MatraSport Forum

Hi. I‘m new here and thought that this was probably the best place to introduce myself.
I should say right now that I have always been a petrolhead and always will be!  ;D

I live in Switzerland and bought this one owner car with 32k km in 1983.

1981 Matra Murena 2.2.

Here with my completely restored MGC 3 litre, 6 cylinder roadster in 1984
(http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/26168/2562954110103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Drove the Matra all over Europe without any problems.

Waiting for the channel ferry with a friend, 1985
(http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/43208/2821142320103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Isle of Skye ferry 1985
(http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/45743/2702485070103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/45897/2236995680103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Isle of Skye 1985
(http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/45630/2074827930103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Outer Hebrides 1985
(http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/44155/2730269420103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Scottish Highlands 1985
(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/44932/2608948610103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/46033/2800097780103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


Sold it to a friend in 1993 with 93k km and rusted rear trailing arms.



By chance, last year I saw an advert for a Matra Murena 2.2. Exactly the same spec as my old car, but a 1982 model that‘s only done 50k km. We went to look at it. My test drive was like stepping into a time machine. I was back in the eighties! My test route twisted and swooped though some gentle hills and the Matra was giving its all, diving into the corners on the limit and the carb struggling to feed my eager foot away from the apexes. Both the cart and myself had to give everything to make fast progress. Really involving. Full of character. Great fun!

My wife took it pretty much for granted that I would buy the Matra.

I did  :)
(http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/32322/2146407130103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb09.webshots.com/46920/2768562280103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

The only mod it has is the wheel
(http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/47579/2481877760103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/45121/2744552910103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/48713/2727603190103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/45276/2879601840103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/47305/2582424240103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/46913/2181415150103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/46275/2857746200103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


My wife says I should reduce my current car collection from 8 cars. She say sell the Matra. It‘s true that I don‘t drive it often, as more modern cars are almost always more suitable. But I still love having it...

So, that‘s me –  self-confessed car fan.

I've been driving for 40 years (!), but have only ever owned 20 cars in all that time – and the only car that I‘ve ever bought twice is a Murena!  ;D

If anyone wants to know my full car history, I could add more to this story  8)

Welcome to the Matra Forum. Lovely motor's you got there. Must be nice to drive them trough the Swiss alps. :)

Hi SpeedyK

Your car looks very good from the pictures, do not sell it! Welcome to the forum, you will find it a very useful resource for information and members will help you whenever they can.

Interestingly I have a 1.6 that started life in Switzerland, which area do you live? You are very fortunate to be within a reasonable distance to some interesting mountain routes.

Regards

John

My bro had a 1.6 Murena too in the early eighties – also in Switzerland. I'm in the german-speaking part.

My last trip in the Murena was with a friend in his classic Fiat 124 Coupé. We did a round trip around a mountain range.

This pic was taken after I stopped on our descent to the Rhein valley to swap back to our own cars again. The Matra feels hugely more modern than the Fiat – though that has its own charm.
(http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/48930/2657213080103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Yes, the forum looks very informative – I joined because I'm sure that someone will have an anmswer if I need one – though I hope I won't have too many problems!  ;D

Hi,

welcome to the forum. Yes you will have answers on the forum if you need, I can verify it. :)

Nice cars and you have found a very nice Murena. I agree with JL, do not sell it. Preserve it to the future.

My 2.2 also started its career in Switzerland. :)

Hi and welcome,

A very lovely car inside and out, I can see why you bought it. I hope you have many years of  happy motoring in it.

Regards,

GP

Congratualtion finding a nice Matra like this one.
It looks pretty need.
Divorce the wife and keep the car  :)
You wan't sell a pretty car like this.
Matra is forever 8)

Thanks  :)

No… she's a keeper  8)

We'll see about the car. At the moment I have eight cars, and intend to cut down – but the Matra is not top of the list to go.

Welcome.  I had a couple of Bagheeras and a couple of Ranchos in the mid 80's.  You obviously made it to Harris ( I live on Lewis) - just a pity I didn't spot you on the road! 

Your new murena looks tidy.  Mine is currently a "project"

We went Uig-Tarbert and Stornoway-Ullapool.

We did get some quite bemused looks on Harris at the time. The Matra looked quite alien compared to most contemporary vehicles then  ;D

Very good looking Murena! I also like the steering wheel a lot! Fits in the Matra design perfectly!

Thanks  :)

We had lovely spring weather today, so I took some new pics.

New mats
(http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/4288/2196997430103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/47631/2635309920103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/48478/2975816140103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/48631/2581821450103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/48176/2805345280103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/49247/2167705370103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/47416/2416135340103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/49395/2692493250103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

Nice! It could be a lovely trip.

