Matra Bagheera
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Matra 530 |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Romorantin-Lanthenay , France |
| Products | Sports cars |
| Parent | Matra Automotive (engineering branch of Matra) |
The Matra Bagheera is a sports car manufactured by the automotive branch of the French engineering firm Matra between 1973 and 1980, created in collaboration with the automaker Simca. It was initially sold under the name Matra-Simca Bagheera until its final production year, when it was rebranded as the Talbot-Matra Bagheera following the dissolution of Chrysler Europe and its acquisition by Groupe PSA.
Conception and development
In December 1969, Matra and Simca established a partnership that involved rebranding Matra’s racing vehicles as Matra-Simcas and provided Matra with access to Simca’s dealership network across France and the Common Market. Their inaugural joint venture aimed to create a successor to the underwhelming Matra 530.
The development phase commenced in 1970 under the project designation M550, overseen by Matra’s chief engineer Philippe Guédon alongside Chrysler-Simca product planner Jacques Rousseau, with design contributions from Chrysler-Simca’s Marc Honoré. Honoré advised concentrating on models equipped with engines ranging from 1.3 to 1.5 litres to appeal to Simca’s primary market segment. To manage expenses, key components such as the engine, transmission, and suspension were sourced from Chrysler-Simca’s parts inventory, mainly derived from the Simca 1100. Unlike its front-wheel-drive donor vehicle, the Bagheera featured a mid-engine configuration.
While Chrysler-Simca preferred a vehicle seating more than two occupants, Guédon dismissed the cramped 2+2 setup of the M530 and instead engineered the Bagheera to accommodate three passengers side-by-side, inspired by an experience in a crowded Ford Taunus station wagon.
A total of eleven prototypes underwent rigorous testing in diverse environments ranging from the Saharan heat of Mauritania to the cold of Lapland. Production was handled at Matra’s factory located in Romorantin-Lanthenay, central France. The car took its name from Bagheera, a character in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
The Bagheera was unveiled to journalists at Lake Annecy on April 14, 1973, followed by its public introduction at the 1973 24 Heures du Mans race. Simca simultaneously released 500 yellow units across dealerships in France. By late 1973, daily production reached 65 vehicles, and within eighteen months sales surpassed 10,000 units.
Bodywork
Jean Toprieux initially designed the bodywork, which was later refined by Jacques Nochet. Greek designer Antonis Volanis contributed notably to interior elements such as the dashboard and steering wheel.
The car featured an elegant hatchback silhouette with concealed headlights. The rear hatch allowed access to both the engine compartment and luggage area situated at the back. The distinctive three-abreast seating arrangement specified by Guédon consisted of a traditional driver’s seat alongside a two-person bench fitted with individual seatbacks inspired by Parisian lounge chairs. To accommodate this configuration, the body sides were subtly convex.
Constructed from fiberglass-reinforced polyester, the Bagheera’s 19 body panels were produced using a low-pressure high-temperature molding technique known as `LP`. This innovative process enabled Matra to manufacture large panels with high precision and cost efficiency. Although introduced only a year before production started, this technology contributed to early finish quality challenges that impacted initial sales. In 1975, ADAC awarded the Bagheera its "Silver Lemon" prize for having the highest number of issues among new vehicles.
Nevertheless, in 1973 the Bagheera earned the Style Auto Award, surpassing rivals such as the Lancia Stratos, Lancia Beta coupé, and Ferrari Dino 308 GT4.
From an aerodynamic standpoint, early versions achieved a drag coefficient of 0.33, which slightly increased to 0.35 following a mid-cycle redesign.
Chassis and suspension
Constructed from pressed steel, the chassis resembled more of a monocoque design than a conventional space-frame. Certain parts were simplified to accommodate the vehicle’s limited production scale.
The front suspension incorporated elements sourced from the Simca 1100, including upper and lower A-arms, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, longitudinal torsion bars, and a front anti-roll bar.
