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The Citroën SM was born as a result of the participation of the French brand in Maserati and the technical collaboration between the two firms. The imposing coupé had a spectacular design, all the hydropneumatic technology of the DS and a Maserati V6 engine that delivered 170 horses. Just a few months after the SM was unveiled at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, French coachbuilder Heuliez got to work on a project to turn the SM into a convertible. At the 1971 Paris Motor Show Heuliez presented its SM Espace with an original solution for the roof that was patented.
The SM retained a central longitudinal pillar linking the windshield to the rear of the roof. The two sides of the roof were formed by two sets of sheets that were folded and hidden in that central pillar, revealing almost the entire interior. The rear window was replaced by a set of louvres, in the style of the Lamborghini Miura. The dashboard was upholstered in green leather and the seats were in cream leather. It was painted in an aubergine metallic colour, the hubcaps were custom made in bright polished aluminum and the exhaust outlets were square in section.
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Unfortunately the Citroën SM Espace was not very successful and for the 1972 Brussels motor show Heuliez returned the interior to the original configuration, the glass rear window was installed and the stock hubcaps were fitted for display inside the official Citroën stand. Finally the French brand decided not to produce this original SM Espace and Heuliez kept the car, changed its color and painted it in his wife’s favorite blue. It should be noted that there is another Citroën SM Espace, made for a client and friend of Heuliez, in white with a black roof and which has remained in the same family ever since. In Artcurial’s video from 2012 it is said that the original SM Espace introduced in 1971 was destroyed but it was later found that what was destroyed was a bare structure that was used to test the roof sheeting system and body stiffness. The blue SM Espace was the original, after being adapted to Mrs. Heuliez’s taste.
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Heuliez
For years the SM Espace was exhibited in different events and elegance contests, painted blue. In 2007 Heuliez went into bankruptcy proceedings and in 2012 Artcurial auctioned off the remaining assets of the French coachbuilder, including the original Citroën SM Espace. The new owner of it maintains it as he acquired it and in 2015 he participates in the Concours d’Elegance de Chantilly. At that event, the owner of the SM and a collector interested in this rare Citroën, Thierry Dehaeck, came into contact. After a long negotiation with the family that owns the SM Espace, Dehaeck acquired it in 2018.
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In 2019, Mr. Dehaeck decided to return the SM Espace to the original configuration with which it was presented at the 1971 Paris Motor Show, with its “aubergine” color -aubergine-, the striking green and cream leather interior and its hubcaps. in bright aluminum. The restoration was completed in 2021 thanks to the invaluable help of Yves Dubernard, chief designer of Heuliez in 1971 and responsible for the Espace project, so the restoration has been meticulous in every detail. Now the Citroën SM Espace can be seen in the next edition of the Salón Privé elegance contest that will take place from August 31 to September 4 at Blenheim Palace, England.
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