Matra Model History

France · founded 1965

France's aerospace-to-automobile outlier (1965–2003) — creators of the world's first mid-engine production road car and the Renault Espace, Europe's pioneering minivan.

Models

Djet

The world's first rear mid-engined production road car — originally a René Bonnet design, refined and continued by Matra from 1965 to 1968.

Sports car · 1965–1968
M530

Matra's first fully original sports car — a mid-engine 2+2 targa with Ford V4 power, designed in-house after the Djet's acquisition origins.

Sports car · 1967–1973
Bagheera

Matra's three-abreast mid-engine sports car — an unconventional fiberglass coupé with Simca power, sold as Matra-Simca then Talbot-Matra.

Sports car · 1973–1980
Murena

The Bagheera's rust-proof successor — a three-seat mid-engine coupé with the first all-galvanised steel chassis of any production car, built 1980–1983.

Sports car · 1980–1983
Rancho

Europe's original lifestyle off-roader — a front-wheel-drive leisure vehicle built on a Simca 1100 platform, foreshadowing the modern crossover.

Crossover SUV · 1977–1984
Espace (for Renault)

Europe's first true minivan, designed by Matra and contract-built at Romorantin for Renault across three generations — the vehicle that defined the MPV segment.

Minivan · 1984–2002
Avantime (for Renault)

Matra's final vehicle — a pillarless MPV-coupé grand tourer built for Renault from 2001 to 2003, with only 8,557 produced before its commercial failure closed the factory.

Grand tourer · 2001–2003

Other makes