Driven: Is the Citroen SM SC the most advanced French touring car ever?

A French-built car with an Italian-built V6 under the hood, the Citroen SM SC was lauded by critics and was the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1972. On this episode of Driven, we take a spin in one owned by the Mullin Automotive Museum.
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[@TWTR4EVER]

Still today in 2019 the Citroen SM remains the best car I've ever driven.

[@ethelred2648]

They didn't "only build 29000 of them" ... they built 12920 of them. You forgot the DIRAVI steering system, didn't mention the carbon fibre optional wheels, and why does your example smoke so much ? You didn't mention the anti-dive, nor did you mention the fully powered all-disc brakes. And in the event of a blow-out this car would maintain itself straight because of its suspension geometry. An amazing car, very under-sold in this review unfortunately.

[@kimgriffiths8850]

Nor did they mention the "Mushroom" brake pedal or it's amazing turning circle. It's definitely one of the most exciting cars I've ever driven. :)

[@MrTruth111]

I think the engine could do with a little maintanance, probably some worn engine parts.

[@leneanderthalien]

The optional Michelin wheel was not in carbon fiber but in glass fiber.But you are right the smoky exhaust is not normal...

[@JohanFransen]

First car with rain detection! (1974!)

[@V8Operator]

Very few know that! And bonded in front screen!

[@rramoreproductions2083]

The DS & The SM were the greatest cars of all time.Glad I have my 5 Citroens =)

[@rramoreproductions2083]

I Did by the way the only made 12,920 cars more or less The exact number differs in a few sources.For the 5 years 70-75 that they made The SM. @@ClassicCars_TV

[@panzerdragon5888]

Did you ever have an SM or DS? I love the SM so much, wish i wasn't 16 so i could get a job to save for one.

[@rramoreproductions2083]

Yes I own 2 DS and 1 SM and a CX and a 2cv.Start saving up with a Job 😃

[@panzerdragon5888]

Impressive! I assume youre french? I will certainly start saving up for one of these masterpieces, theyre hard to come by in America.

[@thedoc.6819]

I was lucky enough to see a SM in the 1970's, I still want one. I learnt to drive in a 2.4D DS estate. With all the quirky switchgear and dials.

[@bttfsof]

This car also had directionnal headlamps and self centering steering wheel ( the steering wheel would also get stiffer as you get more speed ).

[@paulstandeven8572]

As with many aspects of the SM's design, the steering was very clever. It had a very quick steering rack, and a high level of power assistance. There was a second pump, driven from the gearbox - so its output rose in direct relationship to the car's speed. Its pressure opposed the main rack power, and so reduced the power assistance as speed rose. I regard the SM as a technical tour-de-force, as well as a very elegant car

[@joshbacon8241]

The reason why the swivelling high-beams were banned in the US was because regulations at the time required all vehicles to have two or four round sealed-beam headlamps on fixed mounts, with no lens or other covering in front of them. But why was this regulation in place at the time?

[@jourwalis-8875]

A straight answer to your question: Yes it is! I have owned one myself of 1973 year model with electronic fuel injection. What a car!

[@rlbatch5193]

The ride height does NOT lower with increasing speed automatically! It can be changed with the height control lever at the left of the drivers seat.

[@juriaanx301]

True! The car stays at the same level, it doesn't change automatically.

[@algrayson8965]

The ride height can be increased by about 1"/25mm. Low position is for tire changing. High position is for tire changing and negotiating very abrupt dips and humps at dead slow speed to avoid scraping the bottom. I have used the feature to get out of being stuck in mud.

[@scb2scb2]

Some of the ideas/tech was used in F1 in 1993 and made them so quick it was banned right away because they became scary fast. In many ways 'controlling' the cars like citroen did with a 'analog' system and high pressure oil was amazing (and ive worked on them) but with todays tech we could do so much more since computers, motors and sensors.. Downside is like with planes its the humans that can't handle what a car could no in case of a mishap.

[@scb2scb2]

@@algrayson8965 we use to use a DS for pulling stuff out of the ground if needed, also nice is that with even say a 500KG load the car would still balance and stay flat.

