Magic Matra

There are some racing cars that have impressed me on aesthetic grounds alone, whether or not they were competitively successful – (see Tecno PA123 and E731 feature coming up.)  Then there are those that inspire awe because of their innovative technology/race-winning prowess.  This is one of the rare examples of a machine qualifying under both headings.  The appeal of the Matra MS80, (and its predecessor, the MS10), is all the more understandable if you share my rivet-work fetishism and remember that the MS80 carried the peerless JYS to his first World Championship, with five Grands Prix victories, in ’69.

MS80

© Wouter Melissen

MS10

© Wouter Melissen

© Wouter Melissen

If you too are a rivet fan, you probably already know this car, but the Petrolicious feature on the Iso A3/C is always worth a revisit. 


















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