Undeniably one of the most intriguing cars ever made, the 1970-75 Citroen SM defined quirky. Featuring Citroens trademark hydropneumatic suspension that raised and lowered the car would be reason enough. Coupled to extremely aerodynamic styling on the 5.0 metre long car, this performance flagship was capable of 140 mph (235 km/h). In part this can also be attributed to the engine. At the time the Italian sportcar marque Maserati was owned by the French mass-manufacturer. The sportscar makers engine was enployed as a 2.7 (later 3.0 litre) vee-six developing approximatedly 200 hp (150 kW), with all the crackle and pop the era's vehicle legislation allowed.
For such an exceptionally quirky car, it is somewhat strange that it shoul be awared car-of-the-year by a US motoring journal. Alas the US market which could have supported the vehicle though the fuel crisis modified vehicle bumper rules which all but elliminated all height varying suspension vehicles, including the SM. After a restricted build volume of 5 years and approximately 14,000 cars, it was no more.
The story.....
I saw her car lights illuminate. "Yellow?", I thought. The car sounded sweet. Light, fruity. The shape looked relatively conventional though. She light mover over to the car, opened the car, climbed aboard and arced around to where I was standing.
The form was long, slipery and clean. My additional clue came as she first moved off though. The car sighed lightly, and the rear lifted from the ground. "A Citroen." I thought, perhaps expecting a CX or DS.
Yes, and no. It was one of the rare and beautiful SMs, green in colour.
Again I thought to myself: "What else could she drive - the most intriguing and beguiling woman I had ever met."
To many strange thought in my head.
"I'll never... forget you." She said. A hint of regret or remorse in her voice.
It was late and my head was not clear enough to discerne.
"Yes." I said. "Likewise." Was the same regret in my own voice?
She smiled, powered her window back up and moved out onto the road.
The fruity exhaust again rasped in enjoyment and the car glided off into the fog. A phantom in the mist.
The model.
This miniland scale (1:21) Citroen SM features an front-mid-engined vee-engine, longitudinally mounted, driving the front wheels.
The front wheels are independently suspended with transverse arms and torsion bars (the real car featured oleopneumatics).
The rear suspension, which is height variable (four positions) features longitudinal trailing arms and torsion bars. I finally have found a use for the figure-8 rubber bush which acts as a damper and retains the suspension position under extension. As can be seen in one of the images, the suspension allows a full three plate diagonal articulation.
The bodywork features two doors, opening panoramic window rear liftgate and hood (bonnet).
There are groovy brown bolstered seats in the interior.
The fully glazed front panel features lego LED light units with yellow lens covers.
Celebrating LUGNuts 50th - thanks Lino, Nathan and the moderators for all your effort, encouragement, criticism and awesome models.
Tags: Citroen SM hydropneumatic coupe GT vee-six V6 Maserati auto car classic moc model miniland France engine chassis lego911 headlamp headlight light lego LUGNuts 1970s
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Built for LUGNuts 33rd build challenge 'Size Matters', this build consists of four Bugatti Type 35Bs in the scale 1:15, 1:20.5, 1:28 and 1:43.
The largest scale was designed to partner a similar scale Bugatti Veyron 16.4 for Eurobricks 2010 LDD Competition.
The Bugatti Type 35 is the most successful race car of all time, dominating the late 1920s with more than 1000 race wins, cementing Bugatti at the pinnicle of car companies.
Review of the cars individually will follow later.
Tags: Bugatti T35 Type 35 35B racer classic vintage LeMans auto car moc model Lego miniland minifig micro LUGNuts
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The most successful race car of all time, the Bugatti Type 35 was the model which cemented the Bugatti legend. During its competition career, the type 35 won more than 1000 races.
Available in many forms over a number of years, the Type 35 is most commonly seen in French Racing Blue. The Lego model shown here is in a rarer Navy Blue.
This model has a Lego piston in-line 4-cylinder engine (representing the Bugatti's 2.3 litre straight-eight). The model also features a live rear axle sprung by 1/4 elliptics. The front suspension also features a live axle sprung with 1/4 elliptics The front axle also feature steerable wheels, though they are not connected to any steering linkages..
The scale of the model is 1:16 and has been built for Eurobricks 2010 LDD Challenge.
Tags: Bugatti Type 35 35B Type 35 racer Grand Prix racecar 1920s engine chassis Eurobricks LDD auto car moc model France french classic lego vintage
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Lego LUGNUTS Challenge Citroen belonging to Billy Angel, Ace Ferrari Driver and heartthrob
Tags: LUGNUTS Lego Citroen DS
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