Mystery car

We normally try to feature vehicles that reached production, even in small numbers, for our mysteries, but, this time, we’re looking at an interesting mid ’60s bolide, of which, alas, only two were ever built. Who can tell us about this very striking Italian near-supercar? Send your solution to editor@classiccar.co.nz or by mail to Mystery Car No. 255 March 2017, New Zealand Classic Car, PO Box 46,020, Herne Bay, Auckland, by mid April. Last month’s Mystery Car was Citroën’s M35 coupé with rotary engine, which was built in small numbers between 1969 and 1971. The cars built (267 altogether) were ‘sold’ to experienced and knowledgeable Citroën-oriented high-mileage drivers as developmental prototypes for Citroën’s rotary-engine projects. Maintenance was to be done by specially trained mechanics only, and running reports on problems were also sent in by the owners, who listed their opinions and problems. The body was built by Heuliez using parts from various other Citroën models, and no real attempt was made to style the car or give it an attractive interior. Interestingly, it used the complex Citroën hydropneumatic suspension for the first time on such a small car. Once Citroën had canned its rotary-engine projects, the company gave the owners of the M35s the option of retaining their cars or returning them to Citroën, under a factory buy-back scheme, offering a good price for the vehicles. Many of those built were returned to the factory, where Citroën destroyed them, and, as a result, only very small numbers of these survive. Citroën was initially an active supporter of the rotary-engine concept, working closely with NSU Motorenwerke as part of the Comotor concern, and the two companies shared research and data with Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) and Mercedes-benz. Only Mazda stayed the course, as it turned out, keeping its rotary-engine vehicles in production through into the 21st century until 2012 and is still developing rotary-engine technology and producing engines for specialpurpose use. It was pleasing to find entrants who knew about February’s Mystery Car, the Crowther Toiler, an interesting little slice of New Zealand motoring history from the mid ’70s — a well-conceived idea for a small utility vehicle, and it deserved a better fate. Our winner was regular entrant David North, from way down south in Riverton — as always, extremely well informed.