KM: 31 690 Kms
YEAR: 8/1/1971
COLOUR: Gris nacré AC095
MODEL:
Wankel engine with single rotating piston. Capacity 995 cc.
59 Ch (about 57 bhp) at 5,500 rpm. Top speed 144 km/hr
Water cooled. Front disc brakes.
From the end of 1969, Citroen embarked on “operation M35” which consisted of selling 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”.
In the end of 1971, Citroen bought back at a good price from its clients the majority of the M35 models, in order to destroy them. There are about one hundred examples remaining, most of them to be restored.
Price at the time: 14,000 Francs (the same as a D Super!).
HISTORY:
Mr Delpech was the Citroen agent in Bretenoux, in the south west. In 1975, he was invited to the annual meeting of the agents and dealers of the Toulouse region. He won the first prize in a draw, this M35 prototype (see attached the amazing “Good for M35”).
But the relationship did not prove to be a good one. From the moment of receiving the car, the engine proved to have no compression. Mr Delpech complained to the management. Citroen provided him with parts to rebuild the engine, including a coil for one spark plug instead of the original two. The repairs were done on site. The car was then used very little, remaining in the basement of the dealership during the following decades.
I had met Mr Delpech at an autojumble in the 1990s. We spoke about the M35 and my project of the museum. On his death, his son contacted me. In order to acquire this M35, I had to remove all 4 old Citroens belonging to his father. After 4 trips to the south west, I undertook a recommissioning for the CT (MOT), and a thorough cleaning, to bring it back to a state close to that of the two other M35s in the museum. More than one per cent of the total worldwide production is on display.