on sale in France in September of that year. Factory produced cars were all lefthand drive, although righthand conversions were supplied to the UK and Australia. The origin of the model name 'SM' is not completely clear. The 'S' may derive from the Project 'S' designation and the 'M' perhaps refers to Maserati, hence SM is often assumed to stand for 'Systeme Maserati' or 'Sports Maserati'. Another common alternative is 'Série Maserati' 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). With only three previous owners, this 1971 SM was delivered new to France and imported to the UK earlier this year. The vendor informs us that this example has a rust free chassis, a superb body and good paint work. The more desirable carburettor engine has been rebuilt along with the gearbox and has just been serviced by specialists, Brodies. The interior is trimmed in leather and boasts a rare Edison Continental radio. Supplied with a large history file from 1979 through to 2016 including handbook, tools and spare keys as well as an MoT test certificate valid until July 2017, this is a unique opportunity to purchase a rare Citroën SM that will grace any classic car collection and should prove a wise investment for the future.