In the mid to late fifties, my grandfather (in England) owned a variety of great cars over the space of the few years. The one that formed an impression for me at my tender age was his Austin Princess. It was so well made it oozed the concept of total luxury, much like the Rolls.
Your cars were beautiful. They remind me of a time when life for me was so much simpler and the world seemed to be more civilized and less threatening.
Best guitar polish...
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Further to my earlier post my grandfathers Austin Princess was black. This car is similar other than the color.
He also had a Bentley, a Jowett Javelin, a Humber Super Snipe, a Humber Hawk and several Jaguars.
He also had a Bentley, a Jowett Javelin, a Humber Super Snipe, a Humber Hawk and several Jaguars.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Paul: The Xsara is no longer available here (unless you want to build a Citroen rally car from the floor pan up!).
The one you've posted is not available here.... looks a lot like a shortened C5. Nice!!
Brian: Your grandfather had taste and real class! My grandfather was big on Wolseleys..... until they died.... and then so did he. I think he went out in sympathy!!
The one you've posted is not available here.... looks a lot like a shortened C5. Nice!!
Brian: Your grandfather had taste and real class! My grandfather was big on Wolseleys..... until they died.... and then so did he. I think he went out in sympathy!!
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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shamustwin
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jingle_jangle
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Oh, yes. It was a safety feature. You could get a blowout at 80 mph and virtually not know it.
It also made it fun to jack up to change a tire: you would set a lever in the trunk to tell the four suspension units to fill to their highest settings, and start the car. Then after the car was up all the way, you would put a strange "Y"-shaped prop in place in a notch in the rocker panel, and trip the lever, which would retract all of the wheels again, lifting them clear of the ground. Then you would change the tire, reverse the procedure, and drive away. It literally took a minute or two and the hardest part was removing the hubcaps. The French have a way...
Mine was absolutely reliable, but it was an exceptionally low-mile, pristine example, from Southern California all its life, stored in a heated garage, etc. I say this because the biggest problem with these has always been hydraulic failure, and with all the hidden piping operating brakes and suspension, a leak is disastrous and common in rust-belt cars.
When I bought mine, it had been stored for 20 years indoors by a retired Citroen dealer. I could tell long stories about the job of "recommissioning" the car, once I bought it. But once running, with fresh fluids, tires and battery, it was a honey which did not see the inside of a mechanic's shop during the time I owned it. It was driven about 5K miles per year on average.
I still belong to the SM Group on Yahoo! and have put out feelers on the car, wishing to buy it back, but it's vanished...I had sold it to a restauranteur in SoCal who seems to have retired from the biz...
It also made it fun to jack up to change a tire: you would set a lever in the trunk to tell the four suspension units to fill to their highest settings, and start the car. Then after the car was up all the way, you would put a strange "Y"-shaped prop in place in a notch in the rocker panel, and trip the lever, which would retract all of the wheels again, lifting them clear of the ground. Then you would change the tire, reverse the procedure, and drive away. It literally took a minute or two and the hardest part was removing the hubcaps. The French have a way...
Mine was absolutely reliable, but it was an exceptionally low-mile, pristine example, from Southern California all its life, stored in a heated garage, etc. I say this because the biggest problem with these has always been hydraulic failure, and with all the hidden piping operating brakes and suspension, a leak is disastrous and common in rust-belt cars.
When I bought mine, it had been stored for 20 years indoors by a retired Citroen dealer. I could tell long stories about the job of "recommissioning" the car, once I bought it. But once running, with fresh fluids, tires and battery, it was a honey which did not see the inside of a mechanic's shop during the time I owned it. It was driven about 5K miles per year on average.
I still belong to the SM Group on Yahoo! and have put out feelers on the car, wishing to buy it back, but it's vanished...I had sold it to a restauranteur in SoCal who seems to have retired from the biz...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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sloop_john_b
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Here's a nice lookin' SM in Burgundyglo:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Citroen-Citroen-SM-1972-Citroen-Maserati-sm-46-000-miles-newly-painted_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6183QQitemZ4576441631QQrdZ1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Citroen-Citroen-SM-1972-Citroen-Maserati-sm-46-000-miles-newly-painted_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6183QQitemZ4576441631QQrdZ1
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jingle_jangle
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Aitch is correct...the chassis of the SM was mostly D (ID / DS); the moteur was a Maserati 90 degree V8 with two cylindres lopped off, giving it a strange pulsing idle due to uneven firing, and an even odder sound under full throttle.
The engine was installed longitudinally, with the front of the moteur toward the back of the car. The clutch was in front, and a jackshaft drove the accessories--A/C compressor, air pump, hydraulic pump, alternator--which were mounted backwards almost two feet in front of the moteur, over the transmission. The 5-speed was the same unit as a Lotus Elite, turned around.
The steering--also driven by the hydraulic pump, was rack and pinion, and was variable-assist, speed-sensitive with regard to feel, and only 2 turns lock-to-lock, like a Formula 1 car. At idle and slow speed, as for parking maneuvers, it had maximum assist, and at speed it had none, which, combined with a steep caster angle, made the car track like it was on rails and resist crosswinds. It had a very low Cx--I think about .28 with the headlight fairings in place (USA cars didn't have these, unfortunately).
I once was driving in blinding rain on the San Diego Freeway, and enjoying the experience so much that when I glanced at the speedo, I found I was doing almost 100 mph, and feeling absolutely tranquil and insulated from the weather, totally stable and silent. I might add that the brakes also took some getting used to for a new driver. The pedal was a champignon on the floor, and was sensitive to pressure, not travel. IT was a big rubber pushbutton with less than 1/2" of travel. Push it gently, you stopped gently. Push it hard, you stopped NOW, with the car's big 235-70/15 tires--the same size as on my 5000 pound Maserati Quattroporte.
