M35 Jully 1970, 31244 Km. COLOR : Gris Nacré AC095.
MODEL : Wankel engine with single rotating piston. Capacity 995cc.
59Ch (about 57bhp) at 5500 rpm. Top speed 144km/hr.
Water cooled. Front disc brakes.
From the end of 1969, Citroen embarked on ‘operation M35’ which consisted of delivering 500 prototypes to volunteer clients, in order to test the rotary engine, but only 267 examples were made from 1969 to 1971.
The M35 coupe is a rolling test-bed, clothed in Heuliez bodywork on an Ami 8 base, even though only a small number of parts are common between the two models. They were uniquely painted metallic grey.
The M35 was equipped with the hydropneumatic suspension, adapted for the first time to a model of this type.
The inscriptions on the wings are found on all M35 models, along with the sticker in the rear window indicating “this Citroen M35 prototype with a rotary engine is on prolonged trial in the hands of a Citroen client”.
Ending in 1971, Citroen bought back at a good price from its clients the majority of the M35 models, in order to destroy them. There are no more than some dozens examples remaining.
Price at the time: 14,000Francs (the same as a D Super!)
HISTORY :
This car was sold to a wood and coal merchant from Pau. It was bought back again by the Citroen garage at Digne. This agency had declared himself bankrupt and repayed his debts to a local business by giving up the M35. It had then been put up for sale without ever having been used by the last owner. Through a lack of time, it took me about ten years to put it back on the road, with final success.
