Word. Leno has so much knowledge about general car things, brand specific car things, and about the model that he can talk for 25-30 minutes and I don't even miss a guest. Well done, Mr.Leno. You don't need extra production value. You're golden as is.
I don't prefer this format, and don't find it more intimate . Jay has done solo shows before with his film crew, which are better done and just as personal ; and of course interesting cars with interesting guests should not be gone forever . Great job with what he's got right now though .
Growing up in the Soviet Block of Czechoslovakia cars were bad. One summer about 1979, a group of people from Austria came to visit their old family grounds confiscated by the Communist Government. They drove the 1972 Citroën SM. 3 of them, all white. For me as a 9 year old, they were the most beautiful cars in existence. Thanks Jay for keeping classics alive.
Ah, yes. Advertising. Which says a lot about ALL of Magazine Car Awards. I owned a 1995 Z28. . . “Best Bang for the Buck” car. . . Yeah. .. Sure. Loved it, but I was able to cut through the BS.
This is the Concorde of cars. It's a dream for any french guy that loves classic cars. There is a company that make those "as new" with everything up to today's standard, more power, more reliable and everything tidy in the engine bay, the SM2A. It's freaking beautiful.
@@benitomgomez3290 The guys of SM2A are technically absolutely brilliant. Interesting presentation of their prototype (it's in French, with a lot of technical details, but it will give you an idea of how thorough everythings's optimized, from the motor to the electronics and the bodywork). ruclips.net/video/dEB3fQKjRW8/видео.html&feature=emb_logo
I drove Citroens for over 25 years. In the early 70s, I had to drive my two-year-old DS21 through about a mile of floodwater a foot and a half deep. The police were there and had marked the edge of the pavement with long poles. I put the Citroen in high level as I entered the water and drove through rather quickly. The car behind me, a large Ford, went slower as he was pushing a lot of water out of the way. About a half-mile down the road from the flood I made a right turn and was T-boned by the Ford. He hit my Citroen so hard I was pushed sideways some 30 feet. When the police came the driver of the Ford excitedly told the police that our car did not go through the flood but had "flown over the water" and he was trying to catch up to see how that was possible and when I turned his wet brakes didn't work and that's why he hit us. The policeman asked if he had been drinking and gave him a test. The Citroen's box frame went over the Ford's front bumper smashing everything ahead of the engine. When the tow truck finally pulled us apart I drove home. From the man's insurance company i learned later that the Ford went to the junkyard, totaled. They ordered two new doors and a few other parts and after 3 days in the shop, my Citroen looked like new. I put almost 200 k on that car before the Midwest salt ate up the floorboards. I loved all four of my Citroens, but I loved my SM the most...
I love the C6, the rear window is spectacular the interior is so subtle too. I can see you have a strong bond with Citroëns and it was a pleasure to read your story
I would have a C6 yesterday but the Peugeot V6 diesel is noted for breaking crankshafts. Then there’s the early century electronics and switchgear that really can’t be trusted.
Hi Jay, these Pandemic shows are second to none. They feel even more real. And it gives us regular folks more energy to go on. My friend just died of Covid, a Jersey City. A detective of many years and gone at 49, Ray Regalado his name. Your show disconnects me from what's happening today in 2020. Just left the year recorded in case years from now someone sees this comment. Jay, don't be discouraged and keep these shows coming. I knew about this Citroen from years ago. Never saw it exposed this way. Thank you so much Jay for keeping automotive knowledge in your library of shows. Keep em coming.
These "pandemic edition" videos are some of the best episodes yet; raw, simple and above all else real. It feels like just you and Jay enjoying some really awesome cars together.
I don't think they are some of the best of Jay's garage episodes . I like them a lot, and very much appreciate Jay making them despite covid ; but a little more diversity, some interesting guests now and then, and a better production will hopefully return soon .
You mean Plandemic. New Order Of The Barbarians was set in motion back in the 60s. The UN Agenda 2030 has you locked indoors afraid of a virus, yet more people die of cancer. Wake up people. Stop being sheeple.
MrJayrock620: His full Film-Crew Staff is not....where their goal is to produce episodes that resemble "fake" reality TV....very similar to the CNBC show. Yes, the phony hysteria gripping the World and the USA is giving Jay's RUclips Channel a welcome edge....even with not so quite perfect editing,sound or in-focus shots....the result of his Staff doing most the stuff at a distance and remotely.
*The unique circumstances of the pandemic have given us the best episodes of Jay Leno's Garage. Less production, less outsider stuff, and more of Jay Leno and what Jay Leno collects, likes, and is interested in. Thanks for still doing these even under different circumstances, we are enjoying these more personal episodes even more.* 🙂👍
I think no modern suspension can give the same smooth feeling as Citroen Hydropneumatic. Yes modern electronic active suspension is great but it does not have the same smoothness as DS, SM or CX
@@truthseeker8483 Yep. Electronics is great and sophisticated but let's be honest the "working principle" is not as advanced as hydropneumatic suspension
A swiss friend of my dad used to come in italy on vacation with this car in the early '70s. I was a child boarding for the first time the SM as a passenger, and it was like being onboard of a spacecraft. Memories of 1974/1975, more or less.
Saw one in downtown Frankfurt am Main, West Germany in Novermber or Decemeber 1971. I left Germany for thrr USA in February 1972, and I pretty much remember the Christmas decoration on the streets, so it had to be late 1971. Next to it was a lime green colored Lambo Miura.
@H DYes, the shadows are pitch black in the garage shots . It might be that Jay is filming all indoor shots with an iPhone, which doesn't have the dynamic range of a camera, or the lighting is a bit basic .
"I hope you enjoyed this episode" Well, joy would be an understatement. This is the most fascinating and beautiful piece of automobile art ever, nice and smoothly presented by the most prominent car enthusiast. The best episode.
The coolest Dutchman of the last century surely was soccer football world legend Johan Cruyff, and he had a SM for most of his life, which goes to show it's the people driving a car who make it cool. Around 1972 when he was becoming really famous he fell in love with the model, Citroen Netherlands offered him a free car in return for publicity, he promised never to say a bad word about it in public and do photoshoots, but only if he could have it on a $100 lease a month, he'd figured out internal revenue would make him pay the car anyway if it was free. Moving to Barcelona he had to leave that silver gray car behind (it was lost out of sight eventually but resurfaced in 2017), but he got a green metallic one for himself in his new hometown and kept it until he sadly died in 2016 only 69. In a lot of things Cruyff, that most stylish, innovative and intelligent player (he played the ball without having to look at it so he could see and analyse everything else happening on the field at the same time) was ahead of the curve, and his car choice said as much about him as about the car.
I used to see a dark brown SM on my way to school in Tehran back in the late 90's. I was told that particular car once belonged to the Royal Garage of Shah. There were at least 7 others officially imported to Iran back in the 70's.
It wasn`t a royal garage car, I checked it`s VIN number years ago when I had a plan to buy and restore it. Also the correct number of officially imported Citroen SM models to Iran is 11 as shown on documents.
The steering system was called Diravi: "DIrection à RAppel AsserVI", which in englishmeans " Steering with assisted return".Lovely show, and again we must say, like many of the friends here: the pandemic shows are the most brilliant, each of us has the impression you show us in private your beautiful cars,invaluable.The cute Deux Chevaux Cabriolet could be the next Citroën show.I am just scared the noisy engine blows up the cameras mic .Merci cher Maître for the lovely show
Yes, I love seeing these old Citroens . 14,000$ was a lot of money back then. It's too bad there wernt more of them sold. Keep them coming. Love these shows.
@@adrianadrian1887 Perhaps the French appreciate those who appreciate them? I mean, is it surprising to anyone that they'd be less than hospitable to some tourist trampling through their country and imposing their delusional notion of exclusive exceptionalism? People are sick of that nonsense... at home and abroad.
@@nonotherthananother Why, because he has a different opinion than you? I happen to agree with him; I've always thought it was one of the most hideous looking cars ever.
Love these pandemic editions, just Jay and a car. Not the newest and fastest, but the most interesting. It's more giving and personable! Tanks Jay, for me this is not less, it's more!
Thank you so much for posting!! My Dad had a 1972 Citroën! We loved that car. I remember my Dad saying at one point that you, him and another guy were the only ones in LA to have Citroën's. Unfortunately my Mom had problems with the 1990 Jaguar Sovereign XJ6 and it accidentally smashed into the Citroën back in 2004. It was too expensive to fix. My Dad passed away two years ago, and this video brought up a lot of happy memories in that car. He got asked to the Citroën convention at the Petersen Museum and he took me with him. Was very cool to see Citroën's from the early 1900s. Would be fun to ride in one of these one day! Thanks again. :)
I never pictured Citroen’s as being popular in the the U.S. yes I’m Europe with the bendy, curvy roads but in America with those lovely big straight interstate roads I just pictured the big V8s being king, especially back in the 70s & 80s when gas was insanely cheap. Saying that, when I was in California I did see plenty of big V8s on the road.
Also reminds me of the days sitting in my Dad’s Citroen CX20 in the 80’s. Loved how the hydraulics would set you down when parking. Felt like a king on an air mattress!
Lol Exactly a big old modern car with plenty of spares currently available feels very comfortable to travel in, its mainly rubber components that are responsible for a cars comfortability, new deep tread tyres, window seals, bushes....
This was so enjoyable to watch. It was like hanging out with a buddy talking about old cars then going for a ride along. I've seen all the pandemic episodes.
The way the automatic wipers work is pretty interesting. When you turn the wipers on in auto mode it will wipe once. And the car will measure how many amps the wipermotor is pulling. If the window is very wet, the wipers will move smoothly and easy on the glass, the wipermotor doesn't pull as much amps so it will do the next wipe a bit quicker. If the window is getting dry again, the wipermotor will pull more amps which will let the car know it doesn't need to wipe as often anymore.
Rare de voir de vrais passionnés d'automobile comme vous, monsieur Leno, surtout aux USA. Votre ouverture d'esprit fait plaisir à voir. Merci pour cette magnifique vidéo.
Jay Leno est d'origine italienne de première génération seulement, on peut très bien ressentir sa critique du "made in USA" il ne s'en cache pas dans cette vidéo d'ailleurs.
@@12345fowlerSes grands-parents peut être mais Jay Leno est américain, son père aussi, et sa mère est britannique! Et les américains purs souches venus après les amérindiens ont des origines britanniques et plus lointainement germaniques!
"especially in the USA". You seem quite ignorant of the US people. Not only does the average American know much more about cars than the average Frenchman, but there are many more willing to work on their own vehicles. I suppose that it's because they had many more cars per capita than just about anywhere in Europe for many decades. I admire the french automotive industry and many of its engineering achievements (if not the 1.6 hdi engines) but the arrogant audacity of your comment manes just about anyone reasonable take jabs.
