Matra M530 History

Unveiled at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show, the Matra 530 (internally M530) was the first car designed entirely within Matra rather than inherited from René Bonnet. Former Simca designer Philippe Guédon shaped the fiberglass body around a mid-mounted 1.7-litre Ford Taunus V4 engine borrowed from the Ford Mustang I prototype via Ford Germany, producing 70–78 hp depending on state of tune.

The M530 offered a targa-style removable roof panel, hidden headlamps, and 2+2 seating — an unusual combination at its price point. A 1970 facelift by Michelotti freshened the exterior. Despite praise for its handling and build quality, the car's modest power drew criticism when compared to rivals like the Lotus Elan +2; it was not a fast car by the standards of its contemporaries.

Four variants were sold — the base M530, the M530 A, the luxury M530 LX, and the budget M530 SX — with notable custom coachwork from Sonia Delaunay and others. Total production reached 9,609 units over the six-year run before the Bagheera replaced it in 1973.