| The Citroen SM was never built in right hand
drive, although some tell-tale signs exist indicating it was
a consideration at the time of production.
Roy Middleton of Potters Bar near London UK, a Citroen dealer,
was financed by and received technical support from Citroen
to build three Right Hand Drive prototypes in the early 70’s.
A similar number were also converted, here in Australia, by
Chapel Engineering in Melbourne. The task however, proved
too daunting for either group to want to proceed and 99% of
all SMs worldwide remain LHD.
Only in Australia, where it was illegal to register LHD cars,
were several more individually converted over the next ten
years with varying degrees of excellence. John Van Chomp of
Chevron Motors in Sydney was instrumental in manufacturing
vital RHD steering components for private converters. Several
cars were converted in Queensland, in total some 30 odd examples
of RHD are believed to exist, including one of Roy Middleton's
cars and one done in Italy by Maserati for an owner prior
to emigrating to Australia. SM Australia has compiled a register
of cars and is interested to hear from anyone who can help
make the list complete and accurate.
The first RHD owned by Peter McLeod - click to enlarge photo |
Peter McLeod’s first SM, the last unit produced for
Britain (chassis:SC4010), was purchased in 1977 and spent
four years with a “conversion specialist” before
completion. It took four times as long and cost three times
as much as first quoted and the specialist vowed he’d
never touch an SM again!! The car was never “right”
and took Peter and later Warren ten years of further modifications
to learn what to do and what not to do about converting SMs.
When the second car arrived, the conversion took place in-house
and a good result was achieved first up, proving the benefits
of experience, and a basic conversion procedure was developed.
With subsequent cars the procedure was refined and improved,
until today, where all RHD components are held in stock and
a car can be comfortably and successfully completed within
three months.
Without doubt, the most difficult procedure has proven to
be the implementation of a successful
air-conditioning system, which had to be redesigned four times
over, but now in it’s definitive form is the equal of
today’s standards. Two versions of steering rack designs
and three Dash variations have resulted in a virtual mirror-image
conversion that works exceptionally well.
SM Australia manufactures all RHD components locally and remains
true to the traditional designs, even to the use of original
heel-pads and foot-rests. The height-control lever and bonnet
release control are also swapped over and original R/V mirrors
on extended bases are fitted to both sides of the car.
RHD SMs converted by SM Australia are the most unique cars,
combining traditional radical designs with (in Australia)
practical usability. As the SMs have reached their 30th Birthday,
they can be legally registered in LHD, throughout Australia,
so the necessity to convert them is greatly diminished, but
for people who feel uncomfortable driving from the “passengers”
seat, this unique option still exists.
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