Me too, ive requested him to talk about this specific car(and more Citroens in general) for several years. As an American these cars seem so awesome and unusual.
Oh me too, there has been no car I have suggested more, I’m so glad because he does the best reviews and the Citroën SM videos on RUclips are pretty poor and the only popular one by the Smoking Tire is ultimately by people who don’t really understand the SM
In the summer 0f 1972 my dad announced that it was time to replace my mom's Cadillac. As a 17 year old I was thrilled. We looked at the Citroen SM (same color as I recall), BMW Bavaria, and Mercedes 280SE. Dad was fascinated by the SM. Went back to the dealer three times with my mother. I guess my dad's French accent was not a good as Jay's; my mom demanded another Cadillac. It was, however, a color very similar to the SM! Great memory of a special car. Thanks!
Oh god, you made me remember an episode from my childhood when my dad had all but signed the purchase agreement for a Subaru SVX, but chickened out at the last moment because of how "weird" it looked and bought a silver gray 1.8l Mercedes C-Class instead.
So many people writes that they saw SM in the very same color… I am sure I saw SMs in several different colors, but only on photos. All SMs I saw were this very same color, too! :D
@@B2BWide Isn't that something? I was living in New Jersey, USA. For some reason, this color really worked for this car. It was the right color. We lived near a Citroen dealership. Apparently, the color worked for my mother also. She vetoed my dad after the three visits. She wanted her giant Cadillac, and ordered it in a similar color. She ordered her Cadillac with paisley seats. The oil embargo happened a few months later. My dad was so disgusted with the "Sedan de Ville" gas mileage that he dumped it and bought a Audi 100! My mom did not come out of her room for three days. She was hysterical in a bad way. In 1976 he bought my mom a Mercedes. She recovered. (The Mercedes was the same color combination as the Citroen.) My dad passed away in 1995. The Mercedes was sold three years later.
@@PrototypeSpaceMonkey Completely understand the connection! I was considering a previously owned SVX a few years ago. There is no doubt from whence that influence came!
One of the coolest cars ever made. Highly unique, stylish, & refined. Driver's car for sure. And maybe a mechanic's car as well as you'd wanna know how to repair it.
almost all classic citroëns owners know how to maintain/repair their car. from the 2CV, Ami, DS, GS, CX, SM till the XM they are enginering and design wise way different to most other car brands. As an owner you have a love and hate relation with these cars. The driving comfort of hydropneumatic suspension models is a class of its own like sitting on a flying carpet while driving over a bad roadsurface. Even the mechanical spring suspensions have a weird system (2CV, Ami) Often owners tinker togheter on a classic and have a good day and a laugh. And ofcourse alot of shed enginering way better then once the oem part from the factory.
@@obelic71 yes indeed I've had 3 xm's and I love it... Like you said flying carpet...when the road have bad surfice just give little gas and you don't feel a thing...
@@danijeljerman9461 had a GS BX and CX. working now on a classic commercial HY van (French chicken shed) from 1963, they were build from 1946 till 1983.
@@obelic71 nice Wish you all well. My father have bx... But my wery first car was Citroen xm 2.1td with 80kw and black leather seats that was like new, meanwhile my friend buy 5years old bmw 323 cabrio with also black leather seats that was look like crap 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This is one of the most incredible cars ever built - along with the ds. Certainly a dream car of mine. One thing that is most striking viewing the car is the interior design - That dashboard shape and the shape of the center console looks like it could be a current design. These citroens will never fail to amaze me. I'm in love!
They used them as camera cars at horse racing events the ride was that good driving next to the track on grass, Land or Range rover, nope Citreon that's how awesome the ride is they didn't shake the camera. forget Go Pro, get a huge camera and a Citreon for action shots. lol.
Underrated? The SM promised a lot but could not really deliver and played a role in Citroen's bankruptcy. They were quite troublesome and unreliable. Citroen tried too hard to be different and it sort of backfired.
@@MrGoogelaar - ¡ Exactomundo ! Back in the day, they couldn't give these away, even the no-money-down used car dealers. A poll of Road and Track editors done for there 35th anniversary issue picked a Chevy Caprice with a police package option as the best car they ever tested.
Thank you, Jay. A gorgeous, visionary car. Citroen made 6 of them in a 4 doors version to be used by French Presidents. 2 of them, convertibles. I studied in a major University in Boston. In 1986 a Gentleman in Watertown had 2 SMs and lots of parts for sale. After a great deal of consideration, the transaction was not finalized. He was selling them for a song. Unfortunately, I neither had a garage to park them, nor an able mechanic. The gentleman passed away before concluding my academic project. I learned that both vehicles, plus inventory, were sold for 1.000 bucks to a person in California. Such is life... Jay Leno's Garage is an intelligent, unique show presented with yr usual non-assuming, low-profile style. CONGRATULATIONS !
Yes it really is... a car of the future.. so I'm buying a diahatsu knock off for a run about to actually drive - while I wait and get fixed one at a time.. every little teensy but debilitating problem my wonderous Citroen has... at the only Citroen mechanic in the whole state... far far in the future.
I too think that Jay is getting into stride with this pandemic edition. I like this new more intimate format where he just chats away about his cars ... so I guess this pandemic wasn't all bad huh ? Also thank you SO MUCH for introducing to us Citroen SM ... one of my favourite cars EVER. Here in Europe I got to own his poor relation Citroen Xantia and I can atest to comfort of that suspension and how far ahead of it's time it was. Everyone should get a chance to try it out and see what innovation used to mean before it was all about big(ger) screens.
Never cared for these cars, but I never knew much about them. Now that I’m older, I appreciate the innovation and quality. This video has given me a new outlook.
My first car was a Citroen GS. Ive always have been in awe with Citroen. Read up and watch vids of the DS the CX, XM, SM and GS. The C6 is something from space. Their engones are actually quite normal. Its the rest thats freaky. Pity built quality was low on the agenda. And simple things like quality electrics and later quality electronics were left to chance. I have a CX Prestige Series 1. Google it. Its mind blowing the design.
Same here. Back in the day, the few times I did see the out on the street, I never gave them a lick of attention. I just saw them as a hollywood car that you'd fly 100 mph off road down a moutainside. Now? I'd like to own one. Maybe. I don't think I can find a mechanic though.
His car reviews are wonderful and just how they should be. Too many people doing this feel the need to shout for some reason, Jay just chats, almost like you're there with him, just great.
I remember when these first came out, and went to see one. The seats were made from like baseball glove leather. You opened the door and the scent was...wonderful 😳
My dad was a Citroën enthusiast, we had 2 DS’s in the 1970’s when I was a kid (in Belgium). He bought another one in the mid-80’s too. Still somewhat remember the luxury feel of riding in the back, feeling as if on a magic carpet. He was crazy for the SM, would’ve loved to have been able to afford one back then. So would I, right now!
Sorry to hear Jerry doesn't have SM World anymore. I visited Jerry about 10 years ago, just to see the cars. I had a brochure as a kid (still have it) but had never been close to one in real life. Jerry treated me to a ride then let me drive! Was amazing. It's on the bucket list to get one. And thanks Jay for continuing to do these videos!
I have always seen this car of yours in the background and been waiting for a long long time for you to showcase this car. Thanks Jay. Love this pandemic edition where we get to see all your collection
Jay Leno is rapidly becoming a weekend institution for me. Wake up, grab a coffee, sit-up in bed and watch an episode. Great delivery and background anecdotes. The genuine passion and knowledge is clear to see, without any of the arrogance that you’d expect from someone with such a collection. Keep on doing what you’re doing, Jay. These videos are thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you Jay! I have waited a long time for you to do a video on the SM. I have left comments on other videos and made mention that I was a mechanic at a dealership that's sold Saab, Peugeot, Citroen, and BMW. The 60s and 70s were some of the greatest years for European cars. I absolutely always loved the SM. They were so ahead of their time... And such a delight to drive. I used to laugh at people who got in one for the first time and didn't know how to correctly "massage" the brake pedal... and how they would lock the brakes up and almost put themselves through the windshield... LOL It was sad that the Citroen company did not promote and support their products in the US. This is just one of the many cars I would have in my own collection if I was able to build a museum such as yours. Thank you for your videos and all that you do for the car world.
I used to own one but could not find a mechanic in the San Franciso bay area. All the gages were oval shaped even the steering wheel was oval. That was back in 1984. Good memories.
The kind of person that the Citroen SM was aimed was not kind of person that cared about how fast you could go around the Nurburgring. They cared more about the drive from Paris to Cognac, and then on down to St Tropez or Nice. All the time with a Gitane trapped between your lips and a pretty girl in the passenger seat.
Very well said. To drive classic GT is like indulge in vintage wine. You don't need to finish up your drink that fast. But rather enjoy the whole atmosphere. So you don't care about how to speed up on any curb and turn , getting to point B as fast as you can, (tuned up pickup truck can do this job), while failing to savour the moment along the way
I’m watching amazing Jay Leno’s garage show for about seven or eight years and I was always wondering why Jay doesn’t make a video about this cosmic car. I’ve waited for it all this time and I’m very thankful now)
I love this era of Citroen. They had also many inovative ideas, plus they weren't afraid to go with them, and do things in a completely different way to just about any other main stream manufacturer Also, for a country apparently so safety obsessed, when it comes to cars, I can't understand why the US decided to ban the swiveling headlight system of these cars. Although, unfortunately, I've not had the pleasure of driving an SM, I have driven a DS, also with the headlights which turn with the steering, and it's true, they do make a difference. In fact I'm surprised more manufacturers didn't go with it.
The only part of the car that has not aged gracefully is the rear end. It always looked weird to me. I love everything else about the car but I could never like how the rear looks. I would still love to own one though...
@@AxLWake Citroën rear ends are always slightly odd. They do it deliberately and it's a fun thing to see what they'll do next. Check out the C6, now sadly out of production and even the 2021 C4. The wagons are usually more conventional. My C5 looks positively German.
My wife worked for the Citroen UK HQ in 1973 and when we got married they lent us an SM with driver as our wedding car - pretty cool back then! Slightly disappointed that I didn’t get to drive it but apparently I had more important things to do that day. The SM and DS seemed like something from a Sci Fi movie and are not at all dated even now. Jay, thanks so much for presenting your cars to us. What comes over every time is that you are incredibly well informed and such a genuine enthusiast. Keep up the great work.
My dad has a 73 Sm, with the 3.0 5-speed manual. One of my favorite cars of all time, one of the best looking in my opinion too. Very happy Jay did this video, been waiting for this one.
My dad brought the 73 sm with the 3.0 5-speed manual from France. US made him take the moving headlights off. My dad passed the car to me and I have really enjoyed driving this car over the years. Nothing really compares to the driving experience and how it makes you feel like Jay said. Plus I have all the great memories as a kid driving around in the sm with my dad. The problem now is that there are very few mechanics that know how to work on them. Parts are getting very expensive and difficult to find. I consider myself very fortunate to own this classic one of a kind car.
