After yesterday’s DS5 used by François Hollande, here’s a car that corresponds much more closely to most people’s notion of a presidential Citroën. This 1968 DS-based limousine by Chapron was commissioned under Charles de Gaulle but mainly used by his successor Georges Pompidou. Photo from a visit to Citroën’s Conservatoire in 2012.
They've got an SM which I don't normally like the look of but it's in a really nice blue.
https://www.ddclassics.com/used/cars/citroen/sm/automatic-3-litre-261
@serichards @craigmorgan @davidwilkins I have a sort of love/hate of the SM.
I love the hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension, the Diravi steering with “monobranche” wheel, the oval dashboard instrumentation, the brake “mushroom” pedal, the fact that it is a big 2 door GT tourer, the enclosed front lights with corner illumination.
The overall shape I find somewhat underwhelming, and as a Citroën enthusiast, this is very troubling.
@adrianco @ZeKik @serichards @davidwilkins makes perfect sense, there's still one or two specialists here in UK. I think sadly this is the fate of many of the more niche specialists, lack of new "apprenticed" workers/owners and small volumes are the death-knell for many, only the larger volume (ie. Porsche/Jaguar) or higher value (Ferrari/Lamb. etc) attract investment.
Lets celebrate and support the odd-ball specialists that are solo keeping some of the greatest old metal operational …
@craigmorgan @adrianco @serichards @davidwilkins probably varies by country. In France, they could be around for a while yet.
OEM manufacturer restomod is also becoming a bit of a thing, which might spread to other marques. The restored cars are very expensive though.
@adrianco @craigmorgan @serichards @davidwilkins Lon Price should find a young French mechanic who would love to immigrate to the 🇺🇸!
In the 🇺🇸, it certainly seems difficult to own a Citroën or a Peugeot.
It’s also hard for 🇺🇸 enthusiasts to understand the cars. They are never particularly powerful or fast, because the French registration tax has always discouraged those (the infamous “chevaux fiscaux” or “tax horsepower”, hence the 2CV).
@adrianco @craigmorgan @serichards @davidwilkins I sort of forgot that the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron are French owned W16’s built in Alsace.
Bugatti itself is still French AFAIK, although I would expect they don’t even sell half a dozen cars in the country per year.
Owned by parent company VAG until recently. Now a subsidiary of Porsche 🇩🇪 and Rimac of Croatia 🇭🇷.
@davidwilkins @craigmorgan @adrianco @serichards wow! 🤩
Who wouldn’t want to own that gem today?! 😱
@craigmorgan @adrianco @davidwilkins @serichards I’ve driven a BX G2 diesel automatic (4-speed).
My abiding memory is of something extremely capable, especially on B-roads in Donegal 🇮🇪 (the roads are bumpy because of the bogs, which cause sagging etc).
The engine was unstoppable. An automatic made it feel much more like a long distance cruiser that could go forever while sipping fuel.
@craigmorgan @adrianco @davidwilkins @serichards
As a G2, most of the quirkiness was gone — no control pods around the steering wheel.
Some of the interior finishes were lowish quality, especially the seat adjustments — they moved in big increments with inconvenient to use adjuster wheels.
The trunk (boot) was very rectangular, large, and very usable — with no intrusions on the sides.
Overall, a great automobile for the 💰.
@DenOfEarth @vinc if there was ONE thing that might sway me, it would be the manual shifter. One of the most beautiful known to mankind.
5-speed transmission too. That must have been a rarity back then.
* I don’t mean the shifter stick itself, although that is nice too, but mostly, that gate down there. Ugh… incredible! I would love to experience how it feels in actual use.
Produced after Citroën acquired Maserati, it incorporates the best of both brands: trademark Citroën design with a powerful Maserati V6 engine under the hood. The French government even ordered two custom ceremonial SM's with open roof for the presidential fleet.
David Wilkins
Craig Morgan
Suzy Richards
💐 🏖 🌺 𝕂𝕚𝕂𝕚
Adrian Cockcroft
Vicente
Den of Earth
Belgian Diecast Restorations