Citroën Prototype M35 1970 - An exceptional model car
This gray 1970 Citroën Prototype M35 model car represents one of the most avant-garde vehicles in French automotive history. This scale model faithfully captures the revolutionary essence of this experimental prototype, which marked a crucial step in Citroën's technological innovation.
A true collector's item for automobile and industrial history enthusiasts, this model car bears witness to the visionary audacity of the chevron brand during a pivotal period in its development.
Characteristics of the model car
- Model: Citroën Prototype M35
- Brand: Citroën
- Year: 1970
- Scale: 1/43rd
- Color: Gray
- Protective case included: Yes
The M35 Prototype: a rolling laboratory of innovation
The Citroën M35 was developed in the early 1970s as an experimental vehicle to test the Wankel engine. This revolutionary prototype incorporated a 995cc twin-cylinder rotary engine, a cutting-edge technology that Citroën was exploring at the time in partnership with NSU and Comotor. The bodywork, derived from the Ami 8, cleverly concealed this futuristic engine.
Produced in just 267 units between 1969 and 1971, the M35 served as a full-scale test bed. Citroën entrusted these vehicles to selected users—primarily company executives and a few journalists—to evaluate the reliability and performance of the Wankel engine under real-world conditions.
This experience allowed Citroën to acquire valuable expertise in this promising technology, even if the subsequent abandonment of the Wankel project definitively oriented the brand towards other mechanical innovations.
Citroën in 1970: the golden age of innovation
In 1970, Citroën experienced a period of exceptional creative effervescence under the leadership of André Citroën and later Pierre-Jules Boulanger. The brand, buoyed by the success of the DS launched in 1955, continued its strategy of radical technological innovation, which set it apart from its European competitors.
This era represents the height of Citroën's philosophy : to offer revolutionary technical solutions rather than follow market trends. Hydropneumatic suspension, power steering, and power disc brakes are all innovations that the brand popularizes while its competitors remain loyal to conventional technologies.
The development of the M35 fits perfectly into this experimental approach, demonstrating Citroën's desire to explore all technological avenues likely to revolutionize the automobile, including alternative engines such as the Wankel engine.
The Secret Adventure of the Wankel Engine
The story of the Citroën M35 begins with an unexpected meeting between André Citroën and Felix Wankel at the 1967 Frankfurt Motor Show. Seduced by the revolutionary concept of the rotary engine, Citroën decided to invest heavily in this technology by creating the Comotor company with NSU.
The 267 M35s produced were distributed in the utmost secrecy. Their owners signed a confidentiality agreement and agreed to keep a detailed log of their journeys. Each vehicle was closely monitored by Citroën engineers, who regularly retrieved the engines for in-depth analysis.
Paradoxically, it was the 1973 oil crisis that definitively doomed the Wankel project at Citroën. This engine, remarkable for its smoothness and power, consumed significantly more fuel than conventional engines. Faced with the new energy situation, Citroën abandoned this promising technology to focus on energy efficiency.
Today, surviving M35s are extraordinarily rare collectibles , witnesses to an era when the French automotive industry dared to explore revolutionary technological avenues without worrying about immediate commercial constraints.
Complete your collection of Citroën model cars
This model car of the M35 Prototype occupies a unique place in the world of French model car collectors. It perfectly complements collections dedicated to Citroën vehicles and revolutionary concept cars .
French car enthusiasts will particularly appreciate this rare piece which harmoniously interacts with other emblematic models such as the Citroën DS or vehicles from the 1970s .
This model car is aimed at both collectors specializing in prototypes and enthusiasts of French automotive history. It is a tangible testimony to an era when innovation took precedence over immediate profitability, perfectly embodying the pioneering spirit that characterized the French automotive industry at the time. Its rarity and historical authenticity make it a choice element to enrich any collection dedicated to classic vehicles and 1/43 scale model cars .
