Editing Citroën SM (section)

==Demise==
After the 1974 bankruptcy of Citroën, [[Peugeot]] took ownership of the company and, in May 1975, divested from [[Maserati]]. Peugeot quickly decided to stop building the SM, as production had dropped to 294 cars in 1974 and 115 units the final year.

Observers often attribute the demise of the SM to the [[1973 oil crisis]] and [[economic recession]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Ultimate-flight-fancy-sealed-Citro-n-s-fate/story-11398987-detail/story.html|title= Ultimate flight of fancy that sealed Citroën's fate |work=West Briton| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121149/http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Ultimate-flight-fancy-sealed-Citro-n-s-fate/story-11398987-detail/story.html|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Fall"/>

While the oil shock certainly affected sales, many far more profligate cars were introduced at the same time the SM ceased production, including the [[Hydropneumatic suspension|hydropneumatically suspended]] [[Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9]]. Peugeot even introduced a V6 powered car of similar displacement and fuel consumption in 1975, the [[Peugeot 604|604]]. In the U.S. (the main export market for the SM), the SM was actually an economical vehicle relative to its competitors.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pdvMRoDOTbMC&q=citroen&pg=PA5|title=European Thoroughbreds: What Are Their Secrets? |magazine=Popular Science |page=40 |date=December 1973 | first1 =Jan P. | last1 = Norbye |first2= Jim | last2 = Dunne | author-link2 = Jim Dunne (automotive spy photographer) }}</ref> However, the U.S. [[National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]] (NHTSA) imposed new automotive design regulations in 1974, effectively banning the Citroën from the U.S. market.<ref name="Fall"/>

As illustrated under production numbers, SM sales declined starting in 1972. This appears to be attributable to maintenance issues.<ref name="Fall"/> Like an exotic Italian car, the Weber carburetors require frequent adjustment. Many engines experienced failure at 60,000&nbsp;km – it was unclear to most owners that the [[Interference engine|interference engine design]] has [[Timing belt (camshaft)|timing chains]] that require manual adjustment, an issue not corrected until long after production ceased.<ref>Citroën SM' Osprey Autohistory, Jeff Daniels, 1981, {{ISBN|0-85045-381-X}}</ref> The 90° engine timing was unfamiliar to mechanics in the 1970s. Only Buick (1962–66; 1975–) and Jeep (1966–71) used a V6 with 90° between banks of cylinders. Another issue that has been resolved with retrofit is the unreliable ignition breaker cassettes.

Most vehicles require only generalist maintenance, where any competent mechanic can properly maintain the vehicle. Certain vehicles – like Citroëns and [[Ferrari]]s – require specialist care due to their unique design.<ref name="hemmings.com"/> While a sturdy car if maintained rigorously, an SM requires two sets of specialist care – Citroën specialists, which are widespread in Europe, and a rarer [[Maserati]] specialist, to keep the engine in tune.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13879/Citroen-SM.aspx |title=1972 Citroen SM History, Pictures, Value, Auction Sales, Research and News| website=Conceptcarz}}</ref> Once potential buyers began to realize this, sales dropped precipitously.<ref name="Fall"/>

The [[Quai André-Citroën]] factory on the banks of the [[Seine River]] in [[Paris]] closed in 1974, necessitating new manufacturing facilities for both the DS and the SM.  The runout DS models were built at the new [[Aulnay-sous-Bois]] factory, while the final 135 examples of the SM were built by [[Ligier]].<ref name=SM2A>{{cite web | url = https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/citroen-sm-restomod-a-modern-day-concorde-road | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210528074925/https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/citroen-sm-restomod-a-modern-day-concorde-road | archive-date = 2021-05-28 | date = 2020-02-11 | work = Classic Driver | title = This Citroën SM restomod is a modern-day Concorde for the road | first = Etienne | last = Raynaud }}</ref>

Components of the SM lived on, albeit mirror imaged – in the [[Maserati Merak]] (engine, transmission) and the [[Lotus Esprit]] (transmission). The successful [[Citroën CX]] carried forward most of the SM's dynamic qualities, including the trendsetting [[Steering#Speed-sensitive steering|speed sensitive power steering]].