16. Citroen SM
One of the coolest-looking, most exclusive Citroen cars was the gorgeous SM introduced in 1970. This elegant coupe had some interesting features that made the competition look outdated and old. In the late ’60s, Citroen became the owner of Maserati. The Citroen management team wanted to use Maserati’s powerful engines and sports car know-how to produce a luxurious, fast coupe. It would come with Citroen’s signature design and style, and that’s how the SM was born.
The aesthetics were clearly French with a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension and front-wheel drive. But instead of the underpowered four-cylinder engine, the SM got a 2.7-liter V6 developed by Maserati that provided enough power for a lively performance. The French hydropneumatic suspension, Italian engine, and questionable build quality resulted in an unreliable but gorgeous car as its 12,000 owners eventually learned.