In the late 60s Citroën, like many other car manufacturers, thought that rotary power might be the wave of the future. The M-35 prototype was the first rotary- powered car Citroën made. This car was never intended for mass production, but was supposed to be a real-world test vehicle. To make the M-35 more appealing it was announced that the car would carry an unlimited warranty. Initially 500 cars were to be built, but production was slow, so Citroën began skipping serial numbers to make it look like 500 were built, when in fact only 267 were produced. The M-35 looks similar to an Ami 8, but closer inspection reveals that almost all the parts are different. The cars suffered from poor- running engines and high warranty costs. In 1974 Citroën cancelled the warranty on all the cars and offered owners a very generous trade-in on a new car. All cars traded in were sent back to the factory and destroyed. It is believed about 60 cars survived and this is the only example in North America.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Automobiles Citroën, Citroën SA
Country of Origin: France
Drivetrain Configuration: Front engine, front wheel drive
Engine: Wankel, single rotor, 995 cc, 49 hp
Transmission: 4 speed manual
Top Speed: 100 miles per hour
Years of Production: 1969-1971
Number Produced: 267
Original Cost: 14,000 French Francs
A Note About the Display of Our Collection
Thank you for viewing our collection online! Please note that our collection contains over 330 cars and motorcycles though we only have room to display approximately 150 at a time. Therefore, the item you are viewing may not be on display when you visit the museum in person.