I don't drive the Maser anymore because at 7 MPG, it's getting ridiculous. I do start it now and again, though.
But the SM got over 25 mpg on the highway, though it was not a lightweight.
The engine was installed longitudinally, with the front of the moteur toward the back of the car. The clutch was in front, and a jackshaft drove the accessories--A/C compressor, air pump, hydraulic pump, alternator--which were mounted backwards almost two feet in front of the moteur, over the transmission. The 5-speed was the same unit as a Lotus Elite, turned around.
The steering--also driven by the hydraulic pump, was rack and pinion, and was variable-assist, speed-sensitive with regard to feel, and only 2 turns lock-to-lock, like a Formula 1 car. At idle and slow speed, as for parking maneuvers, it had maximum assist, and at speed it had none, which, combined with a steep caster angle, made the car track like it was on rails and resist crosswinds. It had a very low Cx--I think about .28 with the headlight fairings in place (USA cars didn't have these, unfortunately).
I once was driving in blinding rain on the San Diego Freeway, and enjoying the experience so much that when I glanced at the speedo, I found I was doing almost 100 mph, and feeling absolutely tranquil and insulated from the weather, totally stable and silent. I might add that the brakes also took some getting used to for a new driver. The pedal was a champignon on the floor, and was sensitive to pressure, not travel. IT was a big rubber pushbutton with less than 1/2" of travel. Push it gently, you stopped gently. Push it hard, you stopped NOW, with the car's big 235-70/15 tires--the same size as on my 5000 pound Maserati Quattroporte.
I don't drive the Maser anymore because at 7 MPG, it's getting ridiculous. I do start it now and again, though.
But the SM got over 25 mpg on the highway, though it was not a lightweight.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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shamustwin
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Re: the SM on Ebay posted by John - message to seller...when trying to sell a car, take the tools out of the interior, might send the wrong message!
Paul, back in '72 I had a dealer brochure for that car, over which I drooled daily. Too rich for my blood at the time, but I've always wanted to know how they drove, mileage (which is great for a big car, as you pointed out) etc. Thanks for that. I wish I still had the brochure!
Paul, back in '72 I had a dealer brochure for that car, over which I drooled daily. Too rich for my blood at the time, but I've always wanted to know how they drove, mileage (which is great for a big car, as you pointed out) etc. Thanks for that. I wish I still had the brochure!
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jingle_jangle
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SM interiors came in a number of different colors, but strangely the only ones to make it to US distributors seem to have been a particularly unappealing Diaper Brown, and Black. I've also seen a very few Tan and Dark Red. Europe apparently got a nice Light Green and a Blue-Grey.
Jay Leno (who I used to run into regularly at LA area old car events) used to drive SMs from the Port of Baltimore to the dealer, back when they were new. He now owns the best one in the USA, which he's had our resident SM guru, Jerry Hathaway, restore in black with a black interior.
Since mine was Pearl White with a Pearl White interior, when we saw each other at one or another of the shows, we would greet each other with "You again?".
A White interior was a bit bling, but made the car feel large and somewhat nautical.
I mentioned Jerry Hathaway, who runs an SM repair shop and restoration facility in Valencia, CA. His wife, Sylvia, belongs to the "200 MPH Club" at the Bonneville Salt Flats, one of a few women accorded that honor. She drove their shop SM well over 200 to win the honor.
I once ordered a set of ignition points from them (which cost something like $400.00 if I recall correctly...) and they arrived at my office in a brown cardboard box emblazoned with a large "SM World" mailing label.
It got me some strange looks from the receptionist...
Jay Leno (who I used to run into regularly at LA area old car events) used to drive SMs from the Port of Baltimore to the dealer, back when they were new. He now owns the best one in the USA, which he's had our resident SM guru, Jerry Hathaway, restore in black with a black interior.
Since mine was Pearl White with a Pearl White interior, when we saw each other at one or another of the shows, we would greet each other with "You again?".
A White interior was a bit bling, but made the car feel large and somewhat nautical.
I mentioned Jerry Hathaway, who runs an SM repair shop and restoration facility in Valencia, CA. His wife, Sylvia, belongs to the "200 MPH Club" at the Bonneville Salt Flats, one of a few women accorded that honor. She drove their shop SM well over 200 to win the honor.
I once ordered a set of ignition points from them (which cost something like $400.00 if I recall correctly...) and they arrived at my office in a brown cardboard box emblazoned with a large "SM World" mailing label.
It got me some strange looks from the receptionist...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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jingle_jangle
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...is this a thread, or more properly, a chain?
I sometimes wonder how Sylvia can keep a straight face when she answers the phone...
I sometimes wonder how Sylvia can keep a straight face when she answers the phone...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
So did you polish your SM with a guitar polish like Zymol?
Just a segue to get us back on topic.
Just a segue to get us back on topic.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
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jingle_jangle
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I appreciate that, Brian!
You are 100% correct. On a white car like the SM, it made little difference which wax I used. The Diplomat Blue Rolls-Royce got Zymolled (yep, that's how I spell it-two "L"s!) twice a month. It was a bugger to keep looking sharp, and who drives a dirty one?
You are 100% correct. On a white car like the SM, it made little difference which wax I used. The Diplomat Blue Rolls-Royce got Zymolled (yep, that's how I spell it-two "L"s!) twice a month. It was a bugger to keep looking sharp, and who drives a dirty one?
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut