Price: £59,995 | Year: 1973 | Engine: 3.0-litre Maserati V6, 180bhp
A unique GT car from a 1970s vision of the future, the Citroen SM was a lavish, uncompromising project from the French manufacturer. Built in collaboration with Maserati, it boasted sleek looks and an intoxicating V6 engine built specifically by the Italian marque, which gives it an allure that holds true to this day.
In typical fashion, the Citroen SM featured a number of technological innovations which became signatures of the brand. Hydraulic self-levelling suspension was a key attribute, as was rain-sensitive wipers and a unique steering mechanic which self-centred and had speed-sensitive assistance. These were basically unheard of in 1973, which at least partly explains the high cost of the vehicle at launch.
The Citroen SM was priced similarly to a Porsche 911, easily making it the most expensive car Citroen produced at the time. This was perhaps one of the reasons why the car didn’t sell particularly well, and in 1975 production was canned after only 12,920 were finished.
While the combination of French design and innovation with Italian engineering didn’t result in many sales back in the ‘70s, it does make the Citroen SM an enticing proposition today. This example, finished in Gris Nacre paint and with a black leather interior, is the lowest known mileage car in existence, with under 9,000 miles on the clock and would make an excellent addition to the right collector’s garage.
For more on cars, check out this 1993 Jaguar XJ220.