@@jizzyjake6783 There comes a point in a car where any more horsepower added is extraneous to the point of not even being felt. You logically know that its there but it makes no actual difference to the driving experience. It is also gratuitous, overly so in fact. This is what over-horsepower means.
Thanks a million Jay! I feel I’m the only French car enthusiast left. My very first car was a 1964 Peugeot 403. As my father thought something was not quite right with me, as he wanted to buy me a new Mustang or a new Z28. The Peugeot was my dream car! That first car went 259,000+ before it gave up. I’ve had 3 Renault’s, 3 Peugeot’s, and one DS 19 wagon. All really great automobiles!! I can see two or three Panards in the background in the corner of your shop. You need a 1979 Peugeot 504 V6 coupe for your collection Jay. This SM is absolutely the best car! Thanks again Jay!!!
Ds 2cv R8 R16 the greatest period for French automobiles they then went mainstream and sold more but lost that French flair although I have always had Renaults and always will I love my meg2 cc but it doesn't make me feel like the 8 and 16s I've had even if they are totally reliable
These pandemic edition shows are the best we've had! Since you're so much into french cars, you should absolutely get a Peugeot 203. It is the first post-war car from Peugeot and the one that got it back in business, with almost 700,000 produced. It's the car most seen with the Citroen Traction, except it is even more cherished by people in the french countryside than the Traction, as it was more a people's car and everybody's grandpa had one at some point. It's also easy to work on, lots of parts and is generally cool with the exterior design coming from 40s American cars and mechanics from the 60s. Cheers!
You mean Plandemic. New Order Of The Barbarians was set in motion back in the 60s. The UN Agenda 2030 has you locked indoors afraid of a virus, yet more people die of cancer. Wake up people. Stop being sheeple.
I have asked several times for shows on Peugeot! I’ve had a number of them and they were great cars in their era. I even asked him to do a show on the Peugeot Eclipse from the ‘30s with a convertible hardtop and it was just beautiful.
Love my SM... glad you mentioned the fantastic visibility... here in the UK some of my LHD vehicles are really difficult to drive yet the SM is no problem. I have driven 8 hours non stop and got out just feeling I had been sitting on a comfortable sofa!
Jay apologises every time for the video style due to the pandemic, don’t apologise Jay! These are fantastic videos. They seem much more like it’s just us, chatting in your garage and going for a ride. This quiet informal format is brilliant
Jay, you've inspired me to get my CX (the poor man's SM) back on the road - there is nothing that handles or rides quite like these big Citroens. Yes, the non Maserati engines aren't great, they were meant to develop a rotary engine for the CX but ran out of cash (the development costs essentially bankrupted Citroen which had to be taken over by Peugeot) so my one has the same engine as the old DS/Traction Avant, a push rod thing that is thirsty but reliable and amazingly unsophisticated for such a sophisticated car. The smaller engine models had the 'Douvrain' or 'suitcase' engine a JD between Renault and Volvo that powered many European cars in the late 70s and 80s, its a lot more efficient and refined than the big lump in the GTI and 25. Thing is about these cars is that they are built for European trunk roads, the handling and suspension means you can keep up a high average speed where road surface and camber etc would defeat a 'normal' car. They excel at long distance cross continent drives where they just float along, driver fatigue is NEVER a problem.
La CX n'est pas la SM du pauvre ,elles n'ont pas la même vocation. La France a beaucoup privilégié le diesel à une époque,et les diesels de cette génération sont impressionnants ! La CX diesel turbo 2 est une voiture incroyable, capable des dévorer des kilomètres de route avec confort, sécurité et le gros couple de turbo diesel. C'est une voiture que l'on peut encore utiliser au quotidien car le moteur est très robuste ,la tenue de route très performante,il y a beaucoup de place à l'intérieur....et le confort est royal,juste troublé par les cliquetis du diésel. Cette voiture accélérait aussi fort que les Golf GTI essence de l'époque. Quel plaisir,avant la multiplication des radars de croiser à 200 km/h sur l'autoroute comme sur un tapis volant.
Another fascinating personality involved with Citroen in those days was a man named Georges Regembeau. He was an engineer and Citroen specialist who came up with all sorts of incredible creations, such as a Traction Avant 15 Six with direct fuel injection, a supercharger and 6-speed gearbox in the mid 1950s, and selling tuning kits for DS and SM in the 60s and 70s. He also re-engineered Citroen four Cylinder engines to run on Diesel fuel years before Citroen built their first diesel engine for passenger cars. Naturally several SM were converted to those Diesel engines in the 1970s, a few were naturally aspirated but some were turbocharged and producing up to 150hp, which was just mind-blowing for diesel engines in those years. It is said that a special one of these Turbodiesel SM was capable of 150mph.
That's pretty interesting - I didn't know this and I'm a Citroen fanatic! I always wondered why Citroen had a straight 6 engine that they stopped using when the DS came out. Why didn't they develop that to fit in the DS and leave the 2lite 4 pot for the simpler ID..
@@pallasathena55 Well it came down to Frances taxation rules of the time. After the WW2 they imposed a luxury tax on all engines above 2.2L. It's why the great French Luxury makes such as Delahaye and Talbot Lago went bust in the 1950s. They made all sorts of wonderful 3L + Straight Six goodness. The 15 Six engine was a 2.9L and thus not viable to continue. The air cooled flat six originally planned for the DS was also supposed to be around 2.2L or so. And to be fair the Citroen Pushrod four was a pretty stout engine.
I never do this, but I'm liking this before one minute in. That sure is a pretty car from some angles. One silver lining of Covid-19 is these "just Jay and the car" episodes.
Jay you don’t have to apologize for your videos. They are excellent. Thank you for showing us the Citroen SM definitely an extremely unique vehicle. Thank you maestro
Thanks Jay, this for me is still the best looking car ever built! being 52 now, i have been in love with this car since I was a 12 year old kid, coming back from school every day walking past a Citroën garage in Brussels, Belgium where the owners had a blue SM. I had to see it almost every day and it made my heart go racing as much as it does today... I owned a DS21 super when I was 25 years for a daily driver.
I was stationed in Germany in the 70s and we always got a kick seeing these Citroens rocketing down the autobahns at high speed. They seemed to create the illusion as if they were floating on air, and you always knew when one was behind you flashing those crazy high beams demanding you to let them pass. lol...
To be honest, yes. Here are some numbers: 2490 were delivered to North & South America. 241 to Africa. 185 to Asia (thereof 134 to Japan) 35 Down Under. In Europe 9771 units were sold (thereof 5509 in France and 2070 in Italy) The rest probably in Switzerland and other wealthier western european countries. The one I own was registered in CH from 1972 - 2007. Keep in mind that border crossing in europe back than was far less common that it is nowadays. We had immigration and customs. Watching a french or Swiss registered car on our Autobahn was not unique but seldom. Catching a german registered Sm was infreqent. Discovering a foreign Sm in Germany was considered a lottery win.
Back in high school in the late 70s there was an AIr Force brat in my class. His family was stationed in Germany prior to moving to the base back here. He used to talk about a friend "borrowing" his dad's XKE and they would bomb down the autobahn as fast as they dared being teens. He said one time they were going over 100 when a Citroen blew past like they were riding the brakes.
If you take the engine apart, you'll see the most amazing craftsmanship in the industry. The quality and complexity of the castings is just stunning. It's amazing to me that they got that one past the bean counters
Sadly, an inability to count beans has led to Citroen's demise on more than one occasion over the years. Now they are basically rebodied Peugeots. I knew the end had come when a road test of a Citroen complained about the rough ride. Quelle horreur!
Thank you for a great review of the SM. My father did everything for this family and when he felt we were established did something for himself and purchased a used SM, it was his hobby. Im told every great engineer (for that time) either wanted to work for NASA or Citroen. And my father was a brilliant man. The car is remarkable in many ways even now, inboard disc breakers, hydraulic suspension to name a few. And the flat bottom of the car and overall design gave it an unprecedented low coefficient of drag even by today’s standards. Cheers!
As far as I’m concerned, the French made the most beautiful cars in the world in the 20’s and the 30’s. Jay, yours is the nicest SM I’ve ever seen. That colour really shows off the cars lines and with the chrome, she has a real understated elegance to her. Thanks for this updated review.
Owning one of those across the pond, I've never missed a video made on the SM. Although Jay makes this one look casual and cool, it is the most comprehensive I've ever seen! Almost nothing was left out, and this is not a piece of cake for such a sophisticated and complex vehicle. Many thanks Jay!
Thank you so much for this nice presentation of one of the most beautiful cars ever built. My father had a 1974 electronic injection model. It was destroyed in the civil war in Lebanon/ I was too young to drive it. He would allow me to start the ignition and feel the sound and roar of the engine. My dream was to own one, but they are so difficult to find. By the way the steering wheel system was called DIRAVI. Thank you. I am very grateful for showing us this beauty. I wish one day, I will get to drive one better yet, to own one. Keep well and stay safe. Best regards Christian
DIRAVI = DIrection à Rappel AsserVI = Power steering with powered centering. It is not a power assisted but a fully powered steering like that of the D series (DS, ID, DSpécial) before it. Additionally, the steering stiffens as the wheels turn faster up to about 80 mph/130 kmh. The lock-to-lock is 2:1, very quick, go-kart like, where the D was 3:1. So the powered centering greatly reduced the “sneeze-steer” factor. Steering “feel” is totally artificial, but with almost center-point steering and zero camber there wouldn't have been any feedback from the tires anyway.
@@Derry_Aire Hello Derry, Thank you for your kind words. My Dad had to leave the car in the garage of the dealer. The dealer had to close for over 6 months due to the civil war in 1977. The rats and other rodents, ate all the wiring and the tubes of the engine. To order the peaces and get a special engineer to repair this damage was the cost of buying a brand new car in 1977 the cost of repairs were estimated at $ 25,000.00. We left Lebanon and we now live in Montreal in Quebec/Canada and have been living there since 1987. Thank you for your consideration. Do you have a Citroen SM?? What do you think of this car??? Hope to hear from you. Best regards.
@@genkis777 I've admired many Citroen's - including the SM - but sadly never owned one. Lebanon is a sad place to me. Sometimes, it seems to be moving forward, albeit slowly, then something happens and it's 2 steps back and start again. The poor people (whatever their religion) must be sick of it all. |If it's not one thing affecting their lives (like a corrupt government) it's another (like a massive explosion). It looked like something was about to kick off last week again, but it seemed to just fizzle out. Good luck my friend.
I thoroughly appreciate Jay's vignette videos of his wonderful cars during this perishing lockdown. They've been a bit of a lifesaving pleasure in every way.
