1970 CITROËN SM PROTOTYPE « JACQUES NÉ »

French title
Chassis n° 00SB0291
Engine n° C114-000.236

- Formerly owned by the head of Citroën’s R&D department
- Fitted with the spare engine from the 1974 24 Hours of Spa
- Numerous technical developments

This Citroën SM is unique! It is one of the cars used by Citroën’s R&D department, where Jacques Né was in charge of the ‘S’ project which led to the development of the SM. It therefore features several improvements, including ventilated front discs, a strengthened engine subframe, double oil cooler, 120-litre fuel tank and cutaway front bumper with a central grille, as well as special suspension spheres and Michelin reinforced resin wheels. The car also has a host of detailed stylistic changes not found on production cars from 1970. The other major difference concerns its engine, which is none other than the spare engine from the 24 Hours of Spa in 1974. Prepared by Maserati, this 2.7-litre unit has the carburettors and distributor from the 3-litre engine, and produces 190bhp. When Né retired in 1984, he managed to buy the prototype, which in theory should have been destroyed for reasons of confidentiality. The SM remained in his family until 2017, when it was bought by its current owner, a leading connoisseur of the marque. Extensive work was then carried out on the car (the full list is on file), including the complete restoration of the engine, paintwork and hydraulic system, as well as that of the interior, whose rare ‘buffalo grain’ leatherette upholstery was preserved. We noted that this unique SM runs very well; it is truly a part of the history of the model and will be sold with extensive documentation.

The auction of this lot will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
https://www.artcurial.com/fr/lot-1970-citroen-sm-prototype-jacques-ne-4134-146