The Espace was actually conceived in 1977 in the Chrysler Design Studios in Coventry, as a one box styling exercise codename Supervan.
Whilst it started off as my own skunk project - it only became an official programme once I had presented it to Dick Macadam - the then Chrysler Director of Styling.
A number of full size feasibility models were produced during the following year, but when the (renamed) Talbot UK operation was wound up the programme and all the models were given over to Matra as a going concern.
Matra I know, always made claim to to dreaming up the Espace, but that wasn't the case.
Yours sincerely
Fergus Pollock
fergus.pollock@virgin.net