The wedges are taking over, the 80s are coming back!

[garethj]

The office car park, earlier today

 

The Matra is an ex-Practical Classics (I think) restoration car which is why it's RHD. The 1400cc engine is nice and tappety behind your head, but other than that it feels a lot like my old Alfasud Sprint did to drive. Owned by someone higher up in the factory, happy to join me in the Funny Old Plastic Cars With Popup Lights parking zone.

 

The Ginetta is my daily transport and is ready for when we move house next week and my route is full of speedbumps. The suspension is higher but some 32mm wheels spacers stop it looking so much like an Atlas van.

 

How low it was last month. I liked it low, but my exhaust didn't

[dollywobbler]

Cor, ace. Nice to see the Boothman Bagheera again.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hey I remember that Matra, PC did a mega brain damage job on it. It was as rusty as the fuggin Titanic! I bet they are a great motor to drive, I would love to have a blezz in one.

[seth]

Quality. They look so out of place between a pair of blobby bug eyed moderns

[garethj]

I bet they are a great motor to drive, I would love to have a blezz in one.

Fairly sure it’s 1400cc, I think a 1600 would give it a pleasantly different character.

 

Handling is of its time, pretty tidy but a bit of body roll. Back then, cars had switches that were dainty and pedals that were heavy, with modern cars it’s the other way around. This one’s got electric windows, although you’d be quicker winding them by hand even with a painful wrist injury. Interior is very brown, and because this was a RHD it was converted in the UK so all the interiors were a bit hand-made. Exterior is very orange, wheels are lovely and the whole thing just looks nice.

 

Rust must be a worry, they occasionally come up on ebay looking very forlorn.

[Rod/b]

I had a chat with the owner of that Matra last year at a car show, a lady of mature years. Is it still hers?

[chaseracer]

Fairly sure it’s 1400cc...

1294 Simca 1100 or 1442 Alpine/Simca 1308. I think...

[garethj]

I had a chat with the owner of that Matra last year at a car show, a lady of mature years. Is it still hers?

I can't possibly comment!

 

But the owner has been the same one for a few years