KM: 29 766 Kms
GG3640
YEAR: 06/1974
COLOUR: Brun Scarabé AC 427 Beige Tholonet AC 085
MODEL:
Rotary engine of 1,990 cc, 107CV (approx 104 bhp) DIN at 6,500 rpm.
3 speed gearbox with torque convertor. No clutch pedal.
Maximum speed: 175km/hr. (approximately 109mph).
After gaining experience with the M35 with a monorotor rotary engine, Citroen unveiled the GS with a birotor engine. 847 examples only were sold between March 1974 and January 1975.
One can tell it apart from other GS models from the exterior with its larger wings, metallic grey wheel rims with unique hubcaps, stainless steel alloy exhaust pipe opening, monograms on the boot and front right wing, registration plate mounted on a stainless steel plate.
On the interior, the dashboard is of the Jaeger type, the seats have integrated head rests as on the GS X.
Due to the drop in sales as a result of the great fuel consumption in the middle of the fuel crisis (more than 13 liters every 100kms) and a reputation of unreliability, Citroen offered a large fee to retrieve the cars. Most of the registration certificates had to be returned to the prefectures, but a few of these GS ended up in the crusher. Later, most of them were sold to foreigners.
Price at the time: 24,952 Francs (a DS 20 was priced at 24,400 Francs).
HISTORY:
During a Citroen main dealer meeting in 1976, the Citroen sales director for all of France offered my good friend Bernard Djozikian this GS Birotor which had no ‘Carte Grise’ and a defective engine. The GS waited in a corner of his garage: 30 years later, Bernard found a new engine. He was able to do an engine swap, with great care and respectful of originality. Then he succeeded in gaining a carte grise and finally was able to drive several hundred kilometres in the car. In 2011, Bernard took the decision to part from this rare GS and also his M35. I was the first to be told.