In 1961, Citroën began work on 'Project S' – a sports variant of the Citroën DS. At some stage in the 9-year project, it evolved from developing a faster variant of the 1955 DS to developing an entirely new, thoroughly engineered car. Citroën purchased Maserati in 1968 with the intention of harnessing Maserati's high-performance engine technology to produce a true Grand Touring car, combining the sophisticated Citroën suspension with a Maserati V6 engine. The SM was produced from 1970 through till 1975. Contemporary automotive journalists were effusive about the SM's dynamic qualities, which were unlike anything they had experienced before. The SM provided a combination of comfort, sharp handling, and braking not available in any other car at the time. The car on displayed was delivered new in the USA, it has since undergone a complete restoration in Australia by SM Australia.

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The SM was powered by a Maserati-designed 2.7L (later 3.0L) V6 engine with dual overhead cams, developed after Citroën acquired Maserati in 1968. This engine gave the SM refined performance while maintaining Citroën's signature smooth ride.

The SM featured Citroën’s fully self-levelling hydro-pneumatic suspension system. This allowed the car to maintain consistent ride height and comfort regardless of road conditions or load, making it ideal for grand touring.

The SM introduced the innovative DIRAVI (Direction à rappel asservi) power steering system, which automatically centred the steering wheel and adjusted sensitivity based on speed. At low speeds, it was highly assisted for manoeuvrability; at higher speeds, it firmed up for stability.