Jay. Thanks. My Dad had one of these that he bought from Red Eddinger in PA. It was the last of about a dozen Citroëns that he owned. DS's & ID's. I grew up working on, riding in and loving them. Today, Sept 21st happens to be Dad's birthday. It's a perfect way to honor my memories of him. Thanks, Mitch
Thanks for your review of the Citroen. In 1972 is was living in Lagos, Nigeria due to my father's work. A coworker of his had recently bought a Citroen. As a 10 year old boy I thought this car was the most amazing looking thing I'd ever seen. Especially having moved from Oklahoma and only knowing big American land yachts. Then he showed us how he could move the car up and down. Wow! I still remember the smell of the interior of that new car. Thanks for the drive down memory lane.
In many ways, Citroën has just done this with the new C4 model. It does not have a classic hydropneumatic suspension system, but it has newly developed shock absorbers that have an extra valve that evens out major unevenness on the road. This does not sound like much, but it works absolutely fantastic. Really "less is more" in an absolutely ingenious way. I was really surprised when I first tried the new C4 model and my thoughts immediately went back to the feeling BX/Xantia gave with the classic hydropneumatic suspension. In many ways, the new suspension is actually better and in my opinion much better than what is found on even significantly more expensive car models with adaptive suspension.
Too expensive to manufacture. Only a small market will pay extra for superb suspension. A Toyota Camry has a good ride for a modern car but with my health problems feels very harsh compared to any of the “real” hydraulique Citroëns. I had two ID wagons, one manual shift with clutch pedal and one with hydraulic shift, a DS21 Pallas with hydraulic shift, a DSpécial that I put in the motor out of the DS21, and two SMs with manual shift. They were all rather worn and beat-up when I got them. Never any problem with the Maserati DOHC V6s but it was only a matter of miles.
@@SBK74 - Maybe, but it's not explained how it works. If it's part of the car's, um, cardio-vascular system there might be enough pressure etc to return the steering wheel. Perhaps there's a lock out of some sort. France also has hills...
24:56 So much truth here, I always thought the French had a good deal in making tastefully designed cars that are honestly far from gaudy, the chrome is always done nicely on their classics. I honestly think even the Citroen GS, 2CV and the Ami are gorgeous cars, and I've noticed that some people generally looked at those in specific and thought they where ugly. Really not sure what they're on about to be honest.
@@BadBlonde-CarHistory Oh yeah. Citroen is such a interesting car manufacturer in specific. I still love how they made use of hydropneumatic suspensions all the way up until 2018.
Great video, Jay. I love the SM. I grew up in the Saarland region of Germany, which previously was a French protectorate, lots of Citroen cars then, I can assure you. However the SM was so special. Only the most affluent people bought those, they were truly unique cars. Thanks for the memories!
I remember seeing these in Road and Track back in the day....oh man the interior, the technology....I lusted after one as young kids do for cool cars. Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Jay. The steering system is called DIRAVI, rough translation to English is Velocity Related Assisted Steering. Variable pressure controlled by a governor driven off the transmission output shaft. My CX GTI has the same system. AC didn't come as standard in Europe. Styled by Robert Opron ( pardon my French ), think he did the GS, GSA, and CX. Not only do the center headlamps turn with the steering, the whole group of six rotate up and down to stay pointing level when under acceleration or breaking. Both movements are hydraulically actuated.
There is a much simpler term: Progressive Power Steering and in Europe it is quite common, because it is a safety feature. Full power steering at high speed and applying a bit too much force/movement to the steering wheel? Oh boy.
The pressure does not vary. What changes is pressure on the self-centering cam, adding pressure to the cam, making it harder to turn off the straight ahead position. The steering is fully powered and bears no resemblance to any other system. There is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering rack when the engine is running, it’s totally hydraulics with a hydraulic ram in the rack that moves as fluid is moved in the rack. This makes it impossible for the wheels to be turned by outside forces such as curbs or stones, etc. A far superior system that, as Jay mentions, requires getting used to.
As a Frenchman, I had the opportunity to board DS and ID several times. And while I was hitchhiking in 1981, I boarded an SM, the driver took the highway between Paris and Lyon. He told me that he was going to pick up his boss who was returning from the USSR, which surprised me (doing business with the USSR was not that common) and that he did not care about the limitations of speed (I suppose the boss was a very important man for the country's economy), and we made the trip at an average of more than 200 km/h. Incredible sensations! I have never been in a car so comfortable and so powerful at the same time! We didn't feel the speed! A trip on a magic carpet, and the trip to Lyon seemed short to me! It was a moment that remained engraved in my memory.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I think a lot of us prefer this style of format. Less production, more personal. No complaints from me.
Word. Leno has so much knowledge about general car things, brand specific car things, and about the model that he can talk for 25-30 minutes and I don't even miss a guest.
Well done, Mr.Leno. You don't need extra production value. You're golden as is.
And no more con artists presenting their million dollar bodykits with a slapped on supercharger/electric battery pack.
@@TheJohn8765 ijì
Jay knows all about getting personal. Ask Monica Lewenski about his personal abuse.
I don't prefer this format, and don't find it more intimate .
Jay has done solo shows before with his film crew, which are better done and just as personal ; and of course interesting cars with interesting guests should not be gone forever .
Great job with what he's got right now though .
Growing up in the Soviet Block of Czechoslovakia cars were bad.
One summer about 1979, a group of people from Austria came to visit their old family grounds confiscated by the Communist Government.
They drove the 1972 Citroën SM.
3 of them, all white.
For me as a 9 year old, they were the most beautiful cars in existence.
Thanks Jay for keeping classics alive.
3 white Austrians? Lol
Ah, yes. Advertising. Which says a lot about ALL of Magazine Car Awards. I owned a 1995 Z28. . . “Best Bang for the Buck” car. . . Yeah. .. Sure. Loved it, but I was able to cut through the BS.
Beautiful automobile.
This is the Concorde of cars. It's a dream for any french guy that loves classic cars. There is a company that make those "as new" with everything up to today's standard, more power, more reliable and everything tidy in the engine bay, the SM2A. It's freaking beautiful.
Thanks for mentioning it. I had no idea. Will look them up
What is the name of the company ? , , thanks! !
Benito M Gómez
SM2A
@@benitomgomez3290 The guys of SM2A are technically absolutely brilliant. Interesting presentation of their prototype (it's in French, with a lot of technical details, but it will give you an idea of how thorough everythings's optimized, from the motor to the electronics and the bodywork). ruclips.net/video/dEB3fQKjRW8/видео.html&feature=emb_logo
_Uggh.........that car looks like man-love. Kill it with fire._
I drove Citroens for over 25 years. In the early 70s, I had to drive my two-year-old DS21 through about a mile of floodwater a foot and a half deep. The police were there and had marked the edge of the pavement with long poles. I put the Citroen in high level as I entered the water and drove through rather quickly. The car behind me, a large Ford, went slower as he was pushing a lot of water out of the way. About a half-mile down the road from the flood I made a right turn and was T-boned by the Ford. He hit my Citroen so hard I was pushed sideways some 30 feet. When the police came the driver of the Ford excitedly told the police that our car did not go through the flood but had "flown over the water" and he was trying to catch up to see how that was possible and when I turned his wet brakes didn't work and that's why he hit us. The policeman asked if he had been drinking and gave him a test. The Citroen's box frame went over the Ford's front bumper smashing everything ahead of the engine. When the tow truck finally pulled us apart I drove home. From the man's insurance company i learned later that the Ford went to the junkyard, totaled. They ordered two new doors and a few other parts and after 3 days in the shop, my Citroen looked like new. I put almost 200 k on that car before the Midwest salt ate up the floorboards. I loved all four of my Citroens, but I loved my SM the most...
You, Lucky guy..
Quite an array of Citroens. .
That's absolutely insane
@@albertseabra9226 You should've kept that beauty waxed up and regularly underwashed.
I love the C6, the rear window is spectacular the interior is so subtle too. I can see you have a strong bond with Citroëns and it was a pleasure to read your story
I would have a C6 yesterday but the Peugeot V6 diesel is noted for breaking crankshafts. Then there’s the early century electronics and switchgear that really can’t be trusted.
Hi Jay, these Pandemic shows are second to none. They feel even more real. And it gives us regular folks more energy to go on. My friend just died of Covid, a Jersey City. A detective of many years and gone at 49, Ray Regalado his name. Your show disconnects me from what's happening today in 2020. Just left the year recorded in case years from now someone sees this comment. Jay, don't be discouraged and keep these shows coming. I knew about this Citroen from years ago. Never saw it exposed this way. Thank you so much Jay for keeping automotive knowledge in your library of shows. Keep em coming.
Damn, I'm sorry for your loss man... These pandemic shows are second to none, indeed.
ADPTraining - Died OF(from?) Covid? Or died WITH Covid? How old was your friend? Any preexisting conditions?
Oh shut Up p. Someone's friend died of it and you come with your conspiracy crap!
@@foadrightnow5725 died from pneumonia that was initially caused by covid over a week earlier.
@@foadrightnow5725 oh shut up, conspiracy Qook
These "pandemic edition" videos are some of the best episodes yet; raw, simple and above all else real. It feels like just you and Jay enjoying some really awesome cars together.
Yes! You feel more like the guest.
Before with a guest, you felt more like a 3rd. party. Love it!
I totally agree @mospid, these videos are some of the best videos that Jay has ever made.
I don't think they are some of the best of Jay's garage episodes .
I like them a lot, and very much appreciate Jay making them despite covid ; but a little more diversity, some interesting guests now and then, and a better production will hopefully return soon .
Agreed!
agree 100%-- these episodes have been just great-- love the unusual cars, and appreciate these so much- thanks Jay!
The pandemic editions feel like “Uncle Jay” is coming to pick you up for another ride. I’m enjoying the current format!
You mean Plandemic. New Order Of The Barbarians was set in motion back in the 60s. The UN Agenda 2030 has you locked indoors afraid of a virus, yet more people die of cancer. Wake up people. Stop being sheeple.
@@keithwhittygmail lol You sound crazy.
MrJayrock620:
His full Film-Crew Staff is not....where their goal is to produce episodes that resemble "fake" reality TV....very similar to the CNBC show. Yes, the phony hysteria gripping the World and the USA is giving Jay's RUclips Channel a welcome edge....even with not so quite perfect editing,sound or in-focus shots....the result of his Staff doing most the stuff at a distance and remotely.
Agreed!
Yeah, I like the new format too!
If Citroen made a modern version of this it would sell, no doubt. The interiour is just out of this world fantastic.
No instead they put their effort designing the new "DS" line of cars that look absolutely horrible and put shame to the DS and Citroen name
ruclips.net/video/JCsT8sWh2z4/видео.html
It would be very expensive if you made an updated version
I need to get a BIG warehouse so I can start collecting French cars. I love them.