Originally, the M550 prototype featured a rear suspension similar to the front setup but positioned further back alongside the engine and transaxle. This arrangement was replaced in production versions by a Matra-engineered system consisting of trailing arms with transverse torsion bars, telescopic dampers, and a rear anti-roll bar.
No factory-produced right-hand-drive Bagheeras existed; nonetheless, several were converted to RHD by Wooler-Hodec in the United Kingdom.
Engine and transaxle
At its debut, the Bagheera was equipped with the "Poissy engine" taken from the Simca 1100 Ti, producing at 6000 rpm—slightly exceeding the power output of its original application. This overhead valve inline-four engine was coupled with a 4-speed manual transaxle borrowed from the 1100 model.
In 1976, the introduction of a larger displacement engine from the 1308 GT powered the `S' variant, delivering enhanced performance through improved carburetion. The standard transmission remained a 4-speed manual.
Model variations
- 1973 – The Bagheera launched as a 1974 model featuring its initial body design and a 1294 cc engine equipped with twin two-barrel Weber carburetors; commonly referred to as type I.
- 1974 – Release of the `Courrèges' edition, styled by André Courrèges, characterized by an all-white exterior and interior, imitation gold accents, and bespoke badging; mechanically identical to type I.
- 1975 – Introduction of the `Bagheera S' fitted with a larger 1442 cc engine (90 hp) sourced from the Simca 1308 GT; distinguished by exclusive exterior trim and badging. The Courrèges model also received this upgraded engine.
- 1976 – Significant redesign (type II) involved new body panels except for the rear hatch, wrap-around bumpers, enlarged tail lights, updated rear-quarter windows, and a redesigned dashboard. The drag coefficient increased to 0.35. The base engine continued as 1294 cc; `S' and Courrèges variants retained the 1442 cc unit.
- 1977 – The Courrèges edition was discontinued; simultaneously, the fully equipped "Bagheera X" was introduced.
- 1978 – Updates to dashboard and seating were applied across all models. The "Jubilé" edition debuted to celebrate Simca's second "Car of the Year" award for the Horizon. After PSA acquired Simca following Chrysler Europe's collapse, all Matra-Simcas were rebranded as Talbot-Matras.
- 1979 – Production of the 1294 cc engine ceased; all Bagheeras thereafter utilized versions of the 1442 cc powerplant. New doors and handles borrowed from the Rancho replaced concealed door handles, necessitating modifications to rear quarter panels. The `S' model was discontinued, leaving only base and `X' trims.
- 1980 – Manufacturing ended in April after a total output of 47,802 units. The Bagheera was succeeded by the Matra Murena.
Road tests and impressions
In early 1974, German publication Auto, Motor und Sport evaluated the 1294 cc Bagheera alongside its rivals. Its low weight allowed it to reach a top speed of 186.5 km/h (116 mph), outperforming the Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior’s maximum speed of 176.5 km/h (110 mph) despite the Alfa having marginally greater power. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) was also faster at 12.2 seconds compared to 13.5 seconds for the Alfa. The Bagheera’s price stood at DM 14,198—slightly less expensive than the Alfa’s DM 14,490—although both were priced above mass-market competitors like the Opel Manta SR at DM 13,990.
Durability
In 1975, the Bagheera was honored with the ADAC Silberne Zitrone ("Silver Lemon") award due to significant quality shortcomings, notably including water ingress and mechanical breakdowns. Presently, only a handful remain because of severe rust affecting its steel frame, which lacked sufficient anti-corrosion treatment despite the polyester body panels being resistant to rust. Matra rectified this issue in its successor, the Matra Murena, by implementing a fully galvanized chassis.
The Bagheera U8
March 1973 saw Matra’s engineering team, under Georges Pinardaud, embark on project M560—a high-performance Bagheera variant powered by an innovative "U engine." This design combined two Simca inline-four engines of 1294 cc each, configured at an 82° angle. The resulting 2588 cc V8 utilized four Weber carburetors and delivered 126 kW (169 hp) at 6200 rpm along with 216 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
To fit the U8 powerplant, several adaptations were made: additional side air intakes were installed, the car’s length increased by 17 inches, the wheelbase extended by 230 mm, and the wheel arches widened to accommodate larger tires (185/70 VR14 front and 205/70 VR14 rear). The rear suspension was enhanced with lateral links and coil springs; ventilated disc brakes and five-lug wheels were also introduced. The engine was positioned longitudinally behind the driver and connected to a Porsche 5-speed transaxle featuring unequal-length half-shafts due to the offset output shaft.
Although production was targeted for readiness in 1974 with plans to continue through 1975, Chrysler Europe withheld approval amid fuel crises and economic difficulties. Consequently, only three U8 prototypes were constructed; one of these is preserved at the Matra museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay.
Information
| Model | Bagheera (I) | Bagheera (II) | Bagheera S | Bagheera Courrèges | Bagheera X and Jubilé | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Period | July 1973 to September 1976 (extended to September 1978 in France) | September 1976 to April 1980 (extended to September 1978 in France) | June 1975 to September 1979 | September 1974 to June 1975 | June 1975 to August 1977 | August 1977 to April 1980 (Jubilé from March 1979) | |
| Total Units Manufactured | 45,605 | 661 | 1,440 | ||||
| Engine Type | Type 3G4 | Type 6Y2 | Type 6Y4 | Type 3G4 | Type 6Y4 | ||
| Engine Location | Rear-mid engine, transverse mounting | ||||||
| Cylinder Count and Configuration | Inline four-cylinder | ||||||
| Bore x Stroke (mm) | 76.7 x 70 | 76.7 x 78 | 76.7 x 70 | 76.7 x 78 | |||
| Displacement | 1,294 cc (79.0 cu in) | 1,442 cc (88.0 cu in) | 1,294 cc (79.0 cu in) | 1,442 cc (88.0 cu in) | |||
| Carburetion | Two Weber two-barrel carburetors model 36 DCNF | One Weber two-barrel carburetor model 36 DCNV | Two Weber two-barrel carburetors model 36 DCNF | Two Weber two-barrel carburetors model 36 DCNF | |||
| Peak Power Output | 84 hp (63 kW) @ 6200 rpm | 84 hp (63 kW) @ 5600 rpm | 90 hp (67 kW) @ 5800 rpm | 84 hp (63 kW) @ 6200 rpm | 90 hp (67 kW) @ 5800 rpm | ||
| Maximum Torque | 108 N⋅m (80 lbf⋅ft) @ 4000 rpm | 124 N⋅m (91 lbf⋅ft) @ 3000 rpm | 122 N⋅m (90 lbf⋅ft) @ 3250 rpm | 108 N⋅m (80 lbf⋅ft) @ 4000 rpm | 122 N⋅m (90 lbf⋅ft) @ 3250 rpm | ||
| 'Driven Wheels' | 'Rear' | 'Rear' | 'Rear' | 'Rear' | 'Rear' | 'Rear' | |
| 'Gearbox' | '4-speed manual' | '4-speed manual' | '4-speed manual' | '4-speed manual' | '4-speed manual' | '4-speed manual' | |
| 'Clutch Type' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | 'Single dry plate with hydraulic control' | |
| 'Chassis Construction' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | 'Steel space-frame/unibody combined with bonded fiberglass body panels' | |
| 'Front Suspension System' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | |
| 'Rear Suspension System' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | 'Independent trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar' | |
| 'Braking System' | 'Four-wheel disc brakes: front fixed calipers (238 mm), rear floating calipers (234 mm)' | ||||||
| 'Steering Mechanism' | 'Rack and pinion' | ||||||
| 'Tire Specifications' | "Michelin XAS FF (Formula France) – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13" | "Michelin XAS FF – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13" | "Michelin XAS FF – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13" | "Michelin XAS FF – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13" | "Michelin XAS FF – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13" | "Michelin XAS FF – Front:155 HR13; Rear:185 HR13 (from late '79 front tires changed to175/70/HR13 and rear tires to205/70/HR13)" | |
