1972 Citroën SM
The goal of this restoration is not to get a new SM or a “concourse condition” one, my budget is not big enough for that, but to get a nice looking car, which runs and drives well, and which I will be able to use on a regular basis without troubles. And to achieve this goal, I plan many years of work, often very exciting but also boring some times.
Here is the picture presenting this car in a classified add I saw on the web site of a local antique car club in May 2003. The car seems pretty nice on this picture but, in fact, she’s in very bad shape.
Main characteristics
- Manufacturing date : May 1972
- Version : SM, Canada
- Serial number : 00SB9282 + 00SB5923 (2 bodies)
- Mileage : Unknown!
- Body color : “Sable métallisé”
- Upholstery : Black leather
- Engine : Maserati V6, 2.7 liters
- Engine type : C114/1
- Engine serial number : 200.406
- Supply : 3 Weber 42DCNF carburetors
- Gearbox : 5-speed manual
- Options : Michelin RR (Résine Renforcée) rims, air conditioning, tinted windows, radio
Color codes
- Body : “Sable métallisé” AC 318
- Body, base color : grey AC 092
- Hydraulic parts : green AC 502
- Front grill : “Gris nacré” AC 095
- Various metal sheet parts : “Brun chocolat” RAL 8017 or black AC 200 / RAL 9005
The car in its initial condition
sm_1
The car globally doesn’t look too bad but there is some rust
sm_2
Dots visible on this picture are tree leafs stuck onto the paint!
sm_3
The car stayed here for a few years, and the canadian winter did his job
sm_4
A reasonable person should run away when seeing that!
sm_5
It’s globally not too bad
sm_6
Leather seats are in pretty good shape, even if they seem not very nice on these pictures
sm_7
The interior of the trunk is in pretty good shape but the spare tire cover is missing
sm_8
Steering wheel, dashboard and center console are in good shape
sm_9
It’s not beautiful, but not too bad either
sm_10
The car has not been used for years but it seems not too rusty
sm_11
It’s oily everywhere, that’s good, it’s supposed to protect against rust
sm_12
A lot of tree leafs!
sm_13
The visible hydraulic devices seem in descent condition
sm_14
There is still hydraulic fluid but it’s more black than green!
sm_15
That’s almost all we can see from the underbody when the hydraulic system is not operational
sm_16
Hydraulic leak, water leak or both? Probably both, and even more 😉
Posts related to this car
SM: Painting of parts
By the end of 2005, after months of cleaning, brushing and sandblasting many parts, I finally begin painting. I use paint in can, it's not the best solution but using a real paint gun would be difficult in my basement and I don't know how to use this kind of device....
SM: Engine and gearbox cleaning, continued
After having done most of the cleaning work on the gearbox, I go ahead by reassembling brake discs and calipers.Then I go back to the engine. I remove some parts like the valve covers and oil pan to do a deeper cleaning. I put everything back with zinc plated bolts....
SM: Rebuilding hydraulic parts
By September 2005, I start working on the hydraulic devices. I start with the clutch cylinder and the front brake calipers:
SM: Work on the new body, continued
During August 2005, I'm in France for vacation, so I can go to the body shop, the body is almost finished:I'm very happy to see the result. When I started this project, I planned to do only some "touch up"!!! Instead, I can now count on a straight and beautiful body,...
SM: gearbox cleaning
While waiting to go ahead with the engine, I switch to the gearbox: first cleaning with gasoline, first pass with a gross metallic brush, second pass with a softer brush and then finishing with a towel full of degreaser. I found a degreasing product with an orange...
SM: Work on the new body
I first thought that I will not have any pictures of the body work, but yes, I got some! Here are the first ones:This body work should be completed by end of summer, 2005. It's going well for now. When I see this work, I'm saying to myself that some "nice" SMs would...
SM: Engine cleaning
I ordered many parts to the french SM Club, like valves, timing chains and engine gasket set. I will be able to start working on the engine. Anyway, I will probably give the engine to a professional to install and adjust the valves and chains. I start by cleaning...
SM: New body
My father found a body in France that's almost "naked". This one is in pretty good original condition but needs steel metal work anyway. Here are some pictures of this body. It's not rust free but it seems that there is no major damage.I also have a local solution:...
SM: Interior dismantling
I used a renovating and then a tinting product for all leather pieces, the result is impressive, it's motivating! Leathers are in very good shape, in fact the first pictures I took of the interior, on top of this page, are quite pessimistic. I keep all carpet pieces,...
SM: Status of the hydraulics
When I started the engine, everything was working but the rear suspension boots quickly began leaking. I just had enough time to drive the car out and then back in the opposite way (it's more practical this way).
SM: Decision about the body
Obviously, when I started this operation, I was dreaming... but soon I came back to reality when I began disassembling! I remove the biggest pieces and I start to work on the interior of the trunk. And in this trunk, I discover a lot of damages: rust and disastrous...
SM: Engine restart and removal
The first step, during summer 2003, was to make space around the engine compartment by removing both front fenders, the grill and hood. Access is a lot better without these parts. Then the goal was to restart the engine, which didn't run for years. After a general...
SM: First steps of the adventure
Everything started in May 2003. I then discover a classified ad on the website of a classic car club from Québec. I contact the seller. He tells me that he's not the owner of the car, he only "hosts" the car in his vacation home in Vermont (United States). He also...