I might be developping an unhealthy relationship with Matra racecars

Kinja'd!!! "Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
04/10/2016 at 12:06 • Filed to: None

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They’re all just so pretty... And that’s before we start talking about the incredible V12. Here, have a small photodump. I’ll be in my bunk.

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You might notice that this MS 650 has additional headlights, and a number plate. That’s because it competed in (and won) the Tour de France road race. Ah, the times when you could take a Le Mans prototype, stick number plates on it and rally it...

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The Le Mans version of the 650:

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The more succesful 670.

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Very cool shot by the magazine Paris Match, with the late Beltoise andFrançoi Cevert, who ended up being his BIL, after Beltoise married Cevert’s sister.

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My favorite sounding engine of all time:

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A 670C. See how aerodynamics progressed in only a couple of years: louvers in the front wings, front splitter and larger rear wing:

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BONUS ROUND: This magnificent thing that I just found out about. This is the MS 09, effectively the first Matra ever entered in F1. It just looks so mean!

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Most image come from v12matras.com. I spent way too much time there today.


DISCUSSION (8)


Kinja'd!!! KnowsAboutCars > Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 12:25

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I hadn’t seen that Paris Match photo before. Nice!


Kinja'd!!! Clemsie McKenzie > KnowsAboutCars
04/10/2016 at 12:42

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I love it too! They just seem so happy.


Kinja'd!!! Leadbull > Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 14:36

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They sound alright, too.


Kinja'd!!! Clemsie McKenzie > Leadbull
04/10/2016 at 15:43

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They sound like absolute perfection, except better.


Kinja'd!!! RoboRed "The road to hell is paved with overturned Vanduras" > Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 15:52

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I declare these to be quite tasty.


Kinja'd!!! Clemsie McKenzie > RoboRed "The road to hell is paved with overturned Vanduras"
04/10/2016 at 15:54

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I concur.


Kinja'd!!! 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 16:00

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You posted Matras and didnt put a video?! Let me fix this:


Kinja'd!!! Clemsie McKenzie > 66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash
04/10/2016 at 16:29

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Thank you kind sir. What an engine!