[@fuckinantipope5511]

BUT please never use any other height but the regular driving height to actually drive. The other hights are not made for driving, if at all very slowly

[@josevidalmedina3189]

My dad use to work on this cars back in the 70s early 80s got a chance to be in alot of them sm world back when Jerry Hathaway was alive in the valley los Angeles rip thanks for Reviewing

[@senzarivali]

Despite factual errors, very nicely filmed!

[@chrisadams6595]

Why the best French car ever made? It is THE BEST car ever made.

[@pascalkrzeminski7341]

Citroën SM 😍 🇫🇷

[@jamesdrichardson3447]

I've always looked at the SM and thought "why be so weird" so I'm assuming I just don't get this car. I've only ever saw 2 of these on the road here in the UK and the first thing that hits you is the styling and shape, you either love it or hate it and I can't decide. I did notice this car burning some oil out on the road, even when pootling along, I suspect a trail of blue smoke following them if they pushed the 2.7 or 3L motor, a high mileage car maybe or just normal build quality for the 70's engine back then. They didn't mention the brake pedal or the lack of a pedal for that matter, it's a button on the floor which must take some getting used to when first driving. A uniquely strange and fascinating car, love it or hate it.

[@nomebear]

Why don't they make cars like the SM today instead of the plastic fantastic crap they push on us? It was a fantastic car then, and it's an incredible automobile today.

[@stephanemathieu5721]

Number 1 absolut car il the world ..technology creativity engenering .. the best or the best .. à DS with italian heart ...

[@antonioliguori9906]

Sensazionale ! Rifarla oggi non sarebbe male, ma Citroen oggi non crede più in quello che fa visto che i modelli che produce sono sempre più improntati su standard economici.

[@julienlacroix7538]

The V6 of the Citroën SM was not a cut of version of the V8 of the Maserati Quattroporte I. It was a total new engibe which was also used in the Maserati Merak and in the Quattroporte II.

[@tonyzed6831]

Exactly. The complete story is that Maserati, in an effort to impress the new french owners, created a prototype V6 engine by cutting two cylinders from a V8 in a record time... but the engine that resulted was never used. The engine used there was a completely new engine.

[@julienlacroix7538]

@@tonyzed6831 Yes, you're right

[@bttfsof]

Yes, but there was a v8 planned by maserati that didn't make it because of the petrol crisis.

[@jybe75013]

No that is not totally true because this engine is à V6 90° opened with only 3 crankpins that give irregular timing 90/150/90/150), suggesting the crankshaft is coming from a V8 truncated engine. For a regular timing with 3 crankpins the V6 engine must be 60° opened

[@leneanderthalien]

@@jybe75013 The 90° angle was choice to reduce the height from the engine to make the hood so low as possible: a 60° V6 is much higher, specialy if carburated, was the same thing for the V6 PRV, who was realy a truncated V8 (see the V6 Alfa Romeo: the Alfetta GTV6 needs a bump on the hood)...the other cause was the machining: Maserati not have 60° capable milling machines...the V6 from the SM was 100% specific designed for the SM who need a specific accessories drive for alternator, hydraulic pump, air conditionner compressor, because the engine was installed in central forward position like the DS... but the design was made too fast with major fails, and underestimate the power drive from the central shaft= primary chain drive system undersized+ fast wearing from the central shaft bearings= loss of oil pressure...90° V6 was common in the USA, but they use specific crankshafts to make it regular (like the crankshaft from the last PRV)

[@firstnamesecondname5341]

And sadly Citroen won’t make a retro coupe for the modern era, it’s shape would perfectly suit an electric ⚡️ coupe

[@jourwalis-8875]

The system does not lower the car automatically depending on speed! It has constant ride height, irrespective of load! He didn´t mention with one word the Diravi steering system, which is speed sensitive and has automatic return to center even at stand still. And only two revolutions on the steering wheel, lock to lock!

[@jacquesmichel9232]

I love ❤️ my SM. An admirable car very modern for its age .

[@patrickshaw4971]

My '72 DS Stwag was named Anais--had a "4 upon the tree"---thus, freed from the dreaded hydronamatique-transmission (a four upon the wand)--put one million million mils upon her (I gently exaggerate) until she rusted into duex--how I miss Anais! If I had an SM, I would have collapsed dead touching the handle.

