"new?" J63 Espace model ?

Lennart Sorth · June 21, 2007, 03:13:31 PM

well, to me it was new at least.

Driving back from Le Mans - near Rouen I saw an Espace J63 with a lifted roof, looking suspiciously like somebody combined the high Rancho roof and the Epsace. There was a glass window in the slanted front section though (where the Rancho has solid fibreglass).

The surface was smooth - no joints could be seen, and the paintwork was beautiful. In other words, it looked very professional.

Did Matra ever produce a "camper-Espace" - eg for emergency vehicles (ambulance?) or something ?

I was in traffic, so unfortunately I couldn't get my camera from the boot. (that should teach me to pack the camera *inside* the car instead

)

/Lennart

Anders Dinsen · June 21, 2007, 05:05:19 PM

Wow that was an interesting spotting.

Matra certainly did a few ambulance versions, this even started back in 1984 or 85 with the original J11 and was quoted somewhere as being one of the sources for market break through (I don't remember where I've read that though).

It sounds like a converted ambulance with added roof height - though the Espace is a relatively tall vehicle, so is the floor, so the height of the passenger compartment is smaller than vans - but still greater than station wagons, of course.

- Anders

Lennart Sorth · June 22, 2007, 11:45:26 PM

Quote from: Anders Dinsen on June 21, 2007, 05:05:19 PM
Matra certainly did a few ambulance versions

Yes, I have seen some - but never with such a roof with windows.
The roof started with a slanted front just over the drivers head, and increased the height by a foot or so, with windows in the front and the sides. The front window was a single one, and the side was split in two windows.

- and absolutely beautifully done, the tailgate had no odd lines, it went perfectly up to the top of the new roof, which suggests that the entire tailgate has been modified.

/Lennart

Anders Dinsen · June 23, 2007, 06:34:21 AM

Quote from: Lennart Sorth on June 22, 2007, 11:45:26 PM
- and absolutely beautifully done, the tailgate had no odd lines, it went perfectly up to the top of the new roof, which suggests that the entire tailgate has been modified.

Oh what a pity you didn't get a shot of it, it sounds very interesting!

I'm afraid you'll have to brush off your school-french and find one of the french forums to ask on