Matra, which won at Le Mans and in F1 dans in the 60s et 70s, designed new, very innovatove vehicules. Its contribition to the automotive industry was the Espace, for Renault, and later the Avantime, a futuristic concept, but less successful. Matra is also an export in small light licence-free car and/or for young drivers. But the company, in racing, also went into small series of sportscars. These were the Matra Bonnet Djet, Matra Bagheera and Matra Murena. Here is about them:

MATRA Beanie Djet 6 (1964)

The Djet or Jet later was a slender and tiny car (your servant, -1.83 m- has experienced it)

• 2-seater coupe.
• Rear central transverse engine - rear transmission.
• Engine 4 cylinders in line, 8 valves 1.2 Liters, 2 ACT, 2 double barrel carburettors 85 hp DIN @ 5600 rpm.
• Performances: 0-100 km/h: 7 sec. ;1000 D.A.: sec. Max. speed: 190 Km/h.
• Overall weight: 700 Kgs.
• Dimensions: Length: mm; Width: mm; Height: mm; Wheelbase: 2400mm
• Production: 1681

With the separation of Charles Deutsch and René bonnet, the latter undertakes to design his own sports car. He recovers the concept of the previous DB but uses Renault engines, more nervous in his opinion, and placed in the same way as on the Alpine A106 of Rédélé which he admires... Thus, in the first version, the light rear mid-engined coupe is equipped with a 1.1 L developing 70hp, giving already significant acceleration to this very light and aerodynamic car. But the customer wishing to enter it in the race can use the same mechanics revisited and prepared by the wizard Amédée Gordini, which gives 85 to 100hp. In fact, Bonnets raced and won their category at Le Mans in 1962 and 1963. The Djet I and II have between 70 and 85hp, the multitubular Djet III are more intended for competition with 95hp engines. 1400 were built before René Bonnet's financial difficulties led him to leave the rest of the operations to Matra, giving birth to the jet 5. (280 copies).

MATRA Bagheera (1974)

The unusual Bagheera has unaggressive, modest, but harmonious lines.

• Type: 3-seater coupe.
• Configuration:Rear central transverse engine - rear transmission.
• Engine: 4 cylinders in line, 16 valves 1.3 Liters, 1 ACT, 85 hp DIN @ 5800 rpm.
• Performances: 0-100 Km/h: 8 sec. ;1000 D.A.: ;Max. speed: 185 Km/h.
• Overall weight: 880 Kgs.
• Dimensions: Length: mm; Width: mm; Height: mm; Wheelbase: 2250mm
• Production: 47,800

Developed by the Romorantin firm to take over from the M530, the little Bagheera generally offered the same configuration, but with one more place in the center and offset. Its reliable and economical 4-cylinder was a Simca-Chrysler, powerful enough to give the car "sporty" performances at the standard of the 1970s. Production lasted until the 1980s, the Murena taking over.

Talbot-MATRA Murena (1980)

The little Murena has a more aggressive style than the wise Bagheera while retaining its original configuration.

• Type: 3-seater coupe.
• Configuration:Rear central transverse engine - rear transmission.
• Engine: 4 cylinders in V line, Liter valves, 2 ACT, 105 hp DIN @ 5500 rpm.
• Performances: 0-100 Km/h: 8 sec. ;1000 D.A.: ;Max. speed: 185 Km/h.
• Overall weight: 650 Kgs.
• Dimensions: Length: mm; Width: mm; Height: mm; Wheelbase: 2250mm
• Production: 10,680