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.

1934 Talbot 105

Bronson and Burnett's 1934 Talbot 105, Le Mans Classic 2016

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Talbot, London, England.  The 105 was produced from 1931 to 1935 and was a very fast 4 seater for the time.  It had a straight six engine of 3.0 litres.   The model was immediately successful in three litre sports car racing.  That year it took the first three places in class at the Brookland Double Twelve and came third overall at Le Mans.  in 1932 they won the team prize at the Brooklands 1,000 miles, the Coupe des Alpes and again came third again at Le Mans.  Top speed of the production version was 95mph.  Over 300 were made.

Talbot 105s in the paddock at Le Mans.

1937/38 Talbot T26 SS

Richard Pilkington, Talbot T26, GP de l'Age d'Or, Autodrome Linas-Montlhéry, 2002

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Talbot, Suresnes, France.   This is chassis number 90202, reg no MXW9 that has been owned and raced by Richard Pilkington for a very long time.  I believe it started life as T150C chassis 82935 and then was converted into a T26 with the addition of a 4.5 litre motor.  In its initial configuration it was raced by the likes of Albert Divo, Raymond Somner and René Carrière for the works team in events such as the Le Mans 24 hours, the Tourist Trophy and the Mille Miglia.  Best result was a second place for Divo in the GP de Marne in 1937.  In its second incarnation it came 4th in the 1938 Tourist Trophy driven by Carrière.  Post war it was driven by Louis Chiron in the 1946 GP de Bruxelles.  It then came to the UK and was driven by Peter Waring and Dick Fitzwilliam.  Fitzwilliam won a Goodwood handicap with it in 1954.  A rare car that Richard Pilkington still races enthusiastically in Historic events.

1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus

ex Toivonen/Gallagher Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, 2015 Montée Historique du Guichet

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Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, UK (at the time part of the Peugeot Group).  A hot hatchback from the late seventies and early eighties that marked the end of the two wheel drive rally car era.  This car won the 1980 RAC Rally and then the 1981 World Rally Championship.  The car pictured is in its San Remo Rally livery where Toivonen and Gallagher finished second and clinched the championship.  It had a 2.2 litre 16v Lotus engine which developed 240hp in rally form.  Apart from Toivonen, other drivers include Tony Pond, Russell Brookes and Guy Fréquelin,