Automobiles René Bonnet
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Deutsch et Bonnet (DB) |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | René Bonnet |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Fate | Acquired by Matra; operations merged into Matra Automobile division |
| Headquarters | Champigny-sur-Marne , France |
Area served | France |
Key people | René Bonnet, André Moynet |
| Products | Lightweight sports cars (René Bonnet Le Mans, Missile, Djet, Aérojet) |
| Parent | Matra (from 1964) |
Automobiles René Bonnet was a French car manufacturer that emerged as the successor to Deutsch et Bonnet (DB) following René Bonnet's separation from Charles Deutsch, the founder of CD. The company was based in Champigny-sur-Marne, located near Paris.
History
The division resulted from conflicting engine preferences: while Deutsch continued to use Panhard engines, Bonnet opted for Renault power units. The DB Le Mans model was carried forward as the René Bonnet Le Mans, maintaining its front-wheel-drive chassis from Panhard but incorporating Renault engines. The Missile, a two-seat convertible derived from the Le Mans with a redesigned front section, and the mid-engined Djet were both powered by Renault’s 1,108 cc inline-four engine.
René Bonnet concentrated on producing lightweight sports cars featuring front-wheel and mid-engine layouts with streamlined fiberglass bodies, predominantly equipped with tuned Renault motors. Their vehicles participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race during 1962, 1963, and 1964. Nevertheless, the company's strong emphasis on motorsport hindered commercial growth, resulting in financial difficulties by 1964.
In 1962, René Bonnet introduced the Djet model, which later became more widely recognized under the Matra brand. From 1962 through 1964, a total of 198 Bonnet Djets were sold (179 of which were fitted with the base 65 PS "Djet I" engine). Between 1965 and 1968, Matra marketed an additional 1,491 Djets. The majority of these cars utilized Renault’s 1,108 cc four-cylinder engine; select racing variants were equipped with a more potent 996 cc twin-cam unit. Following Matra’s acquisition, earlier models such as the Missile and Le Mans were discontinued.
The firm strengthened its alliance with its main investor Matra—then primarily engaged in armaments and missile production—who showed interest in the fiberglass technology developed by Bonnet. André Moynet, a former fighter pilot and politician, was instrumental in integrating Bonnet’s operations into Matra’s automotive objectives. This partnership culminated in the establishment of Matra Automobile division in October 1964. Subsequently, René Bonnet's direct involvement with the company bearing his name lasted just over two years.
Cars
- René Bonnet Le Mans: produced from 1962 to 1964
- René Bonnet Missile: manufactured between 1962 and 1964
- René Bonnet Djet: available from 1962 to 1964 (later continued as Matra-Bonnet Djet/Matra Jet until 1967)
- René Bonnet Aérojet: competition model built from 1964 to 1965 (limited production of nine units)