[@stephenberry1205]

Magic automobile. Even rarer in Australia. A number were converted here to Right Hand Drive. Peter McLeod used to import used US cars to Australia and converted some of them. In the US versions they lost the six self leveling headlights under glass including turning spotlights and replaced them with 4 goofy sealed beam lights with no glass. Same for the DS. US regulations could not cope with the level of sophisication. They were very cheap as used cars in the US in the 80s and 90s so quite a few crossed the Pacific to kangaroo land. My 21st birthday in 1974 was a drive of a RHD (Aussie conversion) SM owned by a neighbour who lived up the street on the North Shore in Sydney. The only exotic car in the whole suburb. Mind blowing - including two turns lock to lock self centring power steering, brake mushroom button a la DS, that Maserati burble turning into a roar. Manifique. I had a Citroen GS 1220 as did my parents. A decade later a friend in the Citroen Car Club converted one to Right Hand Drive over 2 years. He let me chauffeur him down to the Southern Highlands and up the South Coast. My most memorable motoring experience in 50 years of driving. He should have kept that car, instead of selling it and buying a new C5 V6 Citroen. Closest I got was owning a SM was a 1978 CX Prestige 2400 EFI 5 speed with leather. Ride and bulk of the SM with Diravi power self centring steering, no travel brake pedal, squats under heavy braking, no loss of control with a front wheel blow out, height adjustable self leveling suspension, but instead of a 2 + 2 with small boot, the rear passengers got footrests and huge legroom, plus a great trunk. A CX Prestige with a V6 of the later Xantia never happened. That would be an awesome express tourer. I currently own a 1990 Citroen 2CV6 RHD Charleston and a 2018 C4 Cactus. Viva La Difference....

[@joshbacon8241]

The reason why the self-levelling headlights with swivelling high beams were banned in the US was because regulations at the time required all vehicles to have two or four round sealed-beam headlamps on fixed mounts, with no lens or other covering in front of them. But why was this regulation in place at the time?

[@jourwalis-8875]

It was the fastest front wheel drive car at the time!

[@protestagain]

You forgot to mention the lights. They are always adjusted correctly and when you turn, the lights follow the speed direction. There are also two-door DS, which are actually SM, and they were used in the rally in the seventies. Confused, yes, they existed ... and much more.

[@protestagain]

Forgot to tell that there were also two-door DS, both in coupe and convertible, which was not SM. They were built by Henri Chapron for Citroën. So they are counting as factory cars.

[@chucku00]

Like the designer of the SM, Robert Opron, who also designed the Alpine A310.

[@joshbacon8241]

The reason why the swivelling high-beams were banned in the US was because regulations at the time required all vehicles to have two or four round sealed-beam headlamps on fixed mounts, with no lens or other covering in front of them. But why was this regulation in place at the time?

[@scb2scb2]

Is it just me or does that car look like its 1 step above its normal driving setting. I see that a lot in DS and SM reviews.... Even if i understand the SM vs DS story well well and yes the SM is more techie in a way it will never be a DS. Pity we didn't see a little more b-role of that nice red floating DS at the start of the clip. I grew up in a citroen garage and my dad worked for the company nearly 50 years...

[@leneanderthalien]

The SM was a fantastic car, only if driven, nobody can understand how much: it's like the car is direct controlled from the brain...The technology from the SM is close the same as on the DS (only a bit improved) , except the Diravi steering, with speed variable assistance (use later on Citroën CX and XM), and the hydraupneumatic system was still use (under license) by Rolls Royce on silver shadow and silver spirit (and copied from Mercedes Benz on 450SEL 6.9L...), the 5 speed manual gearbox is the same as on the DS "super 5" and was use later on Lotus Esprit.But the Achille's heel from the SM was the Maserati engine: specialy made for the SM (and not a amputatee V8!) , was made a bit to fast without suffisant testing and improving= was extremly fragile , difficult and very expansive to maintain, and this was the main cause from the sales collapse= was clearly not the best choice for the SM, despite the prestigious name Maserati...

[@pichurri1173]

Great car, lots of wrong info from the Mullin guide.

[@stevegallagher687]

Sadly with modern technology a new SM could be made that would possibly be one of the best all around cars ever made. But I doubt it would ever happen.

