1971 2.7 5-speed Decapotable chassis # 00SB3210

[hydropneumatic]

Bonhams
Paris, France
January 23, 2010
Sold: $199,837 (includes premium)
Decapotable
Miles: 48,272
Transmission: 5-speed
Exterior: Gray
Interior: Brown Leather
Bonhams Comments
Third copy made under license Chapron
2008 Citroën SM limousine convertible
Chassis no. 00SB3210
In 1970, George Pompidou, President of the Republic newly elected an order with two ceremonial Citroën cars based on the Grand Touring coupé SM presented this year by the brand. If the DS had been only a single command, already 15-Six were ordered in duplicate, but then two different coachbuilders were selected. The logic that two ceremonial cars are available answers to diplomatic rules stipulate that if official visit of a guest accompanied by his spouse, two vehicles support the guests, the first with the Chief of guest and host, and the other with the two previous spouses.

Several studies of different variants of bodies, limousines, laudaulets, the controls for Special Study Citroën office, under the direction of Robert Opron designer and engineer Doré cell, is consistent with the Elysée on the drawing final of a limousine full décapotage. Traditionally author Republicans vessels since 1955, Henri Chapron bodybuilder receives control of the copies at the end of the year 1971 Citroën provided both cars to be used as bases, and project plans and monitors the project at Throughout his achievement in the studio bodybuilder, 114 rue Aristide Briand in Levallois-Perret. The contract between Citroen, Henri Chapron body and the Presidency of the Republic provides delivery of two cars in time for the visit of the Queen of England in May 1972.

The draft prepared by the consulting firm Citroën provides a wheelbase increase of 52 cm compared to the coupe SM, bringing it to 3.47 m, and the lengthening of the rear overhang of 19 cm more. The car thus reached a total length of 5.60 m. The entire front part of the vehicle is kept, it will however be necessary to change the upper slope, bending ice and the windscreen to get the hood when folded, wide enough to rear seats (1.20m ). Similarly, the outer rails of the platform were reduced in height, one hand for easy access on the other to allow the front seats to space to install them-between the headquarters of the interpreter. Elements of sheet metal rear also underwent an expansion of 10cm. The cowling is hydraulically driven. The transformations are vehicle weight 1 780 kg. Finishing car has a top leather hand stitched by saddlers Chapron and paint in metallic anthracite gray "Black Tudor." The work will last three months, and both cars will alternate between workshops and workshop Chapron special factory orders bleach to mount mechanics. The first convertible limousine is delivered in late April 1972 and immediately approved the Mines and registered 2PR75, while the second, delivered in mid-May 1972 registration 3PR75 door. These two historic vehicles that are no longer in office, are still owned by the Presidency of the Republic.

In 2006, the current owner of the vehicle that is offered today decided by passion for the model as well as for the body builder, to build a car identical to the two original 1972 After the contract between the authorized persons the bodybuilder and the current owner of the tools used to achieve the first two copies, creation of the vehicle is entrusted to the Garage du Lac, Neuchatel, Switzerland, whose reputation for excellence is well established. After costing of the project and approval of the customer, a coupe SM as a basis is acquired Normandy, and then passed in late 2006 in Switzerland. The transformation begins in the first months of 2007 the engine and all the mechanics of the basic car is dismantled and fully revised.

The transformation of the car and is made according to the same work by Henri 35 before Chapron. If the Garage du Lac is in charge of all of the mechanical part and the entire body, it is the Baron Sellier establishments in Lyon that will make the interior design in premium leather and hood alpaca.
In total, if you included the purchase of the original database, the cost of contracts with the copyright holder Chapron, the owner of the tools, with the processor of the car and the saddle, making this car a total cost of more than 480,000 euros.

The car is delivered over to his patron in the course of 2008, and it will therefore be presented in different events related Citroëniste world, HRAI Rome.

The car is obviously in a state competition obvious. She wears with the consent of those entitled bodybuilder Chapron number Official specific body embedded in the nomenclature of the achievements of bodybuilder: 7659. It works perfectly fine. It is powered by six-cylinder V-block original Maserati 2.7-liter carburetor mated to a manual transmission 5-speed and reverse. It can reach a maximum speed of 180 km / h. It currently has the gray card with SM coupe served as the basis for the transformation. It comes with all of its record of accomplishment and invoices related.

This magnificent achievement is the only civilian version of a strong symbol of the French Republic and the last thirty years of the twentieth century. It is the magnificent and impressive testimony to the immoderate passion of a man for the achievements of the coachbuilder Chapron and for the creation of Citroën.

When it goes beyond logic, laws and conventions, unreason is beautiful!


In 1970, Georges Pompidou, Recently Elected as President of the Republic of France, ordered two cars from Citroën for State use, based on the SM Grand Tourer coupe presented by That year the brand. Whereas only a single order HAD beens Placed for the Citroen DS, already two of the 15 Six-HAD-been ordered, drank two different coachbuilders HAD beens Chosen. The argument According To All which two examples are made available for State use diplomacy meets the rules That Make provision for a guest Accompanied by his / her partner. The two vehicles take care of the guests, the first with the guest Head of State and his / her host, and with the --other Both of Their partners.

After several studies of different variants of limousine and pram bodies, the unit responsible for special orders at the Citroën engineering department under the leadership of the designer and the engineer Robert Opron Golden Agreed on the final design with the Elysees Palace for a fully convertible limousine . Traditionally the producer of conveyances for the Republic since 1955 coachbuilder Henri Chapron the year received order for two examples at the end of 1971 Citroen cars To Be Supplied Both Farming as bases, together with the project plan and Monitored the full process of assembly in the coachbuilder's workshop at 114 Rue Aristide Briand in Levallois-Perret. The contract Agreed betweens Citroen coachbuilder Henri Chapron and the the Office of the President of the Republic Stipulated Both cars That Had To Be Delivered in time for the Queen of England's state visit in May 1972.

The map drawn up by Citroen's engineering department for a 52cm Provided Increase in the wheelbase Compared with That Used for the SM cut, bringing it to 3.47m and Lengthening the rear frame overhang by 19cm. As a result, the total length of the car WAS 5.60m. The Whole of the forehead portion of the vehicle WAS maintained. However, the upper forehead hand Had To Be modified, Involving the window windscreen curvature, so That, with the roof folded back, Could Be Sufficient width therefor obtained at the back (1.20m). Also, the exterior side rails of the platform Were Reduced in height, firstly to Facilitate access, and to allow the forehead SECONDLY seats spaced To Be in Such a way as to install interpreter year's seat in between 'em. The rear sheet metal Elements Were aussi widened by 10cm. The roof WAS Hydraulically operated.

The changes Increased the weight of the vehicles to 1,780kg. The finishing of the cars includes superior hand stitched leather sewn by leather workers at the Chapron and paintwork in a metallic charcoal gray color called Expired "Black Tudor." The work Took three months and alternated Both cars betweens Chapron the workshops and the special orders workshop at the Javel factory Where the mechanical systems Were installed.

The first convertible limousine WAS Delivered at the end of April 1972 and soon WAS Homologated by the French government vehicle testing department and the registration number 2PR75 Given, whilst the second, Delivered in mid May 1972 bears the registration number 3PR75. Both of These historic vehicles, That are no follow in running order, are still owned by the Office of the President of the Republic.




In 2006, the current owner of the vehicle That Is Offered today, Because Of His passion for the model and for the coachbuilder, Decided to-have a car built to identiques That Was Both the 1972 originals. After a contract Agreed betweens the heirs of the coachbuilder and the current owner of the Farming tools to make the first two examples, the establishment of the vehicle WAS Entrusted to Garage du Lac in Neuchatel, Switzerland, Whose reputation for excellence is the best bar none . After Evaluating the project's cost and Obtaining the customer's agreement, an SM coupe Farming for the basic WAS purchased this car in Normandy and Brought to Switzerland at the end of 2006 Began The conversion in the first months of 2007 Few The engine and all the mechanical systems because of the basic Were taken to pieces and completely Call overhauled.

The conversion of the car WAS the carried out in conformité with WAS and identiques to the work carried-out by 35 years Earlier Henri Chapron. Whilst the Garage du Lac Took care of all the mechanical work and the Coachbuilding, the Baron Sellier establishments in Lyons About did all the interior fittings in high quality leather and the roof in alpaca.

Overall, Including the purchase price of original the car, the cost of the contracts with Chapron's heirs, with the owner of the tools, with the converter of the car and with the leather Tooler, total the cost of the car cam to more than € 480,000.

The car WAS finished and Delivered to icts new owner DURING 2008 and It Was presented at different events Relating to the world of Citroen, Including the HRAI in Rome.

Clearly the car is in concourse provided. With the agreement of the heirs of the coachbuilder Chapron, it bears a special coach number integrated Into the nomenclature of the coachbuilder's products: 7659. It runs beautifully. It is powered by the carburettor-fed Maserati V6 cylinder 2.7-liter engine linked to a manual 5-speed gearbox with reverse gear and. It Has a top speed of 180 km / h. It Currently Has the vehicle registration documents of the SM cut Farming as the Basis for the conversion. Offered is it with the full file Relating to icts output together with all the invoices.

This sumptuous generation is the only Civilian Version of a Powerful symbol of the French Republic and bears impressive witness to the unfettered passion of one man for the vehicles Produced by the coachbuilder Chapron and For Those created by the Citroën brand.

Where it surpass logic, law and financial sense, Such lack of reason is wonderful!