1972 Citroën SM

This car is offered from outside of the European Union. It has been imported under temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to Dutch import tax (9%) on top of the winning bid price. Cars less than 30 years old will pay 9% Dutch import tax plus 21% VAT on the hammer.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, as their proof of purchase.

This vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and the documented history available is limited to that displayed in our photography section.

We have not tried to start or drive the car, and cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

As CARS Europe BV is the guarantor of all customs duties and taxes for vehicles within Dutch customs bond, the car cannot be released to the buyer or transporter immediately after the sale. For all enquiries relating to Customs, please contact CARS Europe BV.

Purchases will only be released once cleared funds are received. All vehicles must be collected after the payment of funds. All storage charges must be paid in full prior to the vehicle’s collection or onward transportation.

Storage charges payment must be arranged with the storage company. Collection is strictly by appointment only.

Please send a booking email to the storage centre to ensure vehicle(s) are ready at time of collection. Photographic ID will be required at time of collection. If a third party is collecting for you, then written authorisation is required in advance from you and photographic ID of the third party is required at the time of collection. Collection either by buyer or third party is only possible for vehicles within customs bond if applicable import taxes paid are paid to import into country of bonded storage location.

As soon as The Market by Bonhams receives your payment, the accounts department will send a release note to the manager of the storage facility where your car(s) is stored.

CARS Europe BV will contact you just after the sale to confirm onward transport requirements. Direct contact at CARS for enquiries is as follows; Joanna Herlihy, +31 (0) 252 682 526, +44 7483 433912, joanna@carseurope.net.

STORAGE CHARGES - €30 + local VAT per motor car per day commencing from the sixth day following the auction end.

CUSTOMS CHARGES - €500 per motor car (plus applicable permanent import taxes from bond).

Offered here is a 1972 LHD manual example in ‘Vert Argent’ green with black leather.

VIN: 00SC0270.

Odometer Reading: 24,952 kms.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this car comes with no history or service records.

With the proviso that we haven’t tried to drive this car and can therefore only comment on its cosmetic state, we think this SM is a good example of an important and influential model that was ahead of its time when new and still looks wonderfully futuristic today.

It is in very decent condition and appears to be entirely authentic and original as far as we can tell.

We know that the car was in the UK in 2002/3, and we also know that it entered the vendor’s collection of static display cars in 2013.

The light green metallic paintwork is in impressive overall condition and has plenty of shine and lustre to it.

The bodywork is free of any significant dents, bumps or creases that we can see.

The panel gaps and shut lines are consistent, although the bonnet does not currently close flush with the bodywork.

The chrome work is very good, save for some tarnishing on the door handles and badging. The elaborate headlights look to be in good order behind their all-enveloping cowling, although there is some staining and rust dust to the metal inside.

There is some apparently superficial rust on the rim of the front passenger-side wheel arch, some scratches on the front wing on the same side, and others on the passenger-side front wing.

There are one or two paint chips along the car’s flanks on both sides and the wing mirror on the driver’s side is drooping down.

There are a couple of small patches of delamination on the windscreen.

The wheels appear to be OK, though in need of some black paint at the centres of the hub caps.

The interior seems to us to be very original.

It is as strikingly modern and future-facing now as it must have been in 1972. Today, though, it has acquired an attractive (in our opinion) patina of age and use.

The black leather interior is very much of the period and, although slightly creased and a little worn in places, is otherwise undamaged and would no doubt respond well to some cleaning and leather feeding.

The leather seats at the back are equally good, although we noticed that the stitching is coming away on a couple of small sections on the centre panel.

The grey carpets and mats seem to have survived the passage of time well, as have the door cards, dashboard, centre console and most interior fixtures and fittings.

We can’t make any claims about the full functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to drive the vehicle.

The engine and engine bay look clean and dry and everything appears to be in the right and proper place.

Although there is some rust dust to see and one section looks a little bashed and scuffed, the undersides appear to have a decent amount of structural integrity, as far as we can tell.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records.

Any paperwork we have is photographed and displayed in the photo gallery. We do not have anything else.

Apart from one or two cosmetic issues, this car seems to be in very good condition and appears to have been well looked after and preserved.

Provided that the engine and mechanicals are as good as the rest of it, this splendid low kilometres Citroën SM should reward its next owner with years of classy, stylish and truly iconic motoring.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of €25,000 - €35,000.

Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.