Marketplace-find: Citroën M35, a prototype with wankel engine
Posted on 15-11-2015 at 21:30 by dizono – 37 Comments”
Forget the RO80, forget the Mazda Cosmo, this is the most exclusive car with wankel engine.
Although NSU and Mazda are often directly mentioned as the about reciprocating or rotary internal goes, there is a third brand that has invested heavily in the technology: Citroën. The first attempt of the French was the M35, a car that is still the best way to describe is as a coupe based on the Citroën Ami. However, you would the car that shortly to do, except for the wankel engine, the M35 also features Citroëns with hydro-pneumatic suspension, not something you could get on an Ami 8.
The enkelschijfs wankel engine with a capacity of just under a litre was good for 50 hp. The block was built by Comotor, a company that was created from a collaboration between NSU and Citroën. Heuliez is responsible for the production of the car bodies, while the M35 at Citroën in very small quantity with the hand in each other put.
Citroën builds 267 copies of this experimental vehicle. Only loyal customers, who promise every year around 30,000 miles with the car to drive, are eligible to be a M35 to buy. Their comments and suggestions were again used to Citroën one step closer to building a production model engine to get.
The M35 is between 1969 and 1971 built and in 1973 a successor in the form of the GS Birotor. This has a rotary engine, which actually consists of two M35 engines, good for 107 horsepower. This car was, however, much too expensive and inefficient and came at precisely the moment when the oil crisis broke out. Only 847 of copies are sold, of which Citroën most instances has been trying to buy it back. To demolish, that is. They would not like to be reminded of this blamage.
Back to the M35, or better said, the pictured M35. This was built in 1970 and is, as read on the front wing, number 112 of 267. After a short working life the M35 on a French demolition, where he is in the middle of years ’80 was found. The car came in a Citroën-lovers well-known Dutch collection of 25 M35’s, but may now go to a new owner. Who is not afraid of dirty hands, can be a gamble.
Gallery: Citroen M35 Prototype for sale
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