Welcome !

My name is Stephane and I live in Canada, in the Montreal area (province of Quebec).

This site presents my antique cars

This is about a Citroën SM currently under restoration, a second SM in very good condition and a Jaguar E-Type. You’ll find also a Citroën 15 Six and a Citroën 2CV that I used to own but then sold.

Introduction

I found so many valuable information on the Internet about our beloved classic Citroën’s that I thought it was my turn to communicate. I even try to do it in english. That’s quite an effort for me because you’ll see that my english is far from perfect 😉 So, with pictures and more or less technical comments, I try to share my passion, hoping that it could inspire or help some of you.

Warning

Caution: pictures make everything shine and look slightly better than it should, so what you see on this site is not always so nice in reality.

The cars

1954 Citroën 15 Six H

Bought in 2012 and sold in 2021

1972 Citroën SM

Bought in 2003… and under restoration ever since 😉

1974 Citroën SM I.E.

Bought in 2006

1970 Jaguar E-Type 2+2

In my little collection since 2008

1984 Citroën 2CV6 Special

Bought in 2006 and sold in 2008

Garage

Toy box and workshop at the same time

Latest news

SM IE: Replacement of a drive shaft, as a try

SM IE: Replacement of a drive shaft, as a try

By the summer of 2007, I frequently use the car, I drove about 2500 km from May to August, but I still have a very bad noise coming from the front of the car. I think about 3 possible causes: the anti-roll bar, a drive shaft of a ball pin. I begin by greasing...

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2007 “Citroën Rendezvous” in Saratoga Springs

2007 “Citroën Rendezvous” in Saratoga Springs

By June 2007, the SM in not mechanically perfect but she's working pretty well, so I can enjoy this car and take part to some meetings, from my local club and others. By June 16th, I take part to to the 2007 Citroën Rendezvous in Saratoga Springs, in the...

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SM IE: Adjusting tension of the timing chains

SM IE: Adjusting tension of the timing chains

The engine is noisy and this noise is, I think, coming from the secondary timing chains. The professional mechanics who could fix this problem are not available, so I decide to check myself the timing chains tension. I can easily do it myself, and that way I will know...

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SM IE: The Official Technical Verification

SM IE: The Official Technical Verification

In Québec, there is no periodical technical verification for regular vehicles. However, there is a mandatory one for cars coming from another province of Canada and, of course, for imported cars like this SM. The inspection, as it is called, must be done...

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Second parking space

Second parking space

After the 2CV, I had to find a second indoor parking space for rent to store this SM. When she arrived in Canada, I found a temporary space for the winter period but since spring I had the opportunity to fond a space at the same place I already put the...

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SM IE: problems with the cooling circuit

SM IE: problems with the cooling circuit

After a temporary repair just to bring the car to my home, I have to seriously fix the coolant leak located on the exit duct of the water pump. This duct is usually in very bad shape and its age is often the age of the car. I have to work outside so I work on the...

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The epic transatlantic trip of the SM IE: episode 2

The epic transatlantic trip of the SM IE: episode 2

Last part of the trip (April 2007) After a few sunny days by the end of March, the community of antique car enthusiasts in Québec is in turmoil 😉 Everybody plans to get his car out of its winter parking space. Of course, I'm no exception, even if we all...

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Parking space

Parking space

The SM under restoration is in my home's garage, so I had to find an indoor parking space for rent to park this 2CV.

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The epic transatlantic trip of the SM IE: episode 1

The epic transatlantic trip of the SM IE: episode 1

Departure from France (October 2006) The story begins with the purchase of the car, of course. We are around mid October 2006. After having inspected a few SMs, this is this one my father and me decide to chose. My father goes one more time to the car's...

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SM: New parts

SM: New parts

Here is my stock of new parts, ordered mainly from the french SM Club and from Western Hemispheres, an american supplier specialized in parts for old european cars. Some parts have also been bought during the Saratoga Springs Rendezvous in 2006.

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SM: Zinc plating

SM: Zinc plating

When you spend hours browsing over web sites from amateurs or professional car restorers, you get some very useful information. One of this information is about zinc-plating. Many parts are originally "yellow" zinc-plated on the SM, even if on my particular car, the...

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SM: The engine is back

SM: The engine is back

By January 2007, I bring back the engine to my garage, the mechanical work is completed.It's a big step forward for this restoration. The engine was supposed to be in good shape and it's now pretty much confirmed, I didn't have so much bad news. I was lucky to know...

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SM: Engine checkout

SM: Engine checkout

By December 2006, mechanical work on the engine finally begins. Here are the only pictures I had the opportunity to take during this work, engine heads have been removed and sent to a specialist.As planned, there were some bad news: 2 camshafts, 6 valve tappets and 3...

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SM: A brand new door

SM: A brand new door

During September 2006, I see someone having 2 fenders and 2 doors, but they are not in better shape than mine. Here is a first track to forget. During November 2006, I do a very interesting finding, a brand new door! I didn't think I would find such a rare part here...

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2CV: Replacement of the heating ducts

2CV: Replacement of the heating ducts

October 2006. I finally received a few parts ordered from the EuroRétro company in France. I can't wait to replace the heating ducts because the foam they contain is decomposing and often ends inside the car.

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SM: Status of the body work

SM: Status of the body work

During summer 2006, I didn't work so much on the car but I did a lot of thinking and I took an important decision! Because there are some defects on the body, I decided to give it to a professional body shop. The important decision is that while having the body in a...

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2CV: Installation of an electronic ignition system

2CV: Installation of an electronic ignition system

As soon as I got this car, I decided to install an electronic ignition device from the "123Ignition" company in Holland. The engine already started very well with its original ignition device but an electronic one gives more reliability and...

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SM: Status of parts

SM: Status of parts

Here is the result of my paint and restoration work for the past months. It gives an idea of the overall progress.

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SM: Bad sights on the new body

SM: Bad sights on the new body

Before reassembling, I do a general cleaning. Unfortunately, it's the occasion to discover some defects:So this body still needs some work, mainly on the engine compartment. I don't know yet if I'll do some touch up or if I'll decide to repaint the whole engine...

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SM: Arrival of the new body

SM: Arrival of the new body

An important step is done, the body arrives in Montreal. It's now in my garage. This restoration is supposed to be now in the reassembling phase. I say "supposed" because I still have a lot of work to do on parts to reassemble.

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Contact

You can contact me by email.
The address is stephanepalumbo at outlook.com.
Replace “at” by a @ character and you’ll get the full address.
Sorry, I don’t show the full address here to avoid spams.