Matra (Mechanique-Aviation-TRAction)
Matra (Mechanique-Aviation-TRAction) had aeronautical contracts during the Second World War and took the name MATRA in 1942. Rene Bonnet had partnered Charles Deutsch in Automobiles DB (Deutsch et Bonnet). When Bonnet wanted to use Renault engines instead of Panhard, he set up on his own to produced the mid-engined Bonnet Djet using a Renault 1,108cc engine from 1962. Jean-Luc Lagardere bought Automobiles René Bonnet in 1964 and continued to produce the Djet under the name Matra. This was followed by the M530 mid-engined sports car which in fact was a collaboration between SIMCA and Matra for the American car market; Chrysler owned SIMCA at this time. In 1973 Matra-Simca launched the 3-abreast Bagheera, and replaced this with the Talbot-Matra Murena after PSA had ticket over SIMCA. Matra pulled out of PSA when Peugeot rejected its designs for a revolutionary new vehicle now called a 'people carrier'. Matra took this design Renault and the Renault Espace was the result. Renault ended its contracts with Matra in 2003.
aa Matra M 530 badge
aa Matra M 530 badge
Matra M 530 - badge which connects the Matra cars to the Aerospace wing of Aérospatiale-Matra
aa Talbot-Matra Murena badge
aa Talbot-Matra Murena badge
Talbot-Matra Murena - this badging was probably only ever carried by the Talbot-Matra Murena
Matra M530 LX 1970 fronty
Matra M530 LX 1970 fronty
Matra M530 LX 1970. The M530 had a mid-mounted V4 engine and a detachable targa roof
Matra Murena front
Matra Murena front
Matra Murena. 3-abreast seating in this little mid-engined coupe produced from 1980-83 with Talbot 1.6 or 2.2 engines
Matra-Simca Bagheera S 1977 racer137
Matra-Simca Bagheera S 1977 racer137
Matra-Simca Bagheera S 1977, with 1,442cc engine. Designed by Philippe Guedon, the Bagheera had three-abreast seating
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973 front
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973 front
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973. Developed from a Simca CG which had been based on a Simca 1000/1200 Coupe chassis and mechanicals. The 'Fiorentino' replaced the 1200 Coupe chassis with a Matra-designed spaceframe chassis. Around 6 cars were built.
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973 rear
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973 rear
Simca CG Fiorentino 1973. Actually named after its driver Bernard Fiorentino, the Simca CG was designed and built by Chryslers Matra division. A Chrysler 1800 engine powered the car, but this was bored out to 2207cc and gave 225bhp. Six cars were built
s Renault Espace 1985 side
s Renault Espace 1985 side
Renault Espace 1985. Geoffrey Matthews designed the Matra P11 as a replacement for the Rancho. When SIMCA wouldn't take this up it was revised into the Matra P20 by Philippe Guedon and adapted for the Renault 18 platform to become the Renault Espace.
Talbot-Matra Rancho 1983 front
Talbot-Matra Rancho 1983 front
Talbot-Matra Rancho 1983. Developed by Matra, the Simca Rancho took a base Simca 1100 VF van and added a longer and higher MPV body designed by Antonis Volanis