1971 Citroen SM v6 carb review from UK and Ireland

Not a great deal has gone wrong with the car. Mostly, I have had preventative work done: as soon as I get an inkling that something is wrong, I have it checked and repaired. With this kind of car, I think that's imperative.

During the last 10,000 kms it's performed remarkably well in terms of reliability. A 'pinking' sound at just over 4000 revs was identified as main bearing wear. This was rectified immediately, so no damage to crankshaft was to ensue.

As a long term owner of a Citroen DS Safari, I have for years enjoyed the extraordinary drive that simply cannot be matched by any other car.

It seemed logical therefore, that once I could now afford one, I simply had to have THE 70's Citroen driving experience which culminated in the Maserati engined Citroen SM.

A good example was sourced via North London specialist Andrew Brodie Engineering and this car was then subject to all the correct modifications (timing chain upgrades, solid valves, modified air-com etc..) and finally a re-spray in Bleu Platine.

Driving it every day proves the car lives up to it's original remit:

Subtly fast and beautiful to look at, serene, yet purposeful and engaging the SM is just an amazing car.

Park up and people swarm around it, trying to find some tell-tale sign as to its identification. They ask: Is it a Scimitar? Is it a kit-car? (!). Is it a Ford Mustang? (please!!).

Needless to say most have never heard of one, fewer have ever seen one. All though, are impressed.

There is no snobbery of ownership, like you face if you are a new Ferrari owner. Taxi drivers give the thumbs up, schoolboys drool over the cool shapely curves, bus drivers give way, just to watch the metallic blue beauty sail by. In fact, it's the automotive antidote to Status Anxiety (if you suffer it).

Talk to people about the technical merits of the car and they look at you in disbelief! Was all that mechanical complexity really available in the seventies?

Yes it was, and it remains to this day a car so clever, so intriguing, so able as an everyday car, so beautiful in its style so breathtaking in its approach, that in sum nothing on Earth can compare.

Find a really good one, keep it that way and you'll never want for anything else at any price.