Matra Murena

Eric Bailly, Matra Murena on the 2017 Rallye du Pays Avallonnais.

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Matra, Romorantin, France.  Sometimes called the Talbot-Matra Murena, this was an early eighties mid-engined sports car that was relatively unusual in that it had three seats next to each other with the middle one folding when not in use to become an arm rest.  It had a steel chassis and glass fibre coupé body.  Just under 11,000 were built between 1980 and 1983.  The car had good handling but the engines were not that impressive.  The basic model had a 1.6 litre Simca engine and the more powerful version a 2.2 litre Talbot engine.  The 1.6 litre had a top speed of around 113mph and a 0-60mph time of just over 11 seconds.  The 2.2 litre had a top speed of 122mph and a 0-60moh time of just under 9 seconds. They were rallied in 1981 and 1982 in major rallies such as the RAC and Monte Carlo but without great success.  Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Max Mamers drove 4WD versions of them them in the 1982 French rallycross championship, both achieving wins and Max taking the Championship. Jean-Pierre Jaussaud drove one in a European rallycross championship round the same year scoring a class win.  These cars continued their successful rallycross careers for some years.

DeLorean DMC-12

Two DeLorean DMC-12s, Thoiry 2017

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The gull wing doors

DeLorean Motor Company, Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.  Founded by ex-General Motor's executive John DeLorean, DMC made just one car but it became famous through the film "Back to the Future" in which it starred. The factory was in Northern Ireland due to government funding.  Renault was employed to build the factory and supply the PRV engine, whilst Lotus designed the chassis and body which had styling by the Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car was a 2 seater quirky steel bodied sports coupé. Engine was a 2.85 litre 130hp V6 that was mounted at the far rear of the car.  It

Rear qtr view

didn't receive good reviews but still sold over 8,500 examples, perhaps helped by its signature gull-wing doors.. Performance wasn't outstanding as it had a 0-60mph time of around 10 seconds and a top speed of about 110mph.  The cars were made between 1981and 1982 and were sold with unpainted stainless steel bodies. The company went bankrupt when it did not meet its sales targets and John DeLorean was arrested on drugs charges of which he was eventually cleared. Financial scandals also followed involving the government funding and Lotus chief Colin Chapman became embroiled but died of a heart attack.  A messy end to the dream.  Nowadays, a company in Texas has the rights and continues to build late model editions of the DMC-12.

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1982 Rondeau M382-Cosworth Group C

Mr John of B, Rondeau M382, Le Mans Classic 2016.

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Rondeau, Le Mans, France.  After winning at Le Mans in 1980, Rondeau produced a new design for the new Group C formula.  However the M482 was not ready in the first year so they used the existing chassis with a modified body and new suspension in 1982.  This was the M382.  Rondeau even sold some customer cars and thus some were raced at Daytona that year where they were classified 31st and 34th but later in the year came 3rd at Sears Point.  The works cars were more successful in Europe.  In round 1 of the World Endurance championship at Monza, Henri Pescarolo and Giorgio Francia won in the new Rondeau. They also finished second in the Nurburgring 1000km but were the first Group C car home and fifth at Silverstone where they were the third group C car home. This gave them the championship lead going into Le Mans. Unfortunately, the reliability of the Cosworth engine proved not to be sufficient for the 24 hours and the two OTIS works cars retired, and a private entry could only finish 15th.  A fifth place at Spa meant that they only finish second to Porsche in the Championship.  But what a great effort for this small manufacturer.  Otis were disappointed that they lost only because Porsche could score with a non-Group C car at the Nurburgring.