Just one Citroën is to cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale, AZ, auction January 16 -17, 2020, a well-preserved US-spec 1973 SM 3.0L 5-speed.
The car, chassis # 00SD0822 with just 40,282 miles, is finished in a shade similar to Brun Scarabée (brown) with a tan interior, and has had just 2 owners from new. It is one of 600 that were built with a 3.0-liter engine and five-speed manual transmission. The interior is reportedly in stunning original condition.
Service under current ownership has been carried out by Citroën marque specialist John Titus and the prior owner had the engine completely rebuilt, including adding Euro headers, by SM specialist David Hume.
It is being offered without reserve and is expected to fetch between $50,000 – $70,000 US.
Given that John Titus’s personal SM is currently for sale for $67,500 US o.b.o. (on both Citroënvie and Hemmings) and it has all the desirable upgrades already done (European headers, solid stainless exhaust valves, Renold Ultra timing chains, Pertronix electronic ignition, gear reduction starter motor, new clutch, stainless steel exhaust, rotary air conditioning compressor, brass window gears, LED instrument lights, and RGP alloy wheels) while also sporting European headlights (6 behind glass covers) that alone adds about $10K to the value of an SM, we would expect the Scottsdale SM to sell in the $50 – 55K range. However, no reserve could mean that it could be had for substantially less than $50K.
Update – Jan. 19, 2020: Sold for $64,400 US inclusive of applicable buyer’s fee.