MatraSport Forum

In England they say: Never change the winning team. I think that Murena is beautifull car as it is original. The design, orig.spoilers, colour combinations, etc. Everything is in harmony and look very nice and typically for Matra. I like it that! Why some assholes tries to change it to Ferrari or they own creature? Look at this:
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=3whd34igmlz (http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=3whd34igmlz)

Bleeeee - interior is terrible, front and rear part of the car is with no charm and very ugly. And of course it doesn't look like Ferrari  >:( Cut his hands!!!

And this:
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=scfozbzbmqw (http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=scfozbzbmqw)

It isn't as dramatic as the first creature, but look how the rear spoiler looks bad in red colour. All rear part look so fat and disharmoned with red rear spoiler and those stupid corners of rear bumper (behind the wheels).

Does really these guys thinks that their cars are looking good, or are they as stupid that they didn't see that it is totaly ugly?
I can't understand it - why somebody damage this beautifull car, isn't the original look the best one??????????

Its all a matter of taste. First one is without doubt a good example of bad taste  :o  Red and black interior re-trim with a brown dashboard :'(

Second one is not as bad - some wothwhile ideas lke smoothing out some of the panel joins - but it just doesnt work.  The rear bumper does need extending if bigger, wider wheels are fitted but the shape needs to be right, not just stack on bits.

I would never say that original designs cannot be improved on - my facelift Alfa Sportwagon is (in my opinion) a worthwhile improvement on the original version so I believe that the murena can be improved.  It has to be subtle though and any Ferrari clone attempts are just silly ::).

I agree with Michael... why ruin somehting that's good already. But people are free to do as they like and 10-15 years ago the Murena was NOT a classic yet really. And it was an EASY victim for modifications with it's glass fibre body and long lasting chassis.

I also think the second one isn't that bad. I have always felt that the front spoiler is not really deep enough. But it's pretty like it is, and that's the way it has been designed. I am full of respect for that, also because the airflow under the car is used for engine breathing and cooling.

- Anders 8)

German chassis tuning is well known for turning out some truly hideous freaks of cars.
The typical example would be some sort of opel or BMW... lowered with  15x10 inch rims on it and a huge engine... so far.... nice!!... BUT to finish it all off... they do the upholstery in some completely way off purple leather, and decicrate the otherwise perfect paint job by airbrushing small animals and landscapes onto it....
..
... WHY?

And worst of all: It seems to gain popularity in Denmark too! :(

And worst of all: It seems to gain popularity in Denmark too! :(
[/quote]

Most of the horrors driving around in Dk are imported in that state from "the father land" :-)

To be honest I do not think that the Murena S spoiler looks good. It is original yes, but it looks as a cheep aftermarket spoiler that was put on a Kadet or a Golf back in the eighties.

Hans

But Hans it was an 80's car, spoilers just looked that way, its like modern alloys, they just lok out of place on a car like ours. but i really cant see why people put these kits on murenas, its not like the one dressed up in "drag" as a ferrari looks any more convincing than a standard Murena.

It is just evolution and because of the murena's long lasting construction methods and plastic panels it is relatively easy to make modifications.  Obviously like nature, some attempts at change are a disaster (especially when some fool tries to make a murena look anything like a Ferrari).

Personally I like the change of shape that the S rear spoiler makes even though I agree that it is not a quality item.  I also like the S side skirts.  Neither items were part of the original "murena" design.

Things that I dont like are the black rubber bits to cover panel gaps and some of the obvious panel joins eg front spoiler.  These are just cost cutting measures by the manufacturer in the same way that the original Mini has external but-welds joining panels together.  I also think the front bumper/spoiler is a bit weedy but as yet I have still to see an alternative that doesn't look worse.

The dirty, saggy orange velour trim in my car was bogging (Scottish expression) and any alternative would be an improvement.  Obviously hideous red and black leather would not be a good way forward....

As for modern wheels, some look awful but nobody will be able to convince me that 17" Azus 5 spoke wheels do not improve the look of a murena....shame they cost so much :(

I hope this doesn't sound like I am slagging off the murena.  Far from it.  It is just that unless you have a really good original car - always a place for them - I would rather have something that was better if I could afford it and that could include changing the interior, front and rear spoilers and even eventually the drivetrain (an Alfa V6 would be the perfect choice).