That's the kind of road a Murena is fun to drive on.
Need some good weather here to.
I am jealous.
Holland is as flat as a dime.

SpeedyK, would it be able to get the lovely pictures in your last post in a higher resolution? They are SO nice( especially since I have the same colours on my car), and I would like to hang some of them up in my garage. ;)

Thanks for your compliment, RazorbackNOR  :)

Photography is one of my other hobbies, but I don't release high resolution pics.

Some pics I took of my other cars:
(http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/44963/2567373300103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/48355/2669481420103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/43624/2651731740103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/47476/2471511330103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/46929/2956963470103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/9087/2548989540103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/41825/2724563330103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/21952/2820812660103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/46276/2175566910103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/44851/2277393370103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


(http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45227/2571290910103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


A nice car in a good setting and a camera in my hands and I'm happy  :)

 :o

I am totally shocked! Nice cars, beautiful backgrounds...
Really enviable...

I don't still own all of them. I have 8 cars at the moment:

MG MGC roadster (3 litre, 6 cylinder)
Lancia Beta Spider 2000
Peugeot 106 GTI
Dodge Durango SLT 4.7 V8
Smart Brabus Roadster-Coupé Xclusive
Porsche 911 (997) Carrera 4S
Talbot-Matra Murena 2.2
RenaultSport Clio 200 Cup

I have most fun with the Smart Brabus Roadster-Coupé Xclusive – which I drove locally most of the time. My wife and daughter hate the flappy paddle semi-auto box because they have never learned to get the best from it. It took me 3 months to get used to it.

Always puts a smile on my face.
(http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/48301/2242739680103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

The Clio RS 200 Cup is a great car too – so responsive.
(http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/43125/2315364200103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

The 997 4S is the most competent – under ALL conditions
(http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/46574/2456304880103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)
(http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/38782/2523154150103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

It is happy on road or track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJbrOu2g7U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScJbrOu2g7U)

The Lotus Exige Cup with Bemani supercharger (273 hp) was only really fun on track (and there aren't any proper ones in Switzerland).
(http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/45447/2224377470103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)
 
I nearly crashed it chasing a GT3 at Hockenheim ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeRveyZdFUk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeRveyZdFUk)

The Opel Speedster 2.2 was the nearest to a modern day Murena – with the advantage of a removable roof.
I ordered one as soon as they were announced  :)
(http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/48839/2733812350103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

It was a bit too slow on track – fighting against Audi TTs and Porche Boxster Ss, not 911s and Ferraris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4YgfhDNBI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4YgfhDNBI)

The most disappointing was the Aston Martin DB7 V12 Vantage. Great engine, great brakes. Rubbish everything else!
(http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/16941/2215733500103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

The Nissan 300ZX TwinTurbo was better in almost every way! My wife still complains about me selling it.
(http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/44992/2239828600103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

The Matra is certainly very involving and yet not too old-fashioned – but not something I choose to drive every day (but I did in the eighties – all year round). I love it still for its neat and unique design
(http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/50217/2205037620103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


And, by today's standards, it is quite a small car – compared to a modern "compact" hatch
(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/48641/2758904180103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)
 :o
(http://inlinethumb26.webshots.com/48217/2466297700103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


Though not quite as small as my Smart
(http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/45920/2996060690103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)


There's no point in trying to deny that I'm a petrolhead  ::)

Nice collection! You are very lucky to have such great cars.
The Lotus video is very exciting, I liked it.

Now I do not worry about not having an Aston Martin DB7. It would be a dissappointment... :)

The seats are very poor, the interior is very cramped. Despite the Vantage being 20 years newer than a Murena, it is not really better in any way (apart from that engine and the brakes).
(http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/45364/2340773300103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

And how can a 6 litre V12 2+2 coupé that is supposed to be an ultimate GT car not have cruise control? Don't ask me because I'm baffled  ??? – but the Aston didn't have one  ::)

(Yet the 300ZX from the early nineties did, as does my bro's 90's 6 litre V12 Jaguar XJS)

I'm glad to have owned both the V12 Vantage and the Exige Cup, but I don't miss the Aston at all – and the Exige was only fun under ideal conditions.
(http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/37394/2386564640103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

These are far more usable
(http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/45433/2008709550103429640S600x600Q85.jpg)

I had a serious look at the Smart coupe when I bought my Alfa GT but it s just so-o-o small - and the history of complaints of leaks did not appeal for use in the wettest part of the UK!

If you only need a car for one-up trips – or two with not much luggage – small is good!  ;)