Oh, yep I meant front wing. Glad to hear that's not the case. I'll have a look and see if I can get access in a bit. I noticed on my car there is no panel in front of it which explains all the dust in that corner.

By fender you mean the complete RH front wing?  No, that is incorrect!  The panel in front of the internal heater motor and casing, has a curve in it, and that must be removed.  But if you look carefully, you will see that the small panel in front of that panel with the curve, overlaps it, so you have to remove that small panel first before you can remove the panel with the curve around the motor casing.  The RH front wing - the painted panel that forms the outer body work does not need to be removed.

Roy

I tried the workplace manual but I'd like to double check if I understand it correctly. I need to remove the front right fender in order to reach it correct?
So: drill the rivets, remove the fender, unscrew the two bolts at the top, disconnect and for assembly reverse the order and pop it back in place?
Mine has burnt through something months ago (smoke came from all vents when I turned it on) and I want to fix or replace it. Is there a more modern replacement I can consider? Something with more power and/or less noise? Or perhaps a DIY solution?

I'm not sure where you get your information from, but certainly in regard to the U.K. (or G.B) it is wrong I'm afraid.  The term 'surviving cars' you have used above, suggests these are possibly on the road or in a fit state to be used at some time.

In terms of the Rancho in the U.K. there are just three, yes 3, that are either on the road or fit to be on the road in January 2025, and one that I know of that is under serious restoration, but probably won't be ready for some time yet.

Regarding the Bagheera, I'm afraid 132 is completely incorrect.  As stated on my website index page, at May 2024 there were just ten (10) Bagheera fit and registered for the road, and I know that there maybe a few more that are near enough to being complete that if their restorations were completed, they could be put back on the road.  However, many of those still listed on the DVLA website have already been scrapped, or are so bad they will never be restored owing to the cost, the difficulty of getting all that would be needed, and the time and will of the keeper to do anything with them.

As for the Murena, in May 2024 there were 40 on the road, and I know there are a few more that are under repair or restoration that could be on the road at some time in the future, but there are some on the DVLA computer that I know have actually been exported from the U.K. but DVLA still list them and don't know this, presumably as the keeper never informed them, or filled in the forms incorrectly!

Cars that get scrapped here are supposed to be done in a specific way such that DVLA is made aware and can remove them from their database, but I know that some have been stripped, cut up and disposed of possibly to scrap metal merchants, and therefore DVLA is unaware of this and still have them on their records as if they exist!  There are so many errors caused here by the way the software was originally set up that any rare car information of any make, is highly susceptible to errors.

Don't believe anything that is down on the DVLA database for rare cars.  It is far more likely that the specific car club will have much better information on that make of car in the U.K.

Roy

Well,

I am still working on a register/ inventory/ census (I don't know witch word is the best ) of MATRA :

Rancho : 848 surviving cars knowed, 42 in GB, 5 in Denmark

Bagheera : 1792 surviving cars knowed, 132 in GB, 30 in Denmark

Murena : 1894 surviving cars knowed, 67 in GB, 57 in Denmark

Ah perhaps times have changed. Lately I frequently see murenas and usually also at least one Rancho at the meetings as well as bagheeras and the occasional 530 but as it's a simca club we don't get the Matra built espaces and the Avantimes unfortunately.
Belgium is a bit far for me. I know there's a Matra sports club in the Netherlands as well but honestly I prefer the variety of vehicles at the simcaclub meetings. Simca built some gorgeous cars as well and things like a Talbot Samba always bring a smile on my face.

Two good looking gentlemen there with a beauty!

I found the Simca club did not do very much for the Matra scene.
In 2007 I desided to go with the Matramania club Belgium where I am still a member.
Its a bit closer to France ;-)
Its a small club but that makes it more social.
The interest for Matra is a bit less the last years.
I still hope to find someone that have a heart for the brand.
I sold my 2.2 to member that give it the TLC.
He has a simple job on it because the car was complete done by me and looks an drive very good.
The day I said goodbey, I still miss it.

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like something I will consider at some point. You're not in the simcaclub Netherlands right? I don't think I seen your cars at any of the meets at least not the past few years.

It fits perfectly fine in combination withthe Spax but I presume it will fit with the oiginal shocks as wel.
It made the car a bit mor harder and stable in fast cornering but its just a bit.
Some people found it still not hard enough and mounted Mercedes springs, but that specific car runs sometimes circuits with a fast Ford engine.
Its just where you have your priorities.
I found it excelent for  daily driving on  the 1.6