From the archive: On this day in 1974

“Mechanically ornate, simple in line, beautiful yet functional."

Reflecting on a year and 10,000 miles with a Citroën SM long-termer

Having found the Citroën SM to be “technically the world’s most advanced car” in our 1971 road test and raced one in the 1973 Tour of Britain, we were excited to run one through 1974, and 10,000 miles revealed a unique character. 

Its steering took the most getting used to. Initially, “it’s like driving a go-kart, but when mastered, it’s one of the best features,” we said.

Mind you, it required tiring effort on heavily cambered fast roads and was rather too sensitive in town.

This plus the dimensions also meant that we had a slight coming together with our office gates...

A long trip to the Spanish Grand Prix was more suited to its talents: “There is the feeling of insulation from the outside world, yet with a solid aura of security and the confidence of complete control.” Better for two than four, mind.

Reliability wasn’t perfect (quelle surprise), our worries being headgasket trouble, vibration causing interior bits to dislodge and gravel smashing a headlight covering.

Average economy of 18.1mpg from the Maserati 2.7-litre V6 hurt too in a fuel crisis, contributing to a running cost of 21.2p per mile (about £1.62 in today’s money).

Even so, we said: “Mechanically ornate, simple in line, beautiful yet functional. A girl friend of mine described it as ‘the sexiest car in the world’. I know what she means.”

*Audi produces the first German supermini*

In its quest to modernise, Volkswagen in 1974 launched the Golf hatchback and Scirocco coupé, adopting the transverse-engine, FWD layout that became the mainstream-car default. Then came the Polo – but at first it wore an Audi mask.

Germany’s first supermini class entrant, taking on the Fiat 127 and Peugeot 104, the 50 arrived right as Europe was suffering a fuel crisis (neat coincidence).

Despite it being tiny, we found: “No contortions are needed to get in. There is plenty of head room all round and a surprising amount of leg room in the rear.”

We went on: “The engine is very smooth and revs very freely, so it encourages enterprising driving. The gearshift, more precise than that on the Golf, backs it up well, but the accelerator is too far below the brake for one to heel-and-toe.

“The 50bhp model is very lively. It rolls less than the Golf and takes S-bends in a way which will open up a new world to Beetle drivers. 0-62mph takes 15.4sec.

“Wind noise and mechanical noise are remarkably low. This is a small car of real refinement.

“The 60bhp model, which has a stiffer anti-roll bar in front and an extra roll bar in the rear, rolls very little and recovers quickly. It’s an extremely sporty little car, with 0-62mph times around 13.5sec.”

Sadly, Brits couldn’t buy the 50. It was axed in 1978, and Audi’s next supermini didn’t arrive until 1999.

*Fine forecast for hovercraft*

Having started Channel crossings in 1969 and beaten teething troubles, the giant hovercraft of Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd made profits in 1973, and demand stayed high despite a wider slump. Even construction starting on the Channel Tunnel was no worry. A huge spike in fuel prices gave ferries a competitive edge, though, and the Tunnel opening did actually finalise hovercraft services’ demise in 2005.

*Welsh roads go bilingual*

In 1800, Welsh was Wales’s primary language. By 1900, not even 50% of residents could speak it, the sad result of mass migration and efforts by the English. Welsh campaigners in 1972 won the Bowen Report, which recommended road signs be made bilingual, and the first of these was put up in Carmarthen in 1974. Today, Welsh is understood by about 30%.