Classy and Glassy: Transparent Tailgates of the 70s

I really love some of the 70s cars that have transparent tailgates. Sure they aren't safe, and sure they are vulnerable to even a minor parking mishap.  But boy are they cool!   It's interesting to note that this concept has recently returned to vogue somewhat with hybrid vehicles, going back to the first generation Honda Insight.

Citroën SM - Gallic space ship

Although its older sibling, the DS, is revered for its iconic Flaminio Bertoni lines, there is something about the SM that seems more futuristic to my eye. A result of the unlikely Franco-Italian partnership with Maserati, the SM bristled with technical innovation as well as performance.  Robert Opron's elegantly detailed bodywork attained a drag coefficient of .29, which is impressive even by today's standards.  The car has magnificent presence in person, and the interior is quite sumptuous by the standard of the day.  The seats are comfortable and supportive, as well as hydraulically adjustable!  Under the hood, green spheres are clearly visible, containing pressurized fluid for the car's patented hydraulic suspension system. The Maserati V6 is mounted facing the driver so that the transmission drives the front wheels, and when stopping is required, the hydraulic braking system is, the owner tells me, like the hand of God.  All in all, a pretty slick piece of kit from the space age that is still usable today, and still seems in many ways ahead of its time. Click here or on the pic below for the full gallery I took earlier this summer!