MATRA M530 The Matra aerospace company entered the motoring world when it took over the financially

The Matra aerospace company entered the motoring world when it took over the financially weak Bonnet company in 1964, and with it Rene Bonnet's existing Renault-engined Djet, which was continued in production while Matra Sports designed a successor (and built the first of the F3 and F2 single-seaters which were to initiate the French racing resurgence). Matra's first road car, the M530A, was announced at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show. While its lines appeared a little odd from some aspects, this was a sophisticated 2 +2, which like the later Fiat X1/9 demonstrated that a mid-engined layout need not restrict accom-modation or visibility. The basis was a steel hull, with bolted-on glass fibre body panels; roof panels were detachable, and could be stowed in a shallow front boot, leaving a longitudinal brace running forward from the built-in roll bar at the back of the cockpit (there was adequate luggage space behind the engine).

Effective independent suspension, a dry weight of 820kg, and a 47/53 weight distribution made for good handling and ride qualities, the former more than adequate for the available power.

This came from the Ford Taunus 17M V-4, a compact unit ideal for a car of this configuration, which drove through a Ford 15M trans-mission, with a rod-and-lever linkage which proved trouble-free. The engine was used in standard form, its 73bhp being good for a claimed maximum speed of 170kph (106mph) — but a genuine top speed of under 160kph (100mph) — with acceleration a little below par for a 1.7-litre sports car, although economy was excellent. The measurable performance of the M530A was lower than that of its outwardly sleeker Djet predecessor, but that shortcoming did not result from Matra aerodynamics, rather from the tuned Renault engines, giving up to 103bhp, that had been used in the Djet. Des-pite its 'performance image' of the time, Matra was intent on a road-going sports car in the M530A, rather than a competitions-orientated pseudo-road car, and in this the design staff were successful. In general marketing terms, however, the car made only a modest impact, and although it continued into the 1970s, Matra's affiliation with Simca only two years after its introduction effectively limited its life.

Specification Engine: Ford Taunus 60-degree V-4; 90 x 66.8mm, 1699cc; pushrod ohv; single Solex carburettor; 73bhp at 4800rpm. Gearbox: Ford four-speed manual. Chassis: steel platform; front suspension independent by wishbones, coil springs, dampers and anti-roll bar; rear suspension independent by trailing arms, coil springs, dampers and anti-roll bar; four-wheel disc brakes. Dimensions: wheelbase 255cm/100i-in; front track 144cm/561in; rear track 141cm/55in.