Citroen SM Price Guide

The Citroën SM was the car that appared like it would define the 1970s European GT. Its recipe of a Maserati-powered grand tourer with the DS’s hydropneumatic suspension, self-centring power steering of uncanny precision, and a long, low body by Robert Opron that remains one of the most beautiful cars of its era was peerless. However, it never quite matched the sum of its parts. The Maserati engine is its glory and its curse.

The Car

The SM used a 2,670cc version of Maserati’s V6; a compact, three-cam unit producing 170bhp in a car weighing 1,350kg. The front-wheel-drive layout, hydropneumatic suspension, and the steering that self-centred without any kick-back or reaction from the road surface gave the SM a driving experience unlike any other car. Top speed was 220km/h. The SM won the 1971 Road Car of the Year award from most major publications. Just under 13,000 were built between 1970 and 1975.

What Goes Wrong

The Maserati V6 is the SM’s defining challenge. The timing chain on the V6 runs between the cam and auxiliaries and is highly sensitive to oil pressure maintenance; a single missed oil change can cause catastrophic failure. The hydraulic system uses the same LHM principles as the DS and requires the same rigorous attention. Rust attacks the sills and floors. The SM requires a specialist who knows both Citroën hydraulics and Maserati engines. This is a rare combination.

Buying

Only buy an SM with a documented, recent engine work and a full hydraulic system check. A neglected SM is an expensive restoration; a well-maintained one is an extraordinary car. Values have risen steadily as the SM’s significance is better understood. The Citroën SM Register is a superb resource.