About the Book
This is the fascinating story of how the Citroen SM came into being, with company politics and Maserati _x0019_s involvement covered in detail. The text and pictures then follow the car _x0019_s progress from its world premier at the 1970 Geneva Show until the final production models were built in July 1975.
Table of Contents:
Introduction & Acknowledgements Chapter 1 - A Brief History of CitroA n Chapter 2 - The SM Concept Chapter 3 - Debut of the Production Car Chapter 4 - Production Overview Chapter 5 - SM Specials Appendix I - Concise Buyers Guide Appendix II - Chassis Numbers & Production Figures Index
About the Author :
Born in Coventry, the heart of Britain's motor industry, Brian comes from a family with a proud heritage in the automotive and aviation fields. He trained as a mechanical engineer, and worked for a time at his father's garage. Brian became heavily involved in the classic car scene at 19, and says he turned to writing by accident. He now writes full-time and, since 1990, when his first book was released, he has had over 80 titles published. Brian and his wife, Miho, have two children, Louis and Sophie-Mercedes. They currently live in Chiba, close to Tokyo, where they can enjoy life with their Dobermann and a Thoroughbred racehorse, now retired from the tracks.
Review :
"Classic Car Mart," January 2007 (UK) The blurb on the inside front cover of this epic new title describes the Citroen SM as ',.". a fascinating and quirky twentieth century motoring icon"', a claim that's absolutely spot on. And yet the SM was so much more than that. Developed in conjunction with Maserati, this amazing machine not only took Citroen further upmarket than it had ever dared go before, but was also a fascinating example of collaboration between two very diverse car manufacturers. Looking at the aerodynamic and svelte SM now, it's hard to believe that it first saw the light of day at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The same year also saw the unveiling of the new mid-size GS saloon that, in terms of sales potential, was far more important. But when it came to Citroen's image and prestige, the SM was the most exciting thing to have happened - possibly ever. The SM's specification was unique, a fascinating amalgam of Citroen chassis and self-leveling suspension with all-Italian Maserati V6 powerplant. But it was its styling that created the most interest, the SM's sleek and sexy two-door bodyshell featuring a large, raked-back tailgate and a rear end that tapered inwards for even greater aerodynamic efficiency. The world had never seen a car quite like the SM before. Within this huge, 224-page hardback book, authors Long and Claverol pay full tribute to the SM, offering a fascinating insight into its development and design, its successes (and failures), its marketing and its worldwide appeal. It charts the life of the SM brilliantly, from Citroen's DS days (and before) right through to the premature demise of the Citroen-Maserati supercar in 1975.
Classic Cars" magazine, January 2007, UK Want to know everything about the history of the Citroen SM? Look no further. This substantial hardback book tells the tale in sometimes laborious detail, but scores highly for the photographs, technical drawings and period ad and brochure shots. So well illustrated is it that sometimes the inclusion of certain pictures lacks cohesion. For instance, interior and exterior shots of a DS21 appear inexplicably in a section about the press' response to the SM at launch, and there's a picture of a related Maserati saloon but no information about the car The book is thorough and attractive, but lacks polish. Nonetheless it's still a decent reference source.
Review from New Zealand Classic Car, May 2007 I have been fascinated by this car since its inception, so it was with great anticipation that I dived into the book. I wasn't disappointed. Citroen enthusiasts will already know a great deal of the scene-setting that makes up a fair proportion of this volume, but many of the illustrations in that part of the book are new to me, so it maintained a high level of interest. For someone who knows little about the Citroen marque, its models and history, the book is perfect, constructing a great picture of the build-up to the SM, what went on around it and the reasons behind its relatively short production run. It then goes on to note the cars that came afterwards that benefited from the SM experience, and concept cars Citroen has produced since which have a taste of the SM about them. The mix of text and pictures is well balanced, and the complete press pack (in French) is, I feel, a worthwhile inclusion. While the book covers old ground I believe it is a must for a Citroen enthusiasts, and even better for the merely curious.
"Classic Car Mart, " January 2007 (UK)
The blurb on the inside front cover of this epic new title describes the Citroen SM as '"... a fascinating and quirky twentieth century motoring icon"', a claim that's absolutely spot on. And yet the SM was so much more than that. Developed in conjunction with Maserati, this amazing machine not only took Citroen further upmarket than it had ever dared go before, but was also a fascinating example of collaboration between two very diverse car manufacturers.
Looking at the aerodynamic and svelte SM now, it's hard to believe that it first saw the light of day at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The same year also saw the unveiling of the new mid-size GS saloon that, in terms of sales potential, was far more important. But when it came to Citroen's image and prestige, the SM was the most exciting thing to have happened - possibly ever.
The SM's specification was unique, a fascinating amalgam of Citroen chassis and self-leveling suspension with all-Italian Maserati V6 powerplant. But it was its styling that created the most interest, the SM's sleek and sexy two-door bodyshell featuring a large, raked-back tailgate and a rear end that tapered inwards for even greater aerodynamic efficiency. The world had never seen a car quite like the SM before.
Within this huge, 224-page hardback book, authors Long and Claverol pay full tribute to the SM, offering a fascinating insight into its development and design, its successes (and failures), its marketing and its worldwide appeal. It charts the life of the SM brilliantly, from Citroen's DS days (and before) right through to the premature demise of the Citroen-Maserati supercar in 1975.
Classic Cars" magazine, January 2007, UKWant to know everything about the history of the Citroen SM? Look no further. This substantial hardback book tells the tale in sometimes laborious detail, but scores highly for the photographs, technical drawings and period ad and brochure shots.
So well illustrated is it that sometimes the inclusion of certain pictures lacks cohesion. For instance, interior and exterior shots of a DS21 appear inexplicably in a section about the press' response to the SM at launch, and there's a picture of a related Maserati saloon but no information about the car
The book is thorough and attractive, but lacks polish. Nonetheless it's still a decent reference source.
Review from New Zealand Classic Car, May 2007
I have been fascinated by this car since its inception, so it was with great anticipation that I dived into the book. I wasn't disappointed. Citroen enthusiasts will already know a great deal of the scene-setting that makes up a fair proportion of this volume, but many of the illustrations in that part of the book are new to me, so it maintained a high level of interest.
For someone who knows little about the Citroen marque, its models and history, the book is perfect, constructing a great picture of the build-up to the SM, what went on around it and the reasons behind its relatively short production run. It then goes on to note the cars that came afterwards that benefited from the SM experience, and concept cars Citroen has produced since which have a taste of the SM about them.
The mix of text and pictures is well balanced, and the complete press pack (in French) is, I feel, a worthwhile inclusion. While the book covers old ground I believe it is a must for a Citroen enthusiasts, and even better for the merely curious.
"Classic Car Mart," January 2007 (UK)
The blurb on the inside front cover of this epic new title describes the Citroen SM as ',.". a fascinating and quirky twentieth century motoring icon"', a claim that's absolutely spot on. And yet the SM was so much more than that. Developed in conjunction with Maserati, this amazing machine not only took Citroen further upmarket than it had ever dared go before, but was also a fascinating example of collaboration between two very diverse car manufacturers.
Looking at the aerodynamic and svelte SM now, it's hard to believe that it first saw the light of day at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show. The same year also saw the unveiling of the new mid-size GS saloon that, in terms of sales potential, was far more important. But when it came to Citroen's image and prestige, the SM was the most exciting thing to have happened - possibly ever.
The SM's specification was unique, a fascinating amalgam of Citroen chassis and self-leveling suspension with all-Italian Maserati V6 powerplant. But it was its styling that created the most interest, the SM's sleek and sexy two-door bodyshell featuring a large, raked-back tailgate and a rear end that tapered inwards for even greater aerodynamic efficiency. The world had never seen a car quite like the SM before.
Within this huge, 224-page hardback book, authors Long and Claverol pay full tribute to the SM, offering a fascinating insight into its development and design, its successes (and failures), its marketing and its worldwide appeal. It charts the life of the SM brilliantly, from Citroen's DS days (and before) right through to the premature demise of the Citroen-Maserati supercar in 1975.
Classic Cars" magazine, January 2007, UK
Want to know everything about the history of the Citroen SM? Look no further. This substantial hardback book tells the tale in sometimes laborious detail, but scores highly for the photographs, technical drawings and period ad and brochure shots.
So well illustrated is it that sometimes the inclusion of certain pictures lacks cohesion. For instance, interior and exterior shots of a DS21 appear inexplicably in a section about the press' response to the SM at launch, and there's a picture of a related Maserati saloon but no information about the car
The book is thorough and attractive, but lacks polish. Nonetheless it's still a decent reference source.
Review from New Zealand Classic Car, May 2007
I have been fascinated by this car since its inception, so it was with great anticipation that I dived into the book. I wasn't disappointed. Citroen enthusiasts will already know a great deal of the scene-setting that makes up a fair proportion of this volume, but many of the illustrations in that part of the book are new to me, so it maintained a high level of interest.
For someone who knows little about the Citroen marque, its models and history, the book is perfect, constructing a great picture of the build-up to the SM, what went on around it and the reasons behind its relatively short production run. It then goes on to note the cars that came afterwards that benefited from the SM experience, and concept cars Citroen has produced since which have a taste of the SM about them.
The mix of text and pictures is well balanced, and the complete press pack (in French) is, I feel, a worthwhile inclusion. While the book covers old ground I believe it is a must for a Citroen enthusiasts, and even better for the merely curious.
"Citroë n"" Quarterly," autumn 2006, US
The book follows the progress of the Citroë n SM from its launch at the 1970 Geneva Show through to July 1975, when the last car was built.
This is the fascinating story of how the Citroë n SM came into being, with company politics and Maserati's involvement covered in detail. The text and pictures then follow the car's progress from its world premier at the 1970 Geneva Show until the final production models were built in July 1975.
Brian Long now has almost 40 books to his credit. Coming from an engineering background, he has been an enthusiast for as long as anyone can remember. Today, his passion for sports cars and vintage machinery remains as strong as ever. Born in Coventry, England, he now lives in Chiba City, Japan. He is a member of the RJC in Japan, the Guild of Motoring Writers, and the Society of Automotive Historians.
A very nice coffee table book on the SM, written in the English language, and containing many excellent period photographs of the SM and documentation of the SM's advertising brochures. Of particular note are the Japanese brochures and the reprinting of the Relations Publiques' Technical Description of the SM, unfortunately it is presented in the original French with no translation.
The images are many and varied and although they rely heavily on period advertising, albeit by some of the world's finest photographers, there are also some unpublished photographic gems. All and all this is a very nicely presented work. The English text and many color photographs will make it a nice addition to your collection.
4 Small Wheels" magazine, August 2005, UK
Here we have the full story from the earliest development stages to the final production. Many factory documents are reproduced and there are clear diagrams explaining the complex hydraulic suspension systems etc. Also covered is the varied competition career of the distinctive coupes, from the circuit of Spa to the deserts of Morocco.
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Classic Cars" magazine, January 2007, UK
Want to know everything about the history of the Citroë n SM? Look no further. This substantial hardback book tells the tale in sometimes laborious detail, but scores highly for the photographs, technical drawings and period ad and brochure shots.
So well illustrated is it that sometimes the inclusion of certain pictures lacks cohesion. For instance, interior and exterior shots of a DS21 appear inexplicably in a section about the press' response to the SM at launch, and there's a picture of a related Maserati saloon but no information about the car
The book is thorough and attractive, but lacks polish. Nonetheless it's still a decent reference source.