Are the Azuz 5 spoks the ones Lennart uses ? if so I think they suit the car very nicely... but they do slightly resemble the ones used on a certan car of the mark starting with "F" that we dont speak of!  ;D

Me, I choose the 70'ies look.. these are the ones Im sticking with.. It will take quite a bit of work to make them fit, but it will be worth it :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/krede/HPIM0429.jpg)

Enginewise, My bet for the best murena engine would be the pug T16 from the 405.
Light 16 valve unit with plenty of power and torque... AND! just as importantly a good gearbox.. if in doubt try the one in Lennarts car.. Its awsome compared to the one in the 2.2.
And more so, its a, somewhat, straight forward job of fitting one. (in a 1.6 that is)

Having never driven a v6 I can only speculate what the weight would be like... It would surely be a blast if one could manage to fit one of those with hot cams and seperate throttlebodies!!
The Noice alone would be worth it!
But In the end Im not sure I could ever rest knowing that one of the exaust manifolds are THAT close to the fueltank.....
But then again.... I have never been known for any particular feat of courage  ;D

Don't worry - the Alfa V6 mods have the fuel tank moved to the front of the car.
Not that that's much better in case of a crash, but at least it isn't melting!

- Anders

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/krede/Dsc00052b.jpg)

Hmmmm... looks like a fueltank to me.... ???

I stand corrected!

And I still wish that was my engine room. ;D

I don't think you are alone here :-)

krede: my alloys are 15" Azev-A  5-spoke:

  http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/Murena/Gallery1/Med/ls_mur_ds48.html

wether they are the same as "Azus 5 spoke", I don't know. I gave "Azus" a quick google with no result. lewisman: are you sure about the name/spelling?

My engine is a Peugeot 205gti 1.9 8valve - XU9JA, not the 16 valve. I chose this for its better torque at lower revs, which admittedly is where it spends most of its time.

(unless I'm on a track or some great, abandonned country road :-) )

A V6 might be a wet dream (and that picture certainly is mouth watering), but frankly, the thought of putting all the power from my Peug 406 Coupe into the tiny Matra is almost scary.

/Lennart

Azev is the correct spelling -duh.
It was late at night....
This one I like....
http://www.espace-murena.com/Recensement/VF853C432EX750288_1.jpg

NO NO NO !!!  ??? Alfa Romeo engine in Matra Murena really isn't my dream, if Yours, why You didn't buy an Alfa Romeo? I say that all modifications are only DAMAGING this unique car! If somebody likes tuning, he can damage VW, Ford, Skoda etc. but NOT Matra!!!
Don't be angry to me, but engine with valve cover where is written Alfa Romeo and on the other side is Matra Sports, is something from "Frankenstein garage" and wheels on the picture from krede makes the Murena looking like tractor, I am very sorry but these convertions are killing Murena spirit...
Azev A wheels are nice, Brock B1 are nice, BBS RS1 are beautifull... but on BMW E30, VW Golf, Ford Escort, NEVER on Murena!

With my first Murena I had a lot of troubles with engine - 5 times repaired, but I never changed the original 2,2 with something other because in that moment it won't be Matra for more. I want to have exactly Matra Murena - that's why I bought Matra Murena, so I will allways keep it in 100% original condition!

If the 2.2 or the 1.6 was a Matra engine I might agree with you but both are old Simca engines - they were ancient in the 1980's.  The 2.2 was out-dated when the murena was first built and should never have been used in the first place.  Only French politics prevented the use of a more modern engine.

If you are happy driving an original classic good for you, but there is no need to criticise anyone else for trying to improve their car.

By the way, if Alfa built a mid engined three seater sportscar with a galvanised chassis then I would but one...

I don't want to critize or hurt somebody (except of people like owner of that Ferrari Murena on the ebay, mobile.de and autoscout.de), I only want to say, that I don't agree with tuning on Matra.

"...if Alfa built a mid engined three seater sportscar with a galvanised chassis then I would buy one..." Hmm... that's different from my point of view - I will allways buy Talbot, Matra or Simca cars only, because I am fan of them, not of anything else...