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For Sale at Auction: 1973 Citroen GS Birotor in Carmel, California
By the early 1970s, Citroen had spent nearly two decades proving
comfort and innovation needn't be mutually exclusive. The firm's
hydropneumatic suspension, self-levelling ride, and aerodynamic
bodywork helped the GS claim European Car of the Year in 1971.
Never one to sit on their laurels, Citroen continued to innovate
and found the solution through Comotor, its joint venture with NSU.
This brought the fitment of a twin-rotor Wankel unit, developed
from the engine inside NSU's own Ro 80, into the GS body to create
the Birotor. Unveiled at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, it paired
that smooth, 106-horsepower rotary with a three-speed
semi-automatic transmission, all-round disc brakes, and a richer
cabin, asking nearly as much as the flagship DS for the
privilege.
Introduced in 1973 and reaching production in 1974, the GS Birotor
arrived at a pivotal moment as the global oil crisis sharply
shifted demand away from high-consumption specialty vehicles. With
this combined with its lavish price meant only 847 examples were
produced. Citroen then compounded its rarity. Once Peugeot took
control in 1975, the new parent quietly repurchased as many
Birotors as it could find rather than stock parts for a model it no
longer wanted, leaving what is believed to be roughly 250 in
existence worldwide today.
This Birotor was imported to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 2016
when it was acquired by The Mullin Automotive Museum of Oxnard,
California. The GS then entered the collection of its current owner
in 2024. For the collector, the intriguing GS Birotor represents a
rare opportunity to experience Citroen's rotary-engine ambition in
fully usable form, combining the GS's hydropneumatic comfort with
the distinctive, turbine-like character of the twin-rotor
drivetrain in a highly unusual yet usable classic suited to both
display and occasional road use.
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