1970-75 Citroën SM

by Doug Breithaupt

A road-going mix of pasta and croissant.

In its day, the Citroën SM was a deserving member of the supercar ranks. Capable of 0 to 60 in 8.6 seconds, and with a top speed of 140 mph, the Citroën SM offered a unique blend of Gallic insouciance and Italian con brio. When introduced to the US in 1971, the SM was selected by Motor Trend as its car of the year. The name SM comes from the “systeme Maserati” under the hood. The all-alloy 2.7-liter four-cam V6 is shared with the Maserati Merak and puts out 180 horsepower. A first drive in an SM is unlike any other automotive experience. First, there’s the single-spoke steering wheel. Then the no-travel, mushroom brake button instead of a brake pedal. Add in self-centering steering at two turns lock-to-lock; four-wheel, independent, active, self-leveling hydro-pneumatic suspension; front-wheel drive; and, on European-spec cars, driving lights that swivel with the steering wheel. And that’s just the French stuff—all the Italian goodies are under the hood....