I totally agree, but sometimes, car manufacturers do not think like that.
*The unique circumstances of the pandemic have given us the best episodes of Jay Leno's Garage. Less production, less outsider stuff, and more of Jay Leno and what Jay Leno collects, likes, and is interested in. Thanks for still doing these even under different circumstances, we are enjoying these more personal episodes even more.* 🙂👍
Agreed. The videos with only him are the best ones.
Oh, so Jay thinks cars are more important than feeding the homeless and the poor ?
@@unitedstatesirie7431 It's more important than anything you do
@@fourutubez7294 Jay has the religion of materialism. It's idolatry.
0/10
Its been said so many times before in the comments, BUT JAY, I CAN’T HOLD BACK FROM SAYING IT AGAIN... THESE “ PANDEMIC EDITIONS “ ARE ‘ PURE GOLD’ !!
Jay is the best!
Mind boggling technology for a car that is nearly 50 years old. What a car!
For the future of motoring look to the past...
17:37 first low rider french style.
I think no modern suspension can give the same smooth feeling as Citroen Hydropneumatic. Yes modern electronic active suspension is great but it does not have the same smoothness as DS, SM or CX
@@muhammadirfanataulawal7630 I have tried Lexus, Tesla, Mercedes, Saab, VW,, Opel, Large SUVs and many others....compared to DS they ride like a truck
@@truthseeker8483 Yep. Electronics is great and sophisticated but let's be honest the "working principle" is not as advanced as hydropneumatic suspension
A swiss friend of my dad used to come in italy on vacation with this car in the early '70s. I was a child boarding for the first time the SM as a passenger, and it was like being onboard of a spacecraft. Memories of 1974/1975, more or less.
Saw one in downtown Frankfurt am Main, West Germany in Novermber or Decemeber 1971. I left Germany for thrr USA in February 1972, and I pretty much remember the Christmas decoration on the streets, so it had to be late 1971. Next to it was a lime green colored Lambo Miura.
Citroen cars are amazing, remember in the 80”s when I was a kid, a Citroen dealer shows how a CX could run in three wheels, unforgettable!!!
I’ve never seen a CX in 3 wheels. A DS, and GS, yes. I’ll have to look for footage of 3 wheel CX
Cool!
Patrick McGoohan drove one of these in the 'Columbo' episode 'Identity Crisis'.
@@grandcarriage1 Just ask :) ruclips.net/video/0t-JjbOblPc/видео.html
2 horns in the CX, a polite little peep for the city & a foghorn blaster for the highway!
This pandemic edition is juat as good as than the "normal" version. Keep them coming and I'll keep watching.
The road views taken from the outside are old and at a low resolution.
Jay, we don't miss your camera crew one bit. Oddly enough, your show is better now than it was before.
I miss the crew, and don't think it's better now, but still enjoy it .
@H DYes, the shadows are pitch black in the garage shots .
It might be that Jay is filming all indoor shots with an iPhone, which doesn't have the dynamic range of a camera, or the lighting is a bit basic .
I am French and I am totally amazed by Jay’s knowledge on the cars he owns.
I am Belgain so moi non
Same. The man is a literal car historian.
why did you have to state you are french?
@@Decenium and why not?
@Decenium it's something French people do, I'm bulgarian and I live in France, you see ? We need to say it
"I hope you enjoyed this episode"
Well, joy would be an understatement. This is the most fascinating and beautiful piece of automobile art ever, nice and smoothly presented by the most prominent car enthusiast. The best episode.
The coolest Dutchman of the last century surely was soccer football world legend Johan Cruyff, and he had a SM for most of his life, which goes to show it's the people driving a car who make it cool. Around 1972 when he was becoming really famous he fell in love with the model, Citroen Netherlands offered him a free car in return for publicity, he promised never to say a bad word about it in public and do photoshoots, but only if he could have it on a $100 lease a month, he'd figured out internal revenue would make him pay the car anyway if it was free. Moving to Barcelona he had to leave that silver gray car behind (it was lost out of sight eventually but resurfaced in 2017), but he got a green metallic one for himself in his new hometown and kept it until he sadly died in 2016 only 69. In a lot of things Cruyff, that most stylish, innovative and intelligent player (he played the ball without having to look at it so he could see and analyse everything else happening on the field at the same time) was ahead of the curve, and his car choice said as much about him as about the car.
@@svdlaan Nice anecdote
Well said
@@svdlaan thank you for the story
I used to see a dark brown SM on my way to school in Tehran back in the late 90's. I was told that particular car once belonged to the Royal Garage of Shah. There were at least 7 others officially imported to Iran back in the 70's.
Who knew a garage could be "Royal"? Must have had exceptional oil & fluid lines, no?
It wasn`t a royal garage car, I checked it`s VIN number years ago when I had a plan to buy and restore it. Also the correct number of officially imported Citroen SM models to Iran is 11 as shown on documents.
One place I wish I can visit before I die.
bet no-one keyed it. Not that he'd live to tell.
The steering system was called Diravi: "DIrection à RAppel AsserVI", which in englishmeans " Steering with assisted return".Lovely show, and again we must say, like many of the friends here: the pandemic shows are the most brilliant, each of us has the impression you show us in private your beautiful cars,invaluable.The cute Deux Chevaux Cabriolet could be the next Citroën show.I am just scared the noisy engine blows up the cameras mic .Merci cher Maître for the lovely show
To be honest, I love the French people, the designs, the engineering, the language, etc.
Yes, I love seeing these old Citroens . 14,000$ was a lot of money back then. It's too bad there wernt more of them sold. Keep them coming. Love these shows.
Most of them also had wind compensation like the CX had. This is the only Citroen I would accept
@@StrangerHappened you obviously didn't spend a lot of time around French people. That's all I'm saying.
@@adrianadrian1887 Perhaps the French appreciate those who appreciate them? I mean, is it surprising to anyone that they'd be less than hospitable to some tourist trampling through their country and imposing their delusional notion of exclusive exceptionalism? People are sick of that nonsense... at home and abroad.
I love Jay for his love of Citroens, Minis, two stroke Saabs. He's a good historian with a good sense of reality.
*The interior of this citroen is one of the nicest I've ever seen.*
And the exterior,...one of the worst, lol.
@@jtp336 I've got a feeling you're in the minority here
@@jtp336 You're an idiot!
Very modern for 1972
@@nonotherthananother Why, because he has a different opinion than you? I happen to agree with him; I've always thought it was one of the most hideous looking cars ever.
Love these pandemic editions, just Jay and a car.
Not the newest and fastest, but the most interesting.
It's more giving and personable!
Tanks Jay, for me this is not less, it's more!
Same!
Thank you so much for posting!! My Dad had a 1972 Citroën! We loved that car. I remember my Dad saying at one point that you, him and another guy were the only ones in LA to have Citroën's. Unfortunately my Mom had problems with the 1990 Jaguar Sovereign XJ6 and it accidentally smashed into the Citroën back in 2004. It was too expensive to fix. My Dad passed away two years ago, and this video brought up a lot of happy memories in that car. He got asked to the Citroën convention at the Petersen Museum and he took me with him. Was very cool to see Citroën's from the early 1900s. Would be fun to ride in one of these one day! Thanks again. :)
Just watching this now. Thanks for sharing memories of your parents, life in LA, your family's cars (and the Petersen museum!) May your father RIP.
I never pictured Citroen’s as being popular in the the U.S. yes I’m Europe with the bendy, curvy roads but in America with those lovely big straight interstate roads I just pictured the big V8s being king, especially back in the 70s & 80s when gas was insanely cheap. Saying that, when I was in California I did see plenty of big V8s on the road.
Also reminds me of the days sitting in my Dad’s Citroen CX20 in the 80’s. Loved how the hydraulics would set you down when parking. Felt like a king on an air mattress!
@@torpong44 same here. My dad had a CX and it was so comfortable.
Just saw an early '70s (my guess) green Citroen wgn drive by me here in my Mass. town the other day.🙂
Forget Clarkson and boys......no one makes better and informative car videos than Jay Leno....I am in UK and like older American cars up to 1960......
It takes a lifetime to realize that feel is really everything one needs.
Lol Exactly a big old modern car with plenty of spares currently available feels very comfortable to travel in, its mainly rubber components that are responsible for a cars comfortability, new deep tread tyres, window seals, bushes....
This was so enjoyable to watch. It was like hanging out with a buddy talking about old cars then going for a ride along. I've seen all the pandemic episodes.
They're wonderful aren't they. I watch all of jay's videos, but recently before corona they got a bit too commercial.
Absolutely agree!
The way the automatic wipers work is pretty interesting. When you turn the wipers on in auto mode it will wipe once. And the car will measure how many amps the wipermotor is pulling. If the window is very wet, the wipers will move smoothly and easy on the glass, the wipermotor doesn't pull as much amps so it will do the next wipe a bit quicker. If the window is getting dry again, the wipermotor will pull more amps which will let the car know it doesn't need to wipe as often anymore.
Yep, all that without modern digital gizmos !
Jay is the best!
Very interesting and that was 50 years ago. Impressive
Got a photo of that mechanism? SVP
Rare de voir de vrais passionnés d'automobile comme vous, monsieur Leno, surtout aux USA. Votre ouverture d'esprit fait plaisir à voir. Merci pour cette magnifique vidéo.
Jay Leno est d'origine italienne de première génération seulement, on peut très bien ressentir sa critique du "made in USA" il ne s'en cache pas dans cette vidéo d'ailleurs.
1972, ça fait 51 ans, mais c'est quand même la meilleure voiture française aux USA et la seule Citroën sportive! It's not french bashing!
@@12345fowlerSes grands-parents peut être mais Jay Leno est américain, son père aussi, et sa mère est britannique! Et les américains purs souches venus après les amérindiens ont des origines britanniques et plus lointainement germaniques!
"especially in the USA". You seem quite ignorant of the US people. Not only does the average American know much more about cars than the average Frenchman, but there are many more willing to work on their own vehicles. I suppose that it's because they had many more cars per capita than just about anywhere in Europe for many decades. I admire the french automotive industry and many of its engineering achievements (if not the 1.6 hdi engines) but the arrogant audacity of your comment manes just about anyone reasonable take jabs.
I've been waiting for this for YEARS
Me too, ive requested him to talk about this specific car(and more Citroens in general) for several years. As an American these cars seem so awesome and unusual.
Me 3. I needed some good news today.
Me too :) always in the background, now finally in front
same. :)
Oh me too, there has been no car I have suggested more, I’m so glad because he does the best reviews and the Citroën SM videos on RUclips are pretty poor and the only popular one by the Smoking Tire is ultimately by people who don’t really understand the SM
In the summer 0f 1972 my dad announced that it was time to replace my mom's Cadillac. As a 17 year old I was thrilled. We looked at the Citroen SM (same color as I recall), BMW Bavaria, and Mercedes 280SE. Dad was fascinated by the SM. Went back to the dealer three times with my mother. I guess my dad's French accent was not a good as Jay's; my mom demanded another Cadillac. It was, however, a color very similar to the SM!
