M35 Wankel engined coupé

How the Wankel rotary engine works

Bodies were hand built by Heuliez at Cerizay and despite appearances, shared few components (apart from the front wings) in common with the Ami 8.

the grille has a model specific logo instead of chevrons
the windscreen is unique to the M35
the nose is a completely different shape from the Ami 8
the front doors are longer then normal Ami 8 ones.
the rear wings are shorter then those on an Ami 8 service van
the boot lid is different.
the chassis is speciific to the M35
suspension mechanical components are specific to the M35 since they were used with the hydropneumatic suspension

In the autumn of 1969, six bodies were assembled although the project itself did not start until January 1970.

All the cars had "Prototype Citroën M35 no ???" painted on the front wings.

The engine was mated to a G series gearbox using a special bellhousing similar to that fitted to the Ami Super with the starter mounted on top of the gearbox as on the 2CV.

Front brakes were mounted inboard on either side of the differential using early Ami 8 calipers. Ami Super driveshafts are used.

Above - schematic of the hydropneumatic suspension

Below - schematic of the hydraulic system

Suspension components left and hydraulic circuit layout above

Hydraulic fluid reservoir
High pressure pump
Accumulator
Suspension sphere and cylinder
Front height corrector
Rear height corrector
Hydraulic distributor
Front suspension arm and pushrod
Rear suspension arm and pushrod
Ride height control lever

Technical specification:

Engine

Single rotor, water-cooled Wankel rotary engine
Effective capacity 995 cm3
Lubrication oil mixed with fuel (similar to two stroke)
Power: 49 bhp @ 5500 rpm
Fiscal power: 6 CV.
Max torque: 7 m / kg at 2745 rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 43 litres
Fuel pump and carburettor.
Cooling water capacity: 6.350 litres

Body and chassis
2 door coupé resembling Ami 8
Special chassis specially designed for hydropneumatic suspension
Suspension independent, self-levelling hydropneumatic on all four wheels
Weight: 815 kg
Top speed: 144 km/h

Transmission
FWD.
Single-disc clutch
Driveshafts - inboard tripod joint, outboard universal joint
Differential bevel gears.
Final drive: 8 X 33.

Performance
Maximum speed: (DIN) 144 km / h.
Acceleration:
0 to 400 m: 20.7 secs
0-1000 m: 39.0 secs
0-100 km / h: 19.0 secs
Fuel consumption 9.68 litres/100 km at 108 kph

Suspension
Independent hydropneumatic with constant ride height regardless of load.

Brakes
Front discs. Rear drums
Total braking surface: 308 cm2.
Parking brake mechanically operated by dashboard lever, operates on front discs

Dimensions and Weight
2 + 2 coupé
Total window area: 217.19 dm2
Wheelbase: 2400 mm
Front track: 1260 mm
Rear track: 1220 mm
Length: 4050 mm
Width: 1554 mm
Height: 1350 mm
Weight unladen: 815 kg
Lloaded: 1135 kg

Electrical equipment
Alternator 12 Volt, 40 Amp / h.

Miscellaneous
Anti-theft steering column
Electrical windscreen washer
Tachometer with a buzzer that warns of entry into the red zone
Spare tyre in the boot

A number of early M35s were purchased and driven by 'professional drivers' (i.e. those doing a high mileage) over a total of more than one million km over a period of five years. Citroën planned to sell 500 cars to French residents who would drive at least 30,000km per year. The cars would be maintained by specialists from the Bureau d'Etudes in order that they could see how the cars performed in the hands of users.

In the end only 267 cars were built. Six were delivered to customers at the end of 1969, 212 during 1970 and the final 49 in 1971.

Citroën ended the M35 project by giving owners the option of either keeping their cars or returning them to Citroën (with suitable incentives) and all those cars returned to Citroën were destroyed.