1973 Citroën SM Opéra

1973 Citroën SM Opéra - Displayed on the Citroën stand at the 1973 Barcelona Motor Show - One of the seven cars built by Chapron - Superb original condition (restored by Chapron in 1979) - Built to a very high standard, a fast and luxurious saloon, one of only seven Following the special DS models he produced for Citroën, the coachbuilder Henri Chapron took an interest in the SM as soon as it was launched: its Maserati engine delivered higher performance and, using a lengthened SM chassis, he conceived a powerful and elegant saloon named the Opéra. The prototype was displayed at the 1972 Paris Motor Show and the car offered here is the third one built, from a final total of seven cars. Ordered from Citroën Spain by Guy Vandaele-Vandecasteele, a businessman operating in Belgium and Spain, it was agreed that the car would first be displayed at the Barcelona Motor Show at the start of April 1973. Delivered by Citroën on 2 January 1973 to the Chapron workshops in Levallois, it left there on15 March with the Chapron number 7647; it was finished in ‘Garnet’ (like Vandaele’s Rolls-Royce) with natural leather upholstery, tinted glass and air-conditioning. It was sent to Barcelona for the Motor Show, after which Vandaele was able to collect it and register it in Spain, where the taxes were more favourable. He then used it to travel between Liège and Barcelona, driven by a chauffeur. In 1979, the car was completely restored by Chapron. As the restoration was carried out by the coachbuilder itself, this Opéra is still considered by the FIVA as being in original condition. In 1987, it was acquired by Jos Hermans, a Dutch artist, and then in 2000 by Harry Brunklaus, who had the engine rebuilt in 2005 by the Dutch workshop Van der Laan, before taking part in the Concours d'Élégance at Paleis Het Loo and then in 2011 that at Villa d’Este. In 2013, he sold the car to Mr Belooussoff, a DS and SM collector based in France. In October 2018, Thierry Dehaeck contacted him to buy the Opéra saloon to round off his collection of exceptional SMs, including the Mylord Chapron convertible and the SM Espace Heuliez. Since buying it, Dehaeck has taken part in various events such as the Concours d'Élégance at Villa d’Este, Antwerp and the Zoute Grand Prix. Matthieu Lamoure also had the pleasure of driving the car on the Chapron International Rally, in the company of Nöelle Chapron. Immaculately presented with its original colour scheme and options, this magnificent Opéra saloon is sold with a very rich history file, which confirms its past life and includes photographs from when it was new (with one of the Opéra at the Barcelona Motor Show), a file from Chapron with a certificate from Noëlle Chapron and correspondence between Chapron and the manufacturer, a technical certificate from Citroën for the homologation of the model, an Opéra brochure and a FIVA ID card. With production limited to just seven cars, opportunities very rarely come up to buy this model, whose appearances in concours events or exhibitions highlight the aura surrounding one of the last great French coachbuilders, whose know-how made it possible to produce a fast and luxurious saloon offering exceptional comfort thanks to its hydropneumatic suspension, which could compete with the most prestigious makes.

Estimate:£295,115.8

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