Great memory of a special car. Thanks!
I'd get the SM, regardless of wife's demands. New times.
Oh god, you made me remember an episode from my childhood when my dad had all but signed the purchase agreement for a Subaru SVX, but chickened out at the last moment because of how "weird" it looked and bought a silver gray 1.8l Mercedes C-Class instead.
So many people writes that they saw SM in the very same color… I am sure I saw SMs in several different colors, but only on photos. All SMs I saw were this very same color, too! :D
@@B2BWide Isn't that something? I was living in New Jersey, USA. For some reason, this color really worked for this car. It was the right color. We lived near a Citroen dealership. Apparently, the color worked for my mother also. She vetoed my dad after the three visits. She wanted her giant Cadillac, and ordered it in a similar color. She ordered her Cadillac with paisley seats. The oil embargo happened a few months later. My dad was so disgusted with the "Sedan de Ville" gas mileage that he dumped it and bought a Audi 100! My mom did not come out of her room for three days. She was hysterical in a bad way. In 1976 he bought my mom a Mercedes. She recovered. (The Mercedes was the same color combination as the Citroen.)
My dad passed away in 1995. The Mercedes was sold three years later.
@@PrototypeSpaceMonkey Completely understand the connection! I was considering a previously owned SVX a few years ago. There is no doubt from whence that influence came!
One of the coolest cars ever made. Highly unique, stylish, & refined.
Driver's car for sure. And maybe a mechanic's car as well as you'd wanna know how to repair it.
almost all classic citroëns owners know how to maintain/repair their car.
from the 2CV, Ami, DS, GS, CX, SM till the XM they are enginering and design wise way different to most other car brands.
As an owner you have a love and hate relation with these cars.
The driving comfort of hydropneumatic suspension models is a class of its own like sitting on a flying carpet while driving over a bad roadsurface.
Even the mechanical spring suspensions have a weird system (2CV, Ami)
Often owners tinker togheter on a classic and have a good day and a laugh.
And ofcourse alot of shed enginering way better then once the oem part from the factory.
@@obelic71 yes indeed
I've had 3 xm's and I love it...
Like you said flying carpet...when the road have bad surfice just give little gas and you don't feel a thing...
I was just about to type that, it's very very cool, you'll look good in that thing wherever you turn up.
@@danijeljerman9461 had a GS BX and CX.
working now on a classic commercial HY van (French chicken shed) from 1963, they were build from 1946 till 1983.
@@obelic71 nice
Wish you all well. My father have bx...
But my wery first car was Citroen xm 2.1td with 80kw and black leather seats that was like new, meanwhile my friend buy 5years old bmw 323 cabrio with also black leather seats that was look like crap 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Could listen to jay talk about any car for hours on end, really a person who appreciates all cars for what they are
This is one of the most incredible cars ever built - along with the ds. Certainly a dream car of mine. One thing that is most striking viewing the car is the interior design - That dashboard shape and the shape of the center console looks like it could be a current design. These citroens will never fail to amaze me. I'm in love!
look out at YT for Citroen SM2, a very little french company full of SM lovers made a beautiful resto mod of it ;)
This is one of the most underrated cars ever, if not the most.
They used them as camera cars at horse racing events the ride was that good driving next to the track on grass, Land or Range rover, nope Citreon that's how awesome the ride is they didn't shake the camera. forget Go Pro, get a huge camera and a Citreon for action shots. lol.
Citroens in general..
Underrated? The SM promised a lot but could not really deliver and played a role in Citroen's bankruptcy. They were quite troublesome and unreliable. Citroen tried too hard to be different and it sort of backfired.
@@MrGoogelaar - ¡ Exactomundo ! Back in the day, they couldn't give these away, even the no-money-down used car dealers. A poll of Road and Track editors done for there 35th anniversary issue picked a Chevy Caprice with a police package option as the best car they ever tested.
I wouldn't say its underrated, it's more like it's most of the people haven't heard about that car, people who know it love it.
This is more than a Classic Car...this is truly a Work of Art ....Beautiful
Thank you, Jay. A gorgeous, visionary car. Citroen made 6 of them in a 4 doors version to be used by French Presidents.
2 of them, convertibles.
I studied in a major University in Boston. In 1986 a Gentleman in Watertown had 2 SMs and lots of parts for sale.
After a great deal of consideration, the transaction was not finalized. He was selling them for a song.
Unfortunately, I neither had a garage to park them, nor an able mechanic.
The gentleman passed away before concluding my academic project. I learned that both vehicles, plus inventory, were sold for 1.000 bucks to a person in California. Such is life...
Jay Leno's Garage is an intelligent, unique show presented with yr usual non-assuming, low-profile style. CONGRATULATIONS !
When I was a kid, I always thought of the Citroen as a car of the future. It was!
Its gay and so are you
What's sad is all cars now look the same
Yes it really is... a car of the future.. so I'm buying a diahatsu knock off for a run about to actually drive - while I wait and get fixed one at a time.. every little teensy but debilitating problem my wonderous Citroen has... at the only Citroen mechanic in the whole state... far far in the future.
In many ways, it's still is! Lots of advanced features that we still don't get in modern vehicles.
I too think that Jay is getting into stride with this pandemic edition. I like this new more intimate format where he just chats away about his cars ... so I guess this pandemic wasn't all bad huh ? Also thank you SO MUCH for introducing to us Citroen SM ... one of my favourite cars EVER. Here in Europe I got to own his poor relation Citroen Xantia and I can atest to comfort of that suspension and how far ahead of it's time it was. Everyone should get a chance to try it out and see what innovation used to mean before it was all about big(ger) screens.
Not to mention some versions of Xantia with anti-roll active suspensions, quite amazing in the 90s.
Jay is the best!
Never cared for these cars, but I never knew much about them. Now that I’m older, I appreciate the innovation and quality. This video has given me a new outlook.
My first car was a Citroen GS. Ive always have been in awe with Citroen. Read up and watch vids of the DS the CX, XM, SM and GS. The C6 is something from space. Their engones are actually quite normal. Its the rest thats freaky. Pity built quality was low on the agenda. And simple things like quality electrics and later quality electronics were left to chance. I have a CX Prestige Series 1. Google it. Its mind blowing the design.
car is very nice engineering
Same here. Back in the day, the few times I did see the out on the street, I never gave them a lick of attention. I just saw them as a hollywood car that you'd fly 100 mph off road down a moutainside. Now? I'd like to own one. Maybe. I don't think I can find a mechanic though.
Even in France you rarely saw this spaceship, or ufo. Psychedelic times.
Too bad they don't sell them any more...
His car reviews are wonderful and just how they should be. Too many people doing this feel the need to shout for some reason, Jay just chats, almost like you're there with him, just great.
Hey Jay....I was one those guys who was always asking for a re-run of the SM....FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks Jay!!!!
One of the most beautiful cars ever designed! Timeless!
I remember when these first came out, and went to see one. The seats were made from like baseball glove leather. You opened the door and the scent was...wonderful 😳
My dad was a Citroën enthusiast, we had 2 DS’s in the 1970’s when I was a kid (in Belgium). He bought another one in the mid-80’s too. Still somewhat remember the luxury feel of riding in the back, feeling as if on a magic carpet.
He was crazy for the SM, would’ve loved to have been able to afford one back then.
So would I, right now!
Thank you Jay for choosing this car. I have waited for years to see this car featured.
Sorry to hear Jerry doesn't have SM World anymore. I visited Jerry about 10 years ago, just to see the cars. I had a brochure as a kid (still have it) but had never been close to one in real life. Jerry treated me to a ride then let me drive! Was amazing. It's on the bucket list to get one. And thanks Jay for continuing to do these videos!
Yes‼️ Thank you Jay, I was waiting for you to talk about this car. One of the most advanced cars of its era.
C'est fou de se dire que cette voiture a un demi siècle ! Quelle engin n'empêche, je rêverais d'en conduire un jour !
Thank you from France Jay for this brilliant review of the finest post war french car. A french fan of your great program
Tout pareil ;-)
Jay is the best!
The interior is one of the nicest I've ever seen.
I have always seen this car of yours in the background and been waiting for a long long time for you to showcase this car. Thanks Jay. Love this pandemic edition where we get to see all your collection
Jay Leno is rapidly becoming a weekend institution for me. Wake up, grab a coffee, sit-up in bed and watch an episode.
Great delivery and background anecdotes. The genuine passion and knowledge is clear to see, without any of the arrogance that you’d expect from someone with such a collection.
Keep on doing what you’re doing, Jay. These videos are thoroughly enjoyable.
Thank you Jay! I have waited a long time for you to do a video on the SM. I have left comments on other videos and made mention that I was a mechanic at a dealership that's sold Saab, Peugeot, Citroen, and BMW. The 60s and 70s were some of the greatest years for European cars. I absolutely always loved the SM. They were so ahead of their time... And such a delight to drive. I used to laugh at people who got in one for the first time and didn't know how to correctly "massage" the brake pedal... and how they would lock the brakes up and almost put themselves through the windshield... LOL
It was sad that the Citroen company did not promote and support their products in the US.
This is just one of the many cars I would have in my own collection if I was able to build a museum such as yours. Thank you for your videos and all that you do for the car world.
I used to own one but could not find a mechanic in the San Franciso bay area.
All the gages were oval shaped even the steering wheel was oval. That was back in 1984. Good memories.
The kind of person that the Citroen SM was aimed was not kind of person that cared about how fast you could go around the Nurburgring. They cared more about the drive from Paris to Cognac, and then on down to St Tropez or Nice. All the time with a Gitane trapped between your lips and a pretty girl in the passenger seat.
Very well said.
To drive classic GT is like indulge in vintage wine. You don't need to finish up your drink that fast. But rather enjoy the whole atmosphere. So you don't care about how to speed up on any curb and turn , getting to point B as fast as you can, (tuned up pickup truck can do this job), while failing to savour the moment along the way
and listening to Joe Dassin on the radio
Damn.. almost feel like this car was for me.
@@rjft7003 Aux! Champs-Elysees
Bien vu !
I saw one of these parked in London about 18 months ago - a very rare sight and a gorgeous car.
My dad owned various Citroens from the 70-80's. The pneumatic suspension ride is amazing. A treasure that I wish more manufacturers adopted.
These recent quarantine episodes are my favorite. Just goes to show, you don’t need fancy shots to make the best car show around. Thank you Jay
This is one of the most beautiful and fascinating cars ever!
evvvvveeeeerrrrrrrrrrr
I’m watching amazing Jay Leno’s garage show for about seven or eight years and I was always wondering why Jay doesn’t make a video about this cosmic car.
