Djet : the first

1964, the Matra Sports company was founded, born from the merger of René Bonnet and Générale Application Plastique (GAP). Matra Sports takes over manufacture of the Djet, previously made by the two companies.

M530 : the pals’ car

The M530 project had the code name “the pals’ car” ("La voiture des copains"). Sporty and fun, at an affordable price and with a focus on safety, the Matra 530 was Matra’s true first step into the world of production cars and was presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967. The body was no longer a single-piece moulded shell, but bodywork panels on a structure of welded sheet metal. From this novel solution, Matra would later develop one of the most innovative construction processes in the automobile industry – bodywork elements bonded onto a galvanised structure, a procedure used recently on the Espace 3 and the Avantime models.

Bagheera : the 3-seater coupé

With the Bagheera concept, Matra entered the sector of sports cars with a transversally-mounted central engine, with three front seats. Produced in partnership with Chrysler (owner of Simca), the Bagheera quickly found its customer base. Aerodynamics was to play a key role in reaching the 180 km/h required by Simca with the 4-cylinder 84 horsepower engine. Around half the Bagheeras produced were exported.

Rancho : an SUV before its time

A product of the oil-crisis years of 1973 and 1974, the Rancho illustrated the concept of “go anywhere” leisure vehicles. The seed of the idea behind the Espace.

Murena : a dynamic sports car

In 1980, the Murena succeeded the Bagheera. Every bit as slender as its big sister, but with a superior engine, the Murena reminds us of Matra’s competitive past. With three front seats, a design similar to the make’s last sports car, Matra still had the sports car bug.

The construction of the Murena took advantage of new plants installed at Romorantin. It was in fact the first car in the world to use anti-corrosion protection by hot-dip galvanisation.

Espace : the benchmark

Sweep away the customary and the generally accepted – such is Matra’s raison d’être. The invention of the people-carrier was a resounding success. A turning point in the automobile industry, the Espace created a whole new segment in the industry and remains the symbol of a successful partnership between two companies -Matra and Renault.

Avantime : the Espace-coupé

Following three generations of the Espace, the Renault-Matra partnership continued by launching a revolutionary vehicle, the Avantime. An unadulterated product of Matra’s creativity and Renault’s design, this top-of-the-range vehicle offered an entirely new approach to the grand touring coupé. An original style and innovative design conferred a highly individual flavour on the Avantime, capable of satisfying a customer base jaded by the traditional grand tourer. Manufacture was halted too quickly, following commercial failure in France.