BETTER PARTSStones bassist Wyman auctioned Citroën
Goodwood, May 27, 2015
When on June 26, 2015 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction hammer falls, a very special car will change hands: the Citroën SM Bill Wyman. The ex-bassist of the legendary Rolling Stones had this car since 1971 ?? and was thrilled. " He let go so easily ," he said in an interview with the auctioneer. Over the years, Wyman was not only to the studio recordings of albums like " Exile on Main Street ", " Some Girls ," " Emotional Rescue " and " Tattoo You" on the go, but also visited his bandmates on the Côte d'Azur and traveled to concert performances.
With Maserati engines
But who bought Wyman Citroën SM, gets not only a car with prominent previous owner, but also a very unusual vintage. The SM is now considered a style icon, although it of course stands in the shadow of the legendary Citroën DS Goddess, where he is based. What is special about the large two-door are its Maserati engines that got the Frenchman due to concluded in 1968, cooperation with the Italian sports car manufacturer. However, whether the " M " in " SM " for " Maserati " is, is controversial today. It would be conceivable.
Six cornering headlights
Was developed the 4.84 meter luxury coupe from Citroën 's chief designer Robert Opron. In March 1970, the car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show for the first time. Above all, his art caused a stir: The SM had a hydropneumatic suspension with a constant ground clearance, a newly developed power steering and six headlamps with automatic height correction and hydraulic Headlights. Four high-pressure disc brakes with two independent brake circuits front and rear and load-dependent brake force control were provided. The 2.7-liter V6 Maserati gave it 160 or 175 hp, beyond a three-liter with 180 horsepower was offered.
Fastest Fronttriebler his time
The SM was also a popular sport and luxury touring car, with a peak of 220 km / h, it was then the fastest front-wheel drive. And his good suspension comfort quickly earned him the nickname " the flying sofa " a ?? even if the course does not speak on the fit. Nevertheless, in his first race in racing 1971 SM drove in the Morocco Rally is a victory.
SM as a State - Convertible
To date, some flashy special models are known: The Parisian coachbuilder Henri Chapron developed the SM my lord as a full convertible version as well as the SM Opera as an extended version of the SM Coupé. A special highlight was the constructed by him Présidentielle SM. This four-door convertible was exclusively used by the French state and was on official occasions of François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac in use.
In May 1975, production was stopped
After two further developments in the years 1972 and 1973 the production was finally set May 1975 did 40 years ago. The reasons included not only the former energy crisis, but probably also the susceptibility and Wartungsunfreundlichkeit the engines. There 12,920 copies were built, just 925 vehicles were registered in Germany.
Up to 60,000 euros
Who wants to buy a SM today, either the auction offer of Wyman's car at the Goodwood Festival use ( the auction house Bonhams expects a revenue of approximately EUR 55,000 ) or look in internet car exchanges. There are required depending on the condition and design 11000-60000 euros . ( hd )