I’ve waited for it all this time and I’m very thankful now)
Same!
I love this era of Citroen. They had also many inovative ideas, plus they weren't afraid to go with them, and do things in a completely different way to just about any other main stream manufacturer
Also, for a country apparently so safety obsessed, when it comes to cars, I can't understand why the US decided to ban the swiveling headlight system of these cars. Although, unfortunately, I've not had the pleasure of driving an SM, I have driven a DS, also with the headlights which turn with the steering, and it's true, they do make a difference. In fact I'm surprised more manufacturers didn't go with it.
Swiveling headlight system no longer banned, my 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6L has them, and the work beautifully!
Mercedes-Benz does it
Jay's garage is like the living encyclopedia of vehicles.
Jay is the best!
An awesome GT that has aged like fine French wine.
If kept warm and dry
The only part of the car that has not aged gracefully is the rear end. It always looked weird to me. I love everything else about the car but I could never like how the rear looks. I would still love to own one though...
@@Andersdenkende Made me chuckle
When the suspension lowers the car first front then rear it looks like a gentle cat laying down. Amazing car!
@@AxLWake Citroën rear ends are always slightly odd. They do it deliberately and it's a fun thing to see what they'll do next. Check out the C6, now sadly out of production and even the 2021 C4. The wagons are usually more conventional. My C5 looks positively German.
My dad, an aircraft mechanic, had a red DS exactly like yours. I have many found memories traveling from coast to coast in the back seat of that car!
I did quite a trip on the floor with my buddy ( puddle the great) 😅 from near Versailles to Costa brava spain ,during sumers of the 60s...
My grand dad had a white DS during the 70's. Fond memories
My wife worked for the Citroen UK HQ in 1973 and when we got married they lent us an SM with driver as our wedding car - pretty cool back then! Slightly disappointed that I didn’t get to drive it but apparently I had more important things to do that day.
The SM and DS seemed like something from a Sci Fi movie and are not at all dated even now.
Jay, thanks so much for presenting your cars to us. What comes over every time is that you are incredibly well informed and such a genuine enthusiast. Keep up the great work.
Absolutely do not care about fancy shots. Love this more personal interaction format. I'll actually be sad when the show changes back.
Totally agree
The Bad Blonde CARS & TRAVEL 😍
I was thinking the same thing. I like no guests either. Very nice. I feel like I was there! Fastest 30 min ever!
My dad has a 73 Sm, with the 3.0 5-speed manual. One of my favorite cars of all time, one of the best looking in my opinion too. Very happy Jay did this video, been waiting for this one.
My dad brought the 73 sm with the 3.0 5-speed manual from France. US made him take the moving headlights off. My dad passed the car to me and I have really enjoyed driving this car over the years. Nothing really compares to the driving experience and how it makes you feel like Jay said. Plus I have all the great memories as a kid driving around in the sm with my dad. The problem now is that there are very few mechanics that know how to work on them. Parts are getting very expensive and difficult to find. I consider myself very fortunate to own this classic one of a kind car.
This car is on the crossroads of Elegant and Cool.
Well put!
@@MrDpbazan1955 I could drive a car like this if it were sold here today. The only obstacle would be the cost of maintenance and service.
My dentist had it when I was a kid and so I considered that they were coming from a sci-fi movie.
@@laurentien00 I remember seeing one like this not far from where I lived growing up.
Everybody has to drive French car at least once in their life!!!! Brilliant! Completely agree. Thank you Jay for such fantastic demonstration.
Gorgeous. Give me this over a modern, over-horse powered coupe all day long. And that interior! I think this car could start me smoking Gitanes.
Over horse powered? Never heard that expression
@@jizzyjake6783 you get what he means right?
@@rogier151 no I don't understand what over horse powered means. I can never get enough horsepower.
@@jizzyjake6783 There comes a point in a car where any more horsepower added is extraneous to the point of not even being felt. You logically know that its there but it makes no actual difference to the driving experience. It is also gratuitous, overly so in fact. This is what over-horsepower means.
@@jakekaywell5972 impossible
Thanks a million Jay! I feel I’m the only French car enthusiast left. My very first car was a 1964 Peugeot 403. As my father thought something was not quite right with me, as he wanted to buy me a new Mustang or a new Z28. The Peugeot was my dream car! That first car went 259,000+ before it gave up. I’ve had 3 Renault’s, 3 Peugeot’s, and one DS 19 wagon. All really great automobiles!! I can see two or three Panards in the background in the corner of your shop. You need a 1979 Peugeot 504 V6 coupe for your collection Jay. This SM is absolutely the best car! Thanks again Jay!!!
Ds 2cv R8 R16 the greatest period for French automobiles they then went mainstream and sold more but lost that French flair although I have always had Renaults and always will I love my meg2 cc but it doesn't make me feel like the 8 and 16s I've had even if they are totally reliable
Where are you ?
I love French cars too! I grew up driving a Peugeot 505
@@andrewpoules9109 and what do you think of the Ami 6 and 8 ? I love the Renault 8
@@fhowland I believe it was very comfortable
These pandemic edition shows are the best we've had! Since you're so much into french cars, you should absolutely get a Peugeot 203. It is the first post-war car from Peugeot and the one that got it back in business, with almost 700,000 produced. It's the car most seen with the Citroen Traction, except it is even more cherished by people in the french countryside than the Traction, as it was more a people's car and everybody's grandpa had one at some point. It's also easy to work on, lots of parts and is generally cool with the exterior design coming from 40s American cars and mechanics from the 60s.
Cheers!
Peugeot 1007 3 door hatch with electronically assisted sliding doors.
@@marklittler784 Didn't they make a top gear episode out of that?
You mean Plandemic. New Order Of The Barbarians was set in motion back in the 60s. The UN Agenda 2030 has you locked indoors afraid of a virus, yet more people die of cancer. Wake up people. Stop being sheeple.
I have asked several times for shows on Peugeot! I’ve had a number of them and they were great cars in their era. I even asked him to do a show on the Peugeot Eclipse from the ‘30s with a convertible hardtop and it was just beautiful.
@@donelmore2540 the convertible 402? It's fantastic! And it has pretty cool and luxurious features like the Cotal pre-select transmission.
Love my SM... glad you mentioned the fantastic visibility... here in the UK some of my LHD vehicles are really difficult to drive yet the SM is no problem.
I have driven 8 hours non stop and got out just feeling I had been sitting on a comfortable sofa!
Jay apologises every time for the video style due to the pandemic, don’t apologise Jay! These are fantastic videos. They seem much more like it’s just us, chatting in your garage and going for a ride. This quiet informal format is brilliant
Agreed!
He may be just bootlicking the purveyor of the plandemic , just like he did when they let him on latenight decades ago
My dad only had Citroen cars. A 2CV, one Ami 8, several GS and CX. He dreamt of owning one of those. What a beauty!
Cool feature of this car was the front license plate under glass, just a beautiful automobile. Have bin waiting for years for u to review this car.👍👍👍
Jay, you've inspired me to get my CX (the poor man's SM) back on the road - there is nothing that handles or rides quite like these big Citroens. Yes, the non Maserati engines aren't great, they were meant to develop a rotary engine for the CX but ran out of cash (the development costs essentially bankrupted Citroen which had to be taken over by Peugeot) so my one has the same engine as the old DS/Traction Avant, a push rod thing that is thirsty but reliable and amazingly unsophisticated for such a sophisticated car. The smaller engine models had the 'Douvrain' or 'suitcase' engine a JD between Renault and Volvo that powered many European cars in the late 70s and 80s, its a lot more efficient and refined than the big lump in the GTI and 25.
Thing is about these cars is that they are built for European trunk roads, the handling and suspension means you can keep up a high average speed where road surface and camber etc would defeat a 'normal' car. They excel at long distance cross continent drives where they just float along, driver fatigue is NEVER a problem.
La CX n'est pas la SM du pauvre ,elles n'ont pas la même vocation.
La France a beaucoup privilégié le diesel à une époque,et les diesels de cette génération sont impressionnants !
La CX diesel turbo 2 est une voiture incroyable, capable des dévorer des kilomètres de route avec confort, sécurité et le gros couple de turbo diesel.
C'est une voiture que l'on peut encore utiliser au quotidien car le moteur est très robuste ,la tenue de route très performante,il y a beaucoup de place à l'intérieur....et le confort est royal,juste troublé par les cliquetis du diésel.
Cette voiture accélérait aussi fort que les Golf GTI essence de l'époque.
Quel plaisir,avant la multiplication des radars de croiser à 200 km/h sur l'autoroute comme sur un tapis volant.
Another fascinating personality involved with Citroen in those days was a man named Georges Regembeau. He was an engineer and Citroen specialist who came up with all sorts of incredible creations, such as a Traction Avant 15 Six with direct fuel injection, a supercharger and 6-speed gearbox in the mid 1950s, and selling tuning kits for DS and SM in the 60s and 70s. He also re-engineered Citroen four Cylinder engines to run on Diesel fuel years before Citroen built their first diesel engine for passenger cars. Naturally several SM were converted to those Diesel engines in the 1970s, a few were naturally aspirated but some were turbocharged and producing up to 150hp, which was just mind-blowing for diesel engines in those years. It is said that a special one of these Turbodiesel SM was capable of 150mph.
The Traction Avant was ahead of its time!
That's pretty interesting - I didn't know this and I'm a Citroen fanatic! I always wondered why Citroen had a straight 6 engine that they stopped using when the DS came out. Why didn't they develop that to fit in the DS and leave the 2lite 4 pot for the simpler ID..
@@pallasathena55 Well it came down to Frances taxation rules of the time. After the WW2 they imposed a luxury tax on all engines above 2.2L. It's why the great French Luxury makes such as Delahaye and Talbot Lago went bust in the 1950s. They made all sorts of wonderful 3L + Straight Six goodness. The 15 Six engine was a 2.9L and thus not viable to continue. The air cooled flat six originally planned for the DS was also supposed to be around 2.2L or so. And to be fair the Citroen Pushrod four was a pretty stout engine.
I never do this, but I'm liking this before one minute in. That sure is a pretty car from some angles. One silver lining of Covid-19 is these "just Jay and the car" episodes.
Jay you don’t have to apologize for your videos. They are excellent. Thank you for showing us the Citroen SM definitely an extremely unique vehicle. Thank you maestro
I was lucky enough to regularly drive an SM. Beautiful drive. A real head turner.
Thanks Jay, this for me is still the best looking car ever built! being 52 now, i have been in love with this car since I was a 12 year old kid, coming back from school every day walking past a Citroën garage in Brussels, Belgium where the owners had a blue SM. I had to see it almost every day and it made my heart go racing as much as it does today... I owned a DS21 super when I was 25 years for a daily driver.
I was stationed in Germany in the 70s and we always got a kick seeing these Citroens rocketing down the autobahns at high speed. They seemed to create the illusion as if they were floating on air, and you always knew when one was behind you flashing those crazy high beams demanding you to let them pass. lol...
It's rather unlikely that you saw a lot of SMs on the Autobahn because less than 900 were eventually delivered to us. The DS was surely more common.
To be honest, yes.
Here are some numbers: 2490 were delivered to North & South America. 241 to Africa. 185 to Asia (thereof 134 to Japan) 35 Down Under.
In Europe 9771 units were sold (thereof 5509 in France and 2070 in Italy)
The rest probably in Switzerland and other wealthier western european countries.
The one I own was registered in CH from 1972 - 2007.
Keep in mind that border crossing in europe back than was far less common that it is nowadays. We had immigration and customs.
Watching a french or Swiss registered car on our Autobahn was not unique but seldom.
Catching a german registered Sm was infreqent. Discovering a foreign Sm in Germany was considered a lottery win.
Back in high school in the late 70s there was an AIr Force brat in my class. His family was stationed in Germany prior to moving to the base back here. He used to talk about a friend "borrowing" his dad's XKE and they would bomb down the autobahn as fast as they dared being teens. He said one time they were going over 100 when a Citroen blew past like they were riding the brakes.
French still come on autobahns to try their fast cars.. Probably you stationed near Strasbourg...
If you take the engine apart, you'll see the most amazing craftsmanship in the industry. The quality and complexity of the castings is just stunning. It's amazing to me that they got that one past the bean counters
John Hege So true. My GS had no head gaskets. Engineering was that precise it didn’t need them.
Truly!
Sadly, an inability to count beans has led to Citroen's demise on more than one occasion over the years. Now they are basically rebodied Peugeots. I knew the end had come when a road test of a Citroen complained about the rough ride. Quelle horreur!
Thank you for a great review of the SM. My father did everything for this family and when he felt we were established did something for himself and purchased a used SM, it was his hobby. Im told every great engineer (for that time) either wanted to work for NASA or Citroen. And my father was a brilliant man. The car is remarkable in many ways even now, inboard disc breakers, hydraulic suspension to name a few. And the flat bottom of the car and overall design gave it an unprecedented low coefficient of drag even by today’s standards. Cheers!
As far as I’m concerned, the French made the most beautiful cars in the world in the 20’s and the 30’s. Jay, yours is the nicest SM I’ve ever seen. That colour really shows off the cars lines and with the chrome, she has a real understated elegance to her. Thanks for this updated review.
Owning one of those across the pond, I've never missed a video made on the SM. Although Jay makes this one look casual and cool, it is the most comprehensive I've ever seen! Almost nothing was left out, and this is not a piece of cake for such a sophisticated and complex vehicle. Many thanks Jay!
Thank you so much for this nice presentation of one of the most beautiful cars ever built. My father had a 1974 electronic injection model. It was destroyed in the civil war in Lebanon/
I was too young to drive it. He would allow me to start the ignition and feel the sound and roar of the engine. My dream was to own one, but they are so difficult to find. By the way the steering wheel system was called DIRAVI.
Thank you. I am very grateful for showing us this beauty. I wish one day, I will get to drive one better yet, to own one.
Keep well and stay safe.
Best regards
Christian
DIRAVI = DIrection à Rappel AsserVI = Power steering with powered centering.
It is not a power assisted but a fully powered steering like that of the D series (DS, ID, DSpécial) before it. Additionally, the steering stiffens as the wheels turn faster up to about 80 mph/130 kmh. The lock-to-lock is 2:1, very quick, go-kart like, where the D was 3:1. So the powered centering greatly reduced the “sneeze-steer” factor.
Steering “feel” is totally artificial, but with almost center-point steering and zero camber there wouldn't have been any feedback from the tires anyway.
Well, I wasn't expecting a civil war to be the end for a Citroen SM. Such a shame, but glad you made it through those tough times.
@@Derry_Aire Hello Derry, Thank you for your kind words. My Dad had to leave the car in the garage of the dealer. The dealer had to close for over 6 months due to the civil war in 1977. The rats and other rodents, ate all the wiring and the tubes of the engine. To order the peaces and get a special engineer to repair this damage was the cost of buying a brand new car in 1977 the cost of repairs were estimated at $ 25,000.00.
We left Lebanon and we now live in Montreal in Quebec/Canada and have been living there since 1987.
Thank you for your consideration.
Do you have a Citroen SM??
What do you think of this car???
Hope to hear from you.
Best regards.
@@genkis777 I've admired many Citroen's - including the SM - but sadly never owned one. Lebanon is a sad place to me. Sometimes, it seems to be moving forward, albeit slowly, then something happens and it's 2 steps back and start again. The poor people (whatever their religion) must be sick of it all. |If it's not one thing affecting their lives (like a corrupt government) it's another (like a massive explosion). It looked like something was about to kick off last week again, but it seemed to just fizzle out. Good luck my friend.
@@Derry_Aire thank you Derry. Have a good day. And good luck to you too.
I thoroughly appreciate Jay's vignette videos of his wonderful cars during this perishing lockdown.
They've been a bit of a lifesaving pleasure in every way.
Jay. Thanks. My Dad had one of these that he bought from Red Eddinger in PA. It was the last of about a dozen Citroëns that he owned. DS's & ID's. I grew up working on, riding in and loving them.
Today, Sept 21st happens to be Dad's birthday.
It's a perfect way to honor my memories of him.
Thanks, Mitch
Thanks for your review of the Citroen. In 1972 is was living in Lagos, Nigeria due to my father's work. A coworker of his had recently bought a Citroen. As a 10 year old boy I thought this car was the most amazing looking thing I'd ever seen. Especially having moved from Oklahoma and only knowing big American land yachts. Then he showed us how he could move the car up and down. Wow! I still remember the smell of the interior of that new car. Thanks for the drive down memory lane.
This is at least the THIRD time that Citröen re-invented re-invented the automobile...
Yeah, but they actually did it.
"Just" one example of many European🇪🇺 Superior and Sophisticated Craftmanship, klasse👌
Citroen needs to bring this suspension system back!
In many ways, Citroën has just done this with the new C4 model. It does not have a classic hydropneumatic suspension system, but it has newly developed shock absorbers that have an extra valve that evens out major unevenness on the road. This does not sound like much, but it works absolutely fantastic. Really "less is more" in an absolutely ingenious way. I was really surprised when I first tried the new C4 model and my thoughts immediately went back to the feeling BX/Xantia gave with the classic hydropneumatic suspension. In many ways, the new suspension is actually better and in my opinion much better than what is found on even significantly more expensive car models with adaptive suspension.
Too expensive to manufacture. Only a small market will pay extra for superb suspension.
A Toyota Camry has a good ride for a modern car but with my health problems feels very harsh compared to any of the “real” hydraulique Citroëns.
I had two ID wagons, one manual shift with clutch pedal and one with hydraulic shift, a DS21 Pallas with hydraulic shift, a DSpécial that I put in the motor out of the DS21, and two SMs with manual shift.
They were all rather worn and beat-up when I got them. Never any problem with the Maserati DOHC V6s but it was only a matter of miles.
Can't. this car is not friendly for the current generation of people who are arguably some of the most dumbest people I've ever met.
The Xantia still had these, in some form. Not sure if any model afterwards did.
Absolutely, and they should also do the steered head lights.
The designer's name is Robert Opron. The name of the stearing system is diravi. "Direction à rappel asservi"means steering with controlled return.
I would have translated that to powered steering return.
But what happens when you need to curb the wheels in either direction on a hill.... as Jay mentioned?
@@TheObimara I guess, turn the wheels, switch the car off and then let go of the steering wheel
Cool!
@@SBK74 - Maybe, but it's not explained how it works. If it's part of the car's, um, cardio-vascular system there might be enough pressure etc to return the steering wheel. Perhaps there's a lock out of some sort. France also has hills...
24:56
So much truth here, I always thought the French had a good deal in making tastefully designed cars that are honestly far from gaudy, the chrome is always done nicely on their classics. I honestly think even the Citroen GS, 2CV and the Ami are gorgeous cars, and I've noticed that some people generally looked at those in specific and thought they where ugly. Really not sure what they're on about to be honest.
Love the early history of Citroen too.
@@BadBlonde-CarHistory Oh yeah. Citroen is such a interesting car manufacturer in specific. I still love how they made use of hydropneumatic suspensions all the way up until 2018.
Great video, Jay. I love the SM. I grew up in the Saarland region of Germany, which previously was a French protectorate, lots of Citroen cars then, I can assure you. However the SM was so special. Only the most affluent people bought those, they were truly unique cars. Thanks for the memories!
This car is so much nicer than I've ever known it to be, wow, look at the technology and the design inside and out, this car really stands out!
Jay is the best!
I remember seeing these in Road and Track back in the day....oh man the interior, the technology....I lusted after one as young kids do for cool cars. Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Jay. The steering system is called DIRAVI, rough translation to English is Velocity Related Assisted Steering.
Variable pressure controlled by a governor driven off the transmission output shaft.
My CX GTI has the same system.
AC didn't come as standard in Europe.
Styled by Robert Opron ( pardon my French ), think he did the GS, GSA, and CX.
Not only do the center headlamps turn with the steering, the whole group of six rotate up and down to stay pointing level when under acceleration or breaking. Both movements are hydraulically actuated.
There is a much simpler term: Progressive Power Steering and in Europe it is quite common, because it is a safety feature. Full power steering at high speed and applying a bit too much force/movement to the steering wheel? Oh boy.
I had a GSA, What a different car it was. Then i had a BX, still keep it today.
José Pinto b
The pressure does not vary. What changes is pressure on the self-centering cam, adding pressure to the cam, making it harder to turn off the straight ahead position. The steering is fully powered and bears no resemblance to any other system. There is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering rack when the engine is running, it’s totally hydraulics with a hydraulic ram in the rack that moves as fluid is moved in the rack. This makes it impossible for the wheels to be turned by outside forces such as curbs or stones, etc. A far superior system that, as Jay mentions, requires getting used to.
As a Frenchman, I had the opportunity to board DS and ID several times. And while I was hitchhiking in 1981, I boarded an SM, the driver took the highway between Paris and Lyon. He told me that he was going to pick up his boss who was returning from the USSR, which surprised me (doing business with the USSR was not that common) and that he did not care about the limitations of speed (I suppose the boss was a very important man for the country's economy), and we made the trip at an average of more than 200 km/h. Incredible sensations! I have never been in a car so comfortable and so powerful at the same time! We didn't feel the speed! A trip on a magic carpet, and the trip to Lyon seemed short to me! It was a moment that remained engraved in my memory.