Discussion
I wondered if anyone knows much about them.
I had vague memories of their existance but a guy turned up in one yesterday to do a PX with my Dad's car and I must admit I'm quite tempted to buy it off him.
They look better in the flesh than in pics.
http://mycarblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Ta...
This one was green with bubbling paint and gold draylon interior - not my thing at all but I just loved the look of it.
Having 3 seats would come in handy too.
Albeit the 2.2 with 118bhp will hardly set the world ablaze.
I had vague memories of their existance but a guy turned up in one yesterday to do a PX with my Dad's car and I must admit I'm quite tempted to buy it off him.
They look better in the flesh than in pics.
http://mycarblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Ta...
This one was green with bubbling paint and gold draylon interior - not my thing at all but I just loved the look of it.
Having 3 seats would come in handy too.
Albeit the 2.2 with 118bhp will hardly set the world ablaze.
Got one, had it about 20 years...what do you want to know ?
Cheap to run, healthy club scene.
Check out Matra Enthusiasts Club in the UK.
Very cheap at the moment, paint shouldn't bubble from
Rust. They're glass fibre panels on a full
Galvanised steel body. How much is he asking ?
Achilles heal is the rear trailing arms. Expensive to replace if rotten. Not particularly quick, but the S version
Was 142 BHP, which was ok in 1983. All factory ones LHD , a few aftermarket RHD conversions about though.
Cheap to run, healthy club scene.
Check out Matra Enthusiasts Club in the UK.
Very cheap at the moment, paint shouldn't bubble from
Rust. They're glass fibre panels on a full
Galvanised steel body. How much is he asking ?
Achilles heal is the rear trailing arms. Expensive to replace if rotten. Not particularly quick, but the S version
Was 142 BHP, which was ok in 1983. All factory ones LHD , a few aftermarket RHD conversions about though.
The bubbling is I presume a reaction with / in the fibreglass
What are they like to drive ?
Is it easy / possible / cheap to modify them to more modern standards - brakes, suspension, engine upgrades ?
I've googled and seen there are Alfa V6 conversions etc but I was wondering if there are a few simple worthwhile mods
Thanks
What are they like to drive ?
Is it easy / possible / cheap to modify them to more modern standards - brakes, suspension, engine upgrades ?
I've googled and seen there are Alfa V6 conversions etc but I was wondering if there are a few simple worthwhile mods
Thanks
Is it a 2.2 ( they did ac1.6)
A standard 2.2 common mod is updated Carbs, original had one you can fit twin Webbers or Dellortos, biggest easiest change is the exhaust & manifold. The factory S had a change of cam too.
People have fitted all sorts of engines, including the Alfa, and the Peugeot Gti/Mi16 engine.
Handling is soft in standard guise, more Citroen than Audi although handling is ok due to the mid engine, but it won't be as sharp as say an x19 which is an age related comparison.
Shouldn't need to update the brakes, discs all round are good as it is a light car.
It's probably been repainted. All early cars were gold !!
Have a look at MatraMagic website for tuning options, also Carjoy in holland & Simon Automobile in Germany.
Pm me the Reg, there are not many about probably throw some light on it's history.
A standard 2.2 common mod is updated Carbs, original had one you can fit twin Webbers or Dellortos, biggest easiest change is the exhaust & manifold. The factory S had a change of cam too.
People have fitted all sorts of engines, including the Alfa, and the Peugeot Gti/Mi16 engine.
Handling is soft in standard guise, more Citroen than Audi although handling is ok due to the mid engine, but it won't be as sharp as say an x19 which is an age related comparison.
Shouldn't need to update the brakes, discs all round are good as it is a light car.
It's probably been repainted. All early cars were gold !!
Have a look at MatraMagic website for tuning options, also Carjoy in holland & Simon Automobile in Germany.
Pm me the Reg, there are not many about probably throw some light on it's history.
I think they were built at a factory in Dieppe which later went on to build the fibreglass Renault Espace, Renault Alpine and Renault Sport spider.
A little snug with 3 seats across the front, but at least they had the sense to put the steering wheel to one side (or the other) and avoid a McLaren F1 driver's scramble to the centre of the car.
A little snug with 3 seats across the front, but at least they had the sense to put the steering wheel to one side (or the other) and avoid a McLaren F1 driver's scramble to the centre of the car.
Ozzie Osmond said:
I think they were built at a factory in Dieppe which later went on to build the fibreglass Renault Alpine and Renault Espace.
