Matra Prototypes & 'Specials"

[rhgray]

MATRA
Hi, I am trying to track down information on the following Matra road sports prototypes for an eventual article on Matra road sports cars for our Sports Car Club magazine. The first is the Michelotti Lazer. This appeared in an old Sports Car World magazine with a picture and minimal blurb. From what I have since read it was based on the 530M, but I recall there was something about it in the report that mentioned it being powered by a 3 litre V12. This, it would seem, was before the 1-off Murena V12, so I don't think my memory was confused with this. May be they were merely contemplating this idea. Any design, technical and history information on the car would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

The second is the prototype that came before the Peugeot powered M25. The earlier car was from recollection an exercise in the maximum use of plastics in a car. It looked a bit like a rear engined clubmans supersport version of the P72, a bit like the M25 in dimensions, but slightly smaller, and even more sporty.

From what I recall it had a 2.2 Murena motor, with a plastic supercharger and produced 250 bhp. The glass canopy was large for its size, like the P72, and it was said to pull about 1.2g in cornering and was as fast accelerating to 60 and 100mph as the then current Countach. I have a photo stashed away in some books in storage - not able to live in my house at present so have it rented out and most books etc stored - but it was only a picture with a caption in some sort of year book, which I will dig out for the article.

Finally, I would not only like more technical design and performance information on both this car above, but also on the M25 and any other interesting roadgoing sports vehicle made by Matra (I have a reasonable amount on the Bagheera, Murena, 530M and Djet, but any interesting information whether design, technical, performance, designer's ideas and thoughts, or racing, is of interest).

Finally, I recall that a 2 x 650M sports prototypes (thanks Peter) were once registered for the road so it could compete in the Tour d' Alps, or something similar. Any information on this?

Many thanks for any help or information offered. Richard Gray

[suffolkpete]

Finally, I recall that a 630M sports prototype was once registered for the road so it could compete in the Tour d' Alps, or something similar.

I don't know about that, but Ed McDonough, in his book "Matra Sports Cars", states that a couple of M650s were used on the road in the Tour de France in 1970.

[rhgray]

Thanks, that was purely by "long term" memory, so will correct my data. Cheers.

[roy4matra]

MATRA
Hi, I am trying to track down information on the following Matra road sports prototypes for an eventual article on Matra road sports cars for our Sports Car Club magazine. The first is the Michelotti Lazer...

So what is wrong with internet search engines Richard?  I typed it into Google and it gave me a page full of links immediately.  It was a one-off show vehicle based on a standard M530 i.e. a Ford 1.7 V4.  Not sure where you got the idea of a V12 from but with such big gull wing doors the chassis would not have the strength for any such power unit let alone the lack of space.  There was not even any thought to anything different to the standard chassis or powertrain, since Michelotti are/were a design studio and they do not get involved in that sort of thing - their show cars are purely to show case their abilities to potential customers.  These cars could not be used on the road as they wouldn't pass regulations much of the time, or be practical or reliable...

And the M25 was Renault powered not Peugeot.  Even a quick look at the details on this website would have told you that.

The other prototype I think you are talking about was the P29.  It was not smaller than the M25, it was larger being much longer.  Take a visit at the Matra museum and you can see it.

Roy