[LM24] Citroen SM

[Osella]

please move this if its in the wrong place-

I was amazed to discover that a Citroen SM failed to qualify for the 1972 Le Mans 24 hours (not amazed that it failed - amazed it was entered).

http://www.racingsportscars.com/type...C3%ABn/SM.html

Does anyone know any more about this one?

[chernaudi]

Only thing that I've seen:

http://www.lemans-history.com/mostra...5&equipa_seq=0

[Aysedasi]

It's referenced (briefly) here -

http://www.formula2.net/1972.htm

[Osella]

I'm thinking it's the last fwd entrant before this year's Datsuns?

[Osella]

there's a bit more here:

https://translate.google.co.uk/trans...%2F&edit-text=

I'd love to know more;

pole that year was 3:42.200, but a 240Z, (5:00.200) 911s (5:02.700) and Capri 2600 (5:07.800) failed to qualify as did a Pantera that got under 5 mins (all info from the delightful racingsportscars.com)

in this pic http://www.endurance-photos.org/wp-c..._Citroen_1.jpg

the exhausts exit the side, I think (which indicates a degree of preparation or at least no stock silencers) but the interieur looks remarkably stock.

I'd love to know if the car still exists, how quick it was down the Mulsanne, etc

non-lovers of French cars will perhaps need reminding that this was the most advanced car on sale in the world at the time, and it would be interesting to compare contemporary large 4-seater GTs in a similar state of tune.

The only FWD ones I can think of would be the Oldsmobile Toronado and its Cadillac Eldorado stablemate, both with motors at least double the SM's cc - also the Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato (only 1.8 litres I think)

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Osella

please move this if its in the wrong place-

I was amazed to discover that a Citroen SM failed to qualify for the 1972 Le Mans 24 hours (not amazed that it failed - amazed it was entered).

http://www.racingsportscars.com/type...C3%ABn/SM.html

Does anyone know any more about this one?

Thanks for posting that! I am on that website constantly, but had never looked up SM entries in other races. The SM is a car that always fascinated me, used to see one or two around Central Florida during their time, and a few years later happened upon a Citroen salvage yard that had five or so lined up out front, along with 2CV's and DS's etc.

I always wondered if Ligier had some involvement in the LeMans entry, and see he was entry in a car that went to Spa.

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by skycafe

Thanks for posting that! I am on that website constantly, but had never looked up SM entries in other races. The SM is a car that always fascinated me, used to see one or two around Central Florida during their time, and a few years later happened upon a Citroen salvage yard that had five or so lined up out front, along with 2CV's and DS's etc.

I always wondered if Ligier had some involvement in the LeMans entry, and see he was entry in a car that went to Spa.

The SM that ran at Spa was at Automedon last year.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Samoan Attorney

The SM that ran at Spa was at Automedon last year.

Thanks! That car qualified well at Spa.

[mikemosportc2]

Saw white SM driving down the road last night. Crazy!!

[AllonFS]

At the risk of Aysedasi's wrath, this is why I want GTs as well as prototypes. I love the slightly oddball cars that get in, things like 'le monstre', the Ferrari breadvan, the Aston Martin RHAM, through to the TVRs and Morgans more recently. Along with the Normas and Deboras in the prototype classes, to me they are very welcome balance to the professionalism of an Audi or Porsche entry. If they were all like that, it would be getting dangerously close to F1 for me, so vive la difference!

[isynge]

Originally Posted by AllonFS

At the risk of Aysedasi's wrath, this is why I want GTs as well as prototypes. I love the slightly oddball cars that get in, things like 'le monstre', the Ferrari breadvan, the Aston Martin RHAM, through to the TVRs and Morgans more recently. Along with the Normas and Deboras in the prototype classes, to me they are very welcome balance to the professionalism of an Audi or Porsche entry. If they were all like that, it would be getting dangerously close to F1 for me, so vive la difference!

I think I can identify with that. I don't want 3 box saloons at Le Mans, but when the time demands (and maybe we might face that sometime soonish?) having the option to fill the grid with cars that are interesting albeit with a scant chance of winning would be welcome. I recall in the dark days after 1992 the prospect of having Venturis, XJ220s, F40s and the like was massively appealing, as was the notion of the strangeness of the MiG and no doubt other monstrosities beloved of those enjoying something different.

With the bleak news of the demise of the Greaves and Strakka LMP1 projects, LMP2 becoming to all intents and purposes spec, and GT being increasingly samey where does the flair of inspiration come from? Are we to wallow in the habitual? Something like a Citroen SM would give us something of an unworn world to enrapture us - and wouldn't that be a good thing?

[GT6]

totally agree we must all fight to keep the le mans grid from becoming to similar and that must include both left of field prototypes and GT's and not just factory cars that all look the same and lack a little something that makes them stand out

[Osella]

I propose an 'SM' class, essentially a free-for all, so long as the car is a 4-seat 3-door GT, with active suspension and a glazed nose and a Maserati motor driving the front wheels (and perhaps electric motors on the rear wheels).

[merak1974]

Originally Posted by Osella

I propose an 'SM' class, essentially a free-for all, so long as the car is a 4-seat 3-door GT, with active suspension and a glazed nose and a Maserati motor driving the front wheels (and perhaps electric motors on the rear wheels).