After 119 years, the way forward for the Geneva motor present is unsure.
At its peak, it hosted greater than 1300 corporations and 660,000 individuals. But occasions have modified, to the nice remorse of trade figures and lovers.
Let’s cheer ourselves up by wanting again at one of many best Geneva reveals: 1970, when ‘electrifying’ referred to the impact of multifarious new V8 coupés on petrolheads.
Usually there’s a standout star of the present, however right here it’s inconceivable to choose. However, “without doubt the most interesting technically”, we mentioned, was the Citroën SM. Yes, a extremely modern, very advanced, beautiful GT with a Maserati V6 engine made by a financially troubled quantity model. Mad.
“Whenever we plan a new car, we like to achieve the impossible,” defined new president Claude-Alain Sarre. “This time, the object was to produce a different type of sports car. You would not let the grocery man on the corner handle a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. But he will be able to drive the SM.”
“Ours is probably the safest and the most comfortable GT anyone could hope to build today,” added chief engineer Jacques Né.
Their claims have been borne out, however the SM ruined its maker. Peugeot saved it, in fact, however by no means once more would there be a luxurious Citroën.
Oh, and the entire ‘women doing yoga in dresses and high heels’ factor seen on the stand? No concept!
The newest grocer killer from Sant’Agata was the Jarama 2+2 GT, which matched its Islero forebear’s 3.9-litre V12 mechanical package deal with a shortened model of the Espada’s punt chassis.
As for its success, simply know that it was absolutely the favorite automotive of Ferruccio Lamborghini himself.
From Maranello was an idea “that had to be seen to be believed”: the Pininfarina-penned Modulo – a particularly low, wedge-shaped imaginative and prescient of the long run primarily based on the 512 S sports activities prototype racer.
In 2014, it was restored for Jim Glickenhaus of SCG, who really now drives it on the street. Legend.
Another thrilling GT, this one with a V8, got here from Alfa Romeo: the Montreal – a manufacturing model of an unnamed idea that had appeared at Expo ’67 in Canada. That had used the chassis and 1.6-litre four-pot of the on a regular basis Giulia, however now Bertone’s suave design cloaked a 2.6-litre V8 from the long-lasting Tipo 33 sports activities racer.
It too was successful, our testers later concluding: “It’s a leisurely and restful kind of GT. It displays all the traditional Alfa virtues in its delightful handling, the limitations we were expecting never really showing. It deserves a high place in our list of desirable machines.”