GTCC 810

[cawimmer430]

Mystery car # 810 - easy.

[2o6]

Matra Rancho

[cawimmer430]

Matra Rancho

Correct. Post the next mystery car!

[93JC]

Was it a Matra, Matra-Simca or Talbot-Matra?

[cawimmer430]

Was it a Matra, Matra-Simca or Talbot-Matra?

I would have accepted either answers. Same thing.

[Colin]

The cars gained the name Talbot in 1979 when new owner PSA needed a new name for their Chrysler cars, and they decided to rechristen all the cars including Simca with the old Talbot badge. Technically, Matra was a separate company, and the early Ranchos were only badged "Matra", but they became known as "Talbot Matra". The same applied for the very pretty Murena coupe.

I do like the Rancho - shame that so few survive, as although the body is fibreglass, the steel stuff underneath rusts like crazy and the mechanicals are also not that durable (the teppety old Simca 1294cc engine!).