10. Citroen SM
One of the coolest looking, most exclusive Citroen cars was the gorgeous SM, which they introduced in 1970. This elegant coupe had some interesting features. When they presented the SM to the public, it made the competition look and feel outdated and old. In the late 60’s, Citroen was successful, so through various stock market transactions, they became the owner of the famous Italian sports car manufacturer, Maserati.
Citroen’s management thought it would be great if they could use Maserati’s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious, fast coupe with their signature design and style. That is how the Citroen SM was born. The aesthetics were clearly French, with a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. However, instead of an underpowered four-cylinder engine, they used a 2.7-liter V6 Maserati developed to provide enough power for a lively performance.
They marketed the Citroen SM in the U.S., and in fact, more cars were sold in America than in Europe. In the U.S., the SM competed against the Mercedes SL and the Cadillac Eldorado in the personal luxury segment. Buyers praised the ride quality, smooth engine and style. Unfortunately, the oil crisis and economic recession killed the model. Production stopped in 1974 after they made more than 12,000 of them.