[@fuckinantipope5511]

Citroën needs to make avantgarde cars like the SM, DS, CX, C6 and all those again. They are bring as shit now with their modern SUV-like cars. If they released a electric car inspired by the SM, I might even consider getting an electric car, even if I dont really like them. But as long as they don't, I will stick with my C6 and get some other hydropneumatic Citroëns like a C5 and CX

[@mainiotaainetta]

Doctor in car history? Wow! They didn´t let you drive though. :D

[@1phildefer323]

Ca fait du bien d'entendre des éloges sur les voitures françaises.....Actuellement en 2021 c'est la DS4 ( by Citroën) que je préfère.....😉

[@Didier19595]

Les D.S de 2021 sont toutes fabriquer en Chine se ne sont donc pas des voitures Française mais chinoise

[@algrayson8965]

If you compare the Maserati 90° V6 with their V8s you will see that they are very different.

[@yousefbhoyroo6960]

Its smoking blue ?

[@leestrada1]

Why don't they service that car...? It's smoking a lot. That engine is very fragile. And there are many interesting things you didn't mention about this car, which are simply the ABC to understand it. :(

[@MrRedpath]

An astonishing amount of factual errors in this film. If you're going to speak about a car like the SM, do your homework! It's really that simple.

[@fredgien]

Jammer dat er veel rook uit de uitlaat komt....

[@paulparoma]

I think the AMC Gremlin was a worthy competitor at the time. That unopenable "hatch" alone gave it a clear edge over the SM, not to mention the silky-smooth ride and on-demand power.

[@TDCflyer]

Crooked hood, not properly closed, engine puffs blue smoke...I would suspect that this car is in dire need of some maintenance.

[@jourwalis-8875]

Americans doesn´t understand much of the refinement of great european cars, and especially not the SM!

[@heingysen9875]

Car is Not lowering itself at higher speed !! Only CITROËN 's after 2000 with Hydractive 3 do that. BAD INFO 👎

[@chucku00]

Dans la vie faut pas s'en sphère...

[@tonerotonero1375]

À part les français, peu de gens vont la piger celle-là !

[@tomf3150]

Moi je n'm'en fais pas...

[@189951]

Toutes ces petites misères , seront passagères, tout ça s'arrangeraaaaaaaaaaaa... !lol

[@BN1960]

You do know Bugatti is Italian, yes? "The whole car is made...the hood is made from aluminum" Gods teeth - he doesn't have a clue!

[@giannisantypas9316]

Ettore Bugatti was an immigrant of italian origin, who migrated to France. In France he settled himself and worked, he esrablished the company 'Automobiles Bugatti', set up the plant ini Molsheim, gathered the financial resources and the technical expertise, he raised his family and even named his son Jean after the french equivalent of the italian Gianni. The company Bugatti belonged to a French social and business environment, therefore it is French.

[@paulstandeven8572]

@@giannisantypas9316 Since you are telling someone off for being inaccurate..... Ettore Bugatti was Italian, yes. But,,,, when he established himself in Molsheim in 1909, it was part of Germany. After WW1, Alsace + Lorraine were annexed to France. And so le Patron's marque became French, and very identified with being French

[@giannisantypas9316]

@@paulstandeven8572 Keep it cool mr. I am telling someone off just because I am saying Bugatti the car manufacturer is not italian? Well I am right, it is not and I hope you agree with me. And FYI I am aware of the franco-german issue over the claiming of the region, it has been a long one dispute and I would have no hesitation calling the brand franco-german. Hpwever two things one should be concerned of are 1. the status of the region in the whole period when Bugatti was operational and 2. the consciousness in terms of cultural and natioanl moral of the people in the region. Let us hope now we are all satisfied with the clarification.

[@paulstandeven8572]

@@giannisantypas9316 We don't actually disagree on anything.. Bugatti is one of the all-time great marques. Ettore had worked for various car makers, notably Mors and Peugeot before gaining the finance to set up on his own, . The marque and le Patron became culturally French.... It might be interesting to find out what made him buy a disused dye-works in a corner that was Germany, tremporarily

[@jimsmith1856]

145mph. Wrong. Fastest production car. Wrong. Clown.