The Citroën SM (1970-1975) in the limelight

The exotic Citroën SM with a Maserati engine is a Grand Touring car in which luxury, safety, high performance and technical innovations have been combined in an exceptionally fine shape. Almost forty years ago, in 1962, a team of engineers, artists and craftsman in France and Italy, started this project. Eight years later, on March the 10th 1970, ‘la SM’ was introduced to the press.

Her relative rareness, unusual appearance and interesting technical specification raised the curiosity of special car enthusiasts. It is for them, that this book has been written. Between 1970 and 1975 approximately 12,920 cars of this type were built; worldwide there are about 4,000 existing today. The Dutch importer sold 99, now, after more than thirty years, there are some 200 around whilst the English subsidiary of Citroën imported 327 cars into the United Kingdom and it is believed that there are about 150 cars still in the UK, although some of these are later imports. Some owners use the SM for their daily transport, most of them however drive her in their spare time.

At present, more information is becoming available about the Citroën Sport Maserati. This book, ‘Sa Majesté’, puts in order existing data and new facts about the history and the use of this car today, which have not previously been published. The information presented here is based on data from the manufacturer, on the experience of the drivers, the most prominent specialists, and on the information from those who were closely involved with the creation of the Citroën SM between 1962 and 1975. The co-operation of Robert Opron the designer, and Giulio Alfieri the designer of the Maserati C114 engine, has been of great importance in writing this history of the SM. Also without the enthusiastic co-operation of all of those people mentioned in the acknowledgements, most of the SM admirers, this image of ‘Sa Majesté’ exactly thirty years after her presentation to the international press could not have been accomplished.

Peter I. Pijlman, author of ‘Sa Majesté’, has previously written other books, including children’s books, and policy documents for local and national educational authorities in The Netherlands. Pijlman is well respected amongst enthusiasts of automobile literature, and he has written numerous articles about the Citroën SM and the designer Robert Opron and his work. Pijlman acquired professional acclaim with his books about the Citroen SM ‘The Diva’ (sold out) and Robert Opron ‘Automobile and art’ (available in English and French).

‘Sa Majesté’ is available in the English, French and Dutch language.