A little snug with 3 seats across the front, but at least they had the sense to put the steering wheel to one side (or the other) and avoid McLaren's scramble to the centre!
Sorry, I'll get my anorak, but built in Romarantin at the Matra factory. Matra invented the Espace in the late 70's but no one thought a people carrier idea would work ! It was originally to be sold as a Matra Espace, on early cars the engine/body plates said Matra on them (Google F1 Espace for the ultimate one) Matra's other cars were the Rancho (!), Bagheera, 530, D'Jet then quite a lot of earlier F1 history. Later cars included small electric/city cars that never made production. The last proper Matra was sold as the Renault Avantime ! ( there is a uk one sporting the plate M4TRA)A little snug with 3 seats across the front, but at least they had the sense to put the steering wheel to one side (or the other) and avoid McLaren's scramble to the centre!
Although the Renault Gta/Alpine looks similar, they're not related..... Always fancied one though !
Hi,
Yes its a 2.2
Sorry I don't have the reg.
He said he'd owned it for 10yrs and was in the club - dark metallic green with IIRC 4 or 5 spoke revolution alloys
I've had a look at the first link, I'll follow the other info now.
I've found a couple of hillclimbers on Youtube so they can't be too bad but I've had an X19 many years ago now and I don't remember it as being a great car so maybe I'll be disappointed although I do like obsure cars and the 3 seats are ideal as I have 2 daughters.
Yes its a 2.2
Sorry I don't have the reg.
He said he'd owned it for 10yrs and was in the club - dark metallic green with IIRC 4 or 5 spoke revolution alloys
I've had a look at the first link, I'll follow the other info now.
I've found a couple of hillclimbers on Youtube so they can't be too bad but I've had an X19 many years ago now and I don't remember it as being a great car so maybe I'll be disappointed although I do like obsure cars and the 3 seats are ideal as I have 2 daughters.
I GAVE away a 1.6 Murena last month as i couldn't shift it.
It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
stinkysteve said:
I GAVE away a 1.6 Murena last month as i couldn't shift it.
It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
Sportscars Unlimited. They used to be a big importer of Matra's in the eighties. He had it for sale on Ebay for spares a few weeks ago !It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
redgriff500 said:
OW - £336 for the inlet manifold for twin carbs.
What other cars had the 2.2 fitted in other than the Tagora ?
I can see why engine conversions are popular !
2.2 Douvrain engine I think ? (mine's a 1.6, don't laugh I was 21 when I bough it ! ...46 now !What other cars had the 2.2 fitted in other than the Tagora ?
I can see why engine conversions are popular !
You'd have yo check, but I think Citroen CX, Possibly Peugeot 504 ?. I know of French convertors who got a 504 Turbo Engine in one (Don't think the 504 Turbo was sold in the Uk).
There is also a couple of slight differences on the 2.2 Tagora engine from memory (water pump & a casting on the cylinder head I believe)
stinkysteve said:
I GAVE away a 1.6 Murena last month as i couldn't shift it.
It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
I've been looking on the forum - it seems he sold it on Ebay for around £350It was in need of a full rebuild mind - "Barn Find" would describe it well.
Good cars though, i was seriously tempted to put a cage in (and an MI16 engine) and go historic racing!
I gave it to Sportscar supplies ( i thin it's called) in Newcastle - He may be rebuilding it.
rswift said:
redgriff500 said:
OW - £336 for the inlet manifold for twin carbs.
What other cars had the 2.2 fitted in other than the Tagora ?
I can see why engine conversions are popular !
2.2 Douvrain engine I think ? (mine's a 1.6, don't laugh I was 21 when I bough it ! ...46 now !What other cars had the 2.2 fitted in other than the Tagora ?
I can see why engine conversions are popular !
You'd have yo check, but I think Citroen CX, Possibly Peugeot 504 ?. I know of French convertors who got a 504 Turbo Engine in one (Don't think the 504 Turbo was sold in the Uk).
There is also a couple of slight differences on the 2.2 Tagora engine from memory (water pump & a casting on the cylinder head I believe)
rswift said:
Caulkhead said:
I prefered the Bagheera - plenty of the mini Uracco about it.
Plenty of rust about it !....amazing looking GRP body, with a steel body (not galvanised). Most owners of 10 year old Bagheeras learned much about welding from these cars .... 
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff