MatraSport Forum

I just got this car over from England last week, which, of course cost nearly as much as the car but still value I hope.

The car comes with a small leaflet of 'rules' for the Matra Enthusiasts Club - so perhaps this Bagheera is known to the UK cogniscenti - and more importantly to me, a handbook.  Joy!  No handbook with my previous Bagheera.  

The car is LHD, without sunroof, was registered in Great Britain in 1982 and manufactured in 1978.  I have no other information about it's history whatsoever - either servicing or ownership, or what country it was originally purchased in.  I know that some of you keep a record of existing Bagheeras, so the chassis identification plate is included amongst the photographs below.  Perhaps someone may know the car's country of origin of some other information?  (Fingers crossed).

I haven't removed the nosecone so I do not know the full details of what may lurk below but there are some shots with the front bonnet open.  The car may have a clutch problem according to the seller and needs her battery charged (which I haven't gotten around to yet, mainly because I just bought a '94 Saab shortly after!) but she will run.  She came with five keys and so far I know what four of these are for.  8)  

Some views of the rear.  The rear lights seem good:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04300.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00112.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00115.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00150.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00142.jpg)

Engine compartment:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00114.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04308.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04309.jpg)

home of a large spider:
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04310.jpg)

I'll put these various photos in separate posts so that quoting will be easier for anyone who wishes to.  Also, they are quite large, so as to give some reasonable idea of the condition of the Bagheera.    

Chassis ID plate (slightly clean since I gave it a wipe to read it  :P):

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00117.jpg)

Driver's side A-pillar and door hinge panel:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04301.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04302.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00116.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00124.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00125.jpg)

.. and the passenger's side:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04304.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04303.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00126.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00127.jpg)

Fuel filler cap and hatch:
(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04311.jpg)


Tatty looking vents behind the fuel filler neck:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00151.jpg)

Luggage compartment / boot:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00113.jpg)


Rusty boot floor:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00152.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00153.jpg)

.. floor is patched just below the tailgate catch:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00154.jpg)

Passenger's side sill (rear, then front).  I forgot to photograph the driver's side sill at the time.  Oops.

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04314.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04315.jpg)

I rotated those photographs of the door hinge panels so they would be vertical but they are still displaying the wrong way (ie. horizontally) for me.  Sorry.  :-\

The instrument panel, switches and err ... crumbling rubber of the steering wheel.  Also, my large left foot and note how my denim jeans perfectly compliment the Bagheera's blue interior trim. ;)  ::)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04319.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04312.jpg)

The Original (??) radio/cassette player.  It seems to have a single Phillips speaker directly below.

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04318.jpg)

There's something about vertically mounted car radios that I find quite entertaining.  :P

They usually seem to feature in quite interesting cars.  

29000 miles in 22 years!*  This Bagheera hasn't seen too much tarmac action in it's time.  Surely those round yellow stickers are below the legal requirements for a current UK mph conversion?  :o

* unless the odometer is broken.  Let's hope not!  

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04321.jpg)

Just a couple more interior shots and then we'll look under the front hatch!  :D



Ripped trim:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04313.jpg)


Glove box, map reading light and a random Volvo wheel trim.  This Bagheera has a full set of four Volvo trims inside it.  Free to good home, collection only! ;)  There is also a set of Matra wheel trims inside the car.  Two Bagheeras now and still no alloys!

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04320.jpg)

Inside the front compartment - chassis: previous welding, rust, dirt + cobwebs and some grass / weed growth! 

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00131.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00118.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00119.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00123.jpg)

More:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00120.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00121.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00122.jpg)

Last few:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC00130.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04305.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04306.jpg)

Those are all of the photos I've taken so far.   Any comments, suggestions, observations - good or bad - or previous knowledge of this car is more than welcome.   I hope this thread was of some interest or use to the good folks here at MatraSport. 

Looks like you could do with the interior and the wheels from the Jubilee one that Andy was collecting bits from!

I have a pair of rear "vents" that you could have if you need them.

It looks pretty good so far! Every one I have restored (four now) was much worse than that to start with. Even the spare wheel well is OK!

Are the rear wheels vertical with no hint of negative camber?

What about the metal at the base of the screen?

Jacking points?

Interior looks good, nice and clean (good as your jeans in fact!)

The boot floor is rusty/poor but at least it is there! Our original Bagheera failed its 10th year MoT because of bad corrosion there. Yours is 20 years older and is still there!

Back on the road in a jiffy! (subject to rear suspension mounts and windscreen base).

Congrats again!

Andy

PS I have a set of Bagheera alloys, unrestored, we could do a good deal on. I'd be glad of the space!

I realise this thread is missing something - I forgot to add the photos of the front of the car!

Colour-coded bumpers with bonus mildew:

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04322.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04323.jpg)


Paint crack and "Bagheera S" logo sticker

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04307.jpg)




(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04316.jpg)

(http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy26/moqueque/New%20Matra%20Bagheera/DSC04317.jpg)


Does anyone know the name of this colour?  I'm assuming that it is a Matra shade?  It's a metallic grey with perhaps a hint of brown.  I though it looks a little drab in photographs but quite like it when seen on the actual in the sunlight.  Of course the car could do with a repaint.

Sounds encouraging, Andy!

I think there is indeed a slight hint but not much.  Is this a sign of corrosion around the suspension mounts?


I'll have to check these and report back later.


My other Bagheera has a boot floor which is in a very different state - clean and with good paint in the centre but rusted through at both sides.  

I must admit that I hadn't contemplated this being a car I may get to drive in the not too distant future but the prospect is appealing.    


Thanks.  I might be interested on a set of alloys but there seems to be two slightly different styles.  The ones I like best seem to be on S1 cars mostly but not exclusively.  The centres are not as smooth, they have an extra molding as far as I can see.    

These are the ones I prefer:

(http://www.matra-club.ch/2004/SMT%2022_05_2004%20042.jpg)


And these are the others, often but not always with black highlights:

(http://www.carsplusplus.com/pictures/1977/14801/photo2.jpg)

If the grey paint is original it is called "Gris Metallique" or something like it. We chose that colour on our original Bagheera and we resprayed it in 1992 in the same colour. Still looks great to us! Ours is next to the Safety Cage in the pic below.

I will check the spare set of wheels - I think they are S1 as you prefer. We are preparing to go on vacation so it may be a little while before I send the pics to you.

Negative camber on the rear is a sure sign of corrosion on the outer ends of the vacuum tube to which the outer ends of the trailing arms are supported. Repairable though! This tube is usually corroded to some extent.

What is the condition of the metal frame of the nose hatch? Tends to rust at the bottom too.

I think it looks great and very restorable.

Congrats again.

Andy

If you check my FAQ pages you will see the colours and paint codes of the '77 Bagheera.  This is Gris Electric.

A previous owner was in the MEC so the club 'knows' the car.

Roy

Hi Fred,
Looks nice - can I ask how much it went for as I think mine is a bit better in most places and hopefully less mildew!

Nick

This tacho is in kms, the odometer will be so, think that it is more of a 129000 kms than 29000, but does it matter?  ;)

Lot of work, but nice projet, good luck! (http://emoticons.sweb.cz/icq/Smiley20.gif)

Hi Roy,

I whish it would be that simple as I was believing for years.
Last year, with 3 other members of the Bagheera-café association (not the forum but the club behind), we got hold of the Matra production files from 1973 to 1979 (so excluding the last 1980 models)
This contains all the details of the Bagheera and Rancho produced during that period.
A very difficult and deep analysis allowed us to spot lots of deviations from the standard belief.
Gris electrique is different from Gris Metal and different from ... several other grey.

As an example, trying to analyse the production of the Serie 1 S alone (Model year 1976 - even if it ran from 75 to 76), I've found out not less than 18 colors.
Leaving appart the Courrèges for wich we even found 2 cars painted with a ... Champain color.  ???

And this was only 4465 cars.

So, to me, the only way to get the true details of a car is to look into this and prey for no error.