Jerry Hathaway

1946-2021

Jerry Hathaway was born in 1946, and grew up on the family farm in West Virginia.

At the age of 17 and with very little money, he and his baby daughter set out for California. He was given the advice to, “Fib on your work experience, so by the time they figure out that you don’t know that you’re doing you will have a week’s wage.” Holding on to that advice Jerry landed a job at a brake repair shop and to his pleasant surprise the first day on the job they told him to forget everything he knew about brakes; they were going to teach him their way. That begins Jerry’s long illustrious automotive career.

He then moved on to Irv White Buick where after working there almost a decade the dealership imported a new car from France -Citroën SM. Other technicians steered clear of the car’s complexity, but Jerry was fascinated by the car. After a few years he opened his own shop specializing in the Citroën. SM World has become known as the premier service and restoration facility for Citroën SM in North America.

With urging and help from friends Jerry set to build the first Citroën SM Race Car; That car went on to set many land-speed records as well as put Jerry into the 200 MPH club at the Bonneville Salt Flats and has become known as the fastest Citroën SM in the world.

He went on to build a custom Citroën SM inspired trailer and truck he fondly referred to as the “Rig”. The race car and rig has been shown in several museums such as the Peterson and Mullins Automotive museums and Jerry has been featured on Jay Leno’s Garage. Citroën Automotive shipped the race car to France for Retromobile in Paris.

Jerry Hathaway has become the renowned authority on Citroen SM. This car was his true passion, he lived and breathed Citroen, up until his very last breath where Jerry passed away peacefully September 4, 2021 at his shop sitting in his office chair.

Jerry is survived by his four daughters, Cheryl, Michelle, Denise and Lisa, his sister Debbie, as well as his Race Car and Rig. Predeceased by his mother Virginia, and his brothers Kenny, Chuck and Randy.