GTP Cool Wall: 1970-1975 Citroën SM

[SlipZtrEm]

I truthfully don't think it looks attractive, but it's very impressive that they managed to make a car that distinctive without making it ugly.

Oh, I wouldn't call it classically beautiful either, FWIW.

Agreed, although you went and chose one of the ugliest Ferraris to demonstrate.

Does anyone else find the 458 really ugly? No? Okay, I'll just leave then...

From the front, I do. It has a killer profile and rear 3/4, but that front-end does nothing for me. It sort of reminds me of circa-2006-Citroen design by way of Starship Troopers' bugs.

 

[niky]

Agreed, although you went and chose one of the ugliest Ferraris to demonstrate.

Does anyone else find the 458 really ugly? No? Okay, I'll just leave then...

I don't particularly hate it, but no, it's not really all that great.

Could be worse. Could be an F50.

 

[Turtle]

From the front, I do. It has a killer profile and rear 3/4, but that front-end does nothing for me. It sort of reminds me of circa-2006-Citroen design by way of Starship Troopers' bugs.

It's actually the rear I dislike more, I think the Speciale is slightly better, though.

I don't particularly hate it, but no, it's not really all that great.

Could be worse. Could be an F50.

I actually like the F50. Probably as a result of playing NFS Hot Pursuit 2 as a little kid.

 

[niky]

I can respect the car. I just can't get over the fake F1-nose. It's like Ford's tacky chrome side vents, only much bigger.

 

[Wolfe]

The 458 managed to out-do the F430 on the mysterious ancient tradition of performance cars with ugly ass ends. In turn, the F430 has nothing on the 360, which is just a bit bulbous compared to the clean lines of the F355, which isn't quite as retro-cool as the 348, which looks a little tacky compared to the 328, which isn't as sharp-looking as the 308, which just can't compare to the timeless lines of the Dino, the best of them all.

The F50 is as '90s-tastic in a bad way as the SM is '70s-tastic in a good way.

 

[homeforsummer]

I can respect the car. I just can't get over the fake F1-nose.

So good that Mercedes decided it would be wonderful to put it on the SLR. And the SLK of the same era. Fake F1 ALL THE NOSES!

The 458 managed to out-do the F430 on the mysterious ancient tradition of performance cars with ugly ass ends. In turn, the F430 has nothing on the 360, which is just a bit bulbous compared to the clean lines of the F355, which isn't quite as retro-cool as the 348, which looks a little tacky compared to the 328, which isn't as sharp-looking as the 308, which just can't compare to the timeless lines of the Dino, the best of them all.

Hah. Agreed, for the most part, though I prefer 360 to 355 and 430, and 348 to the 355 and the 328/308. The 430 was like a ruined 360 and the 355 like a watered-down 348. The 308/328 is a bit too chest-wig right now where the 348 has some proper 80s cool about it. And as you say, the Dino tops them all.

None though are quite as cool as the SM. The Dino gets close provided it isn't yellow or red...

 

[Turtle]

Blue Dino is best Dino.

I like the Fiat Dino just as much though.

 

[Stotty]

Sub Zero.

 

[Dennisch]

Blue Dino is best Dino.

I like the Fiat Dino just as much though.

Seriously Uncool for having a pony badge that doesn't belong there.

 

[homeforsummer]

Seriously Uncool for having a pony badge that doesn't belong there.

It looks suspiciously like the wheels are some larger-diameter replicas of the originals, too. Not entirely sure it suits it. One of the joys of older cars is tyres bit a bit of sidewall...

 

[Turtle]

I didn't notice the badge, but I did notice the large wheels.

Here's another one as consolation:

 

[Roger the Horse]

Still has an out of place horse.

 

[Turtle]

Goddammit. I was only looking at the wheels.

 

[Wiegert]

Goddammit. I was only looking at the wheels.

That one still has a cavallino badge on the rear.

 

[Turtle]

I hate all of you.


No, not really.

 

[daan]

Citroen SM guys, not Dino.

 

[Crash]

I don't know if I could call this car beautiful like the DS is, but it's certainly very striking, and it's still got very much that French elegance in a futuristic sort of way. Not as solid as the DS, but I'll give this a sub zero.