Tag Archives: MimboloveCitroen
The French Citroën SM, made from 1970 to 1975, was Motor Trend’s 1972 Car of the Year due to high levels of innovation, efficiency, style and performance. It has a surprisingly luxurious ride and sharp handling from a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension unique to Citroën. Powered by a new, and very light (300 lbs) aluminum 2.7 liter Maserati V6 engine of 170 – 180 hp, it will reach 140+ mph thanks to an incredibly low drag coefficient of 0.26. It was the first to have speed-variable steering effort, among other advanced features, including front wheel drive and all disc brakes (front discs are inboard). New U.S. Federal safety rules for 1974 about bumper height could not be met, so the car was no longer imported. Other U.S. laws prohibited the European-style six headlights, and headlights that turned with the steering. I drove one of these in the mid-1970s. Very cool. Link to Motoreum at right.
My favorite auto journalist, L. J. K. Setright, called the 2CV “the most intelligent application of minimalism ever to succeed as a car”. Here is wiki. Produced from 1948 until 1990.