STORY TIME SPECIAL: Tracking the history of my 1972 CITROEN SM Automatique from FACTORY to NOW

It's one year to the day that I realised my dream of becoming a Citroen SM owner. To celebrate this, I've put together a two-part STORY TIME special to reveal everything I've found so far.
I have next to no paperwork, but thanks to the efforts of some very helpful people, I've found out more than I ever thought I would!
Catch me on:
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Twitter: @UPnDOWNvids

[@kimmohietala5359]

This video should win a Grammy in a “seemingly tedious but turning up to be really exciting story” category.

[@isaaccan3155]

Fascinating. I still wonder if this is the same SM I saw sitting in a small town in Indiana a few year back. That town is only 50 miles from Lima Ohio. Also I went to an automotive tech college in Lima. Funny. Can’t wait to hear the rest of your story.

[@UPnDOWN]

Be awesome if it was!

[@nome2057]

If you read this you rock Don!

[@alangroves5616]

Don is a legend.........respect.

[@UPnDOWN]

He very much is.

[@HubNut]

Fascinating stuff!

[@_autoverse]

That’s some great info, Nobhead might have earned themselves at least half a shandy, for getting that avenue of research rolling. And of course Don was incredibly kind to do the on the ground investigation, if he won’t come to the UK you could always send him crisps and lemonade. I wouldn’t be surprised if person you spoke to at the end thought it was spam call when seeing an international number pop up, might explain the tone of voice.

[@UPnDOWN]

Yeah, quite possibly.

[@stubbsz]

Not gonna lie, i was more drawn into that than I expected to be. Nice cliff hanger, I was looking away and thought the internet had broken.

[@Tomoose1985]

I love seeing you unravel the history, can't wait for the next installment. Wouldn't it be great to have it on the road for its 50th birthday... 🤣

[@UPnDOWN]

Be amazing, and doable....if by "on the road" you mean dragged behind a BX.

[@Tomoose1985]

Omg you own an SM? You should have said 🤣

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

😂

[@UPnDOWN]

I know, you'd think I'd be making a right song and dance over it!

[@trueg66]

What an exciting start to this series! A real American police officer who is going to unravel the story, what more shady things will he uncover? I myself am afraid that in the end the SM turns out not to be an SM at all, but a poorly disguised Volvo 345 with a stolen identity.

[@UPnDOWN]

[Spoiler alert]

[@smithcn]

Awesome video. Cars plus detective work - two of my favourite things. Also you have great story-telling skills. Can't wait for the next part.

[@andrewmalyon5699]

Absolutely brilliant video,so interesting,but when you finished it and having to wait till part 2, no !!

[@UPnDOWN]

Well, it's not 100% finished, and if I put videos out that are 40+ mins long, people moan that they're too long!

[@andrewmalyon5699]

@@UPnDOWN let them moan,I'd quite happily watch an hr video about your cars

[@PaddyWV]

What a fantastic bit of background! It makes sense, if you think of the number of DAFs that died prematurely in the UK because people didn't understand them, for the car to be discarded. What!!? "Wait for part two!!?" Oh! You tease! 😄

[@426baron]

Love the cliffhanger at the end.

[@theoriginalracingsnake]

The attempted phone call was a rollercoaster of expectations. UP & DOWN, UP & DOWN..

[@Ju1ian10001]

ooohhhh the suspense is killing me, need to watch part 2 now. Another great video by the way < that end of sentence is a brilliant album from Red Hot Chillie Peppers. Not a huge fan of french cars but the SM is very interesting.

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

This is what is so cool about the internet. People sending you a video of the town and area. Amazing.

[@UPnDOWN]

Totally agree. For everything bad it does, it does something very good, too. More good than bad, I'd say.

[@francissomadaly4043]

🛎🛎 Ding Ding 😂😂 up n down I get it 😁 Don't I? You're a down right naughty boy for making us wait 😫

[@Ricketik65]

Awesome story, really looking forward to the next bit!

[@Zadster]

Me, at the start: Hmm, dunno how interesting this could be really. Still, not doing anything else, here goes... Me, half way through: Ooooh! Blimey. Who would have thought it? Me, just before the end: Noooo! Nooo! You can't stop there! I need more! *bounces up and down*

[@mikescudder4621]

Don is a legend, cheers mate!

[@mikes747]

It's great to find out some history about a cars past! Good luck with the SM!

[@richardorchard3364]

Good story so far ,eagerly waiting for next episode,cheers.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great video and so looking forward to Part 2 of this SM Story, really fascinating that even after all these years Mr Duddy knew what work was carried out on the SM.

[@jonathanjenkins9583]

Fascinating.

[@stevebowers8834]

Oooo lovely stuff

[@marktipton218]

I love the Peugeot 306 tdi 3door but my favourite old Diesel is the Citroen ZX 1.9 td volcan one of the best cars sill for me I’m Constantly on the lookout for one

[@drphilgarner]

Fantastic story, loved it

[@nigelprince987]

Brilliant video, I am now on tenterhooks waiting for the next episode!

[@johnlladron735]

The SM yields its secrets incrementally. What a great story building up... Can't wait for part 2.

[@TheJensenInterceptor]

Happy Bank Holiday - Please let us have part 2 - Please - We have waited so long already and I cannot wait to see the cars real engineering. cannot wait - hope life is good and we can be happy.

[@UPnDOWN]

Part two has been up for a couple of days

[@Mr2OOM]

I'm enjoying this history lesson on your SM..

[@Lou-f]

Amazing car, clearly important to a lot of people. Keep it up 👍👍

[@Canalsman]

Oooh, the suspension!

[@tigermoth3194]

Oh bugger!!. The suspenders are killing me.......and so is the suspense 🤪

[@UPnDOWN]

What you do in your own time is none of my business...

[@micheltebraake7915]

Get the story together! Good detective work by the different people.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Interesting video 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@torresalex]

That was a-ma-zing. Mr Don Stratton, if you are reading this, you are a legend!

[@UPnDOWN]

He definitely is!

[@Lot76CARS]

.... and you left us on a cliff-hanger. it's like EastEnders but with realistic acting.....

[@69Phuket]

That's fascinating...Guess you would remember such a quirky car in the states.

[@MrManBuzz]

Ahhh you can't end it on a cliffhanger!!

[@UPnDOWN]

I can, and I did! haha!

[@nicklowe536]

It's also my birthday what a remarkable day

[@nigelrudd670]

Those sm maserati engine cars are cool 😎 👌

[@simonk337]

That's brilliant 😁

[@UPnDOWN]

Cheers nobhead

[@planestrainsdogsncars4336]

Congratulations for leaving me hanging like on the end of a Dr Who episode...I felt like Snoopy who fell of his kennel and was seeing stars. Your initial contact for Minor?..had obviously been binging on Lima beans .

[@Ribeirasacra]

A thought about the build. Maybe export cars were shipped to Ligier to make modifications to the cars for the American market. So the car has been scrapped twice. Watching this and because of the story of the retired policeman got me thinking is there a connection with the Crown Vic which has recently been imported to the UK and star of another channel. That is an ex Utah detectives car.

[@UPnDOWN]

@FuriousDriving? I think his came from Ohio, too!

[@Ribeirasacra]

@@UPnDOWN yep that is the one. Looks like it got the wrong state... but they all look the same.😉

[@Rich.Aardvark]

That's amazing to hear this guy's account. It sounds like he's explaining alien technology with the mineral oil running all the systems!

[@UPnDOWN]

I love the way he says "Mineral Oil"

[@robinvanags912]

Impressive detective work by Don in America. SM:- Single-Minded Somewhat Mad Stunningly Modern Sensuous Machinery

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Now you have to do the car up as soon as you can, not to disappoint anybody.

[@UPnDOWN]

Ha! Yes, priorities...

[@spainter1985]

19:04 Oh come on!! 🤣

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

This is one cool story, Who wudda thunk it.

[@torresalex]

I'm waiting to get dinner done and get the kids in bed so I can watch this

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

"France I imagine..." Bwahahaha. You crack me up.

[@UPnDOWN]

Well, it probably was, tbf...

[@stevebowers8834]

The first Citroen SM I saw was in Columbo

[@davejones4804]

I was confused right at the start, as I watched it on the 28th April! When is part 2 out?

[@UPnDOWN]

It only works on one day of the year. Part is out....26mins ago!

[@isaaccan3155]

Hey, I was built in December 72 as well

[@jmurray01]

Oh you tease! 🤣

[@Tagora2664]

Hey hang on......... You can't stop there, I need to know! 😭

[@UPnDOWN]

I can, and I did! Haha!

[@bulkheadlamp600]

DAHHHHHHH I hate you - the suspense⏳

[@slaggybuttonit]

AAAAARRRRGGGG CLIFFHANGER!

[@MrManBuzz]

Congrats on your year anniversary with it. Going to have this on in the background while I try to sort out some wiring on my NA MX5 that I bought a few weeks ago. I suspect there will be less wiring being done and more procrastinating watching the video because I absolutely hate electrical work 😂

[@UPnDOWN]

Electrical work sux

[@44CT232]

The 27th of April is also an important day because it's my birthday :P

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Happy Birthday!

[@44CT232]

@@CathodeRayNipplez Thanks :-)

[@UPnDOWN]

Happy birthday! You share it with a momentous occurance.

[@44CT232]

@@UPnDOWN Haha, thanks :-)

[@huwdavies6650]

Noticed your shirt there. Is that a clue as to how long project SM is going to take? and will there be many brackets fabricated?

[@huwdavies6650]

Ah, someone already beat me to it.

[@mikeprostayko2951]

I need that T-shirt ! Don't think my wife would take the hint though. Do they do it in size FB ?

[@UPnDOWN]

They still sell them, I think. Originally the writing was yellow...

[@mikescudder4621]

NnnnooooooooooOOOOOOOOOO.... i have to wait for part two?!?!?!

[@UPnDOWN]

Proper KZbin, innit...

[@ianjoyce5120]

Is the tee shirt any indication on how long this project will take?

[@theoriginalracingsnake]

Or how many brackets will require fabrication?

[@UPnDOWN]

In terms of Binky units?

[@UPnDOWN]

Many. And floors. And wings. And supports. And...

[@CynicalLemonade]

Haha! That’s proper YouTubing: tickle their fancy and leave them wanting more!

[@UPnDOWN]

I'm getting the hang of it haha!

[@iankstanley]

Aaaaaannnnndd ????????? Ooooooooh suspense. Its a thiller !!!

[@Toomanyyoutubevideos]

The 090 doesn’t have anything to do with the expiration of the plate. The exploration is indicated by the registration stickers. The one on the left shows the month of expiration and the sticker on the right shows the year it expired listed under the vertical Ohio.

[@UPnDOWN]

I think it might have been Feb 1990, then.

[@Toomanyyoutubevideos]

@@UPnDOWN February would also have been the birth month of the person the car was registered too.

[@jobsjobbed5125]

Full on Columbo, maybe?

[@UPnDOWN]

Or Ironside? Or Murder She Wrote?

[@MrCHrisfj]

Seconded, Lt Colymbo is just as quirky as this voiture 😊

[@waynedl99]

Americans, well known for their friendliness and customer service

[@Stephenb033]

Full on Columbo?

[@UPnDOWN]

Could be. Or Ironside. Or Murder She Wrote.

[@harrycover9180]

American version....heuuuurkk!!

[@UPnDOWN]

But better than no SM...

[@harrycover9180]

@@UPnDOWN honestly I'm not sure, i'd prefer a CX over this stupid fixed front lights version.

[@UPnDOWN]

@@harrycover9180 So what do you actually have?

[@harrycover9180]

@@UPnDOWN I had one 2CV, two BX, always dreamed of an XM, drive volvo now. That american design on the SM's spoils the superb design of Robert Opron, not to mention the missing turning lights linked to the steering. Even if american regulations ruled out those lights and imposed fixed ones, I just can't figure out why the original design with the beautifully curved and aerodynamic glass panels at the nose where replaced by these awfull recessed scoops.

[@UPnDOWN]

That was the rules for cars used on American roads. I think they're stupid too, but I'm not going to turn down an actual Citroen SM because it doesn't have the 'right' headlamps. It's still 99% the same car.

[@blxtothis]

You sure he wasn’t researching Lima, Peru?

[@docchevron1472]

You've got an sm? You kept that quiet!

[@UPnDOWN]

I know! I've been very humble...

[@deepchillzone]

I have been diagnosed with having a Citroën fetishism ( go to therapy for that ) and this story psychologically triggers me.

[@UPnDOWN]

This is a safe space.

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

and.....

[@UPnDOWN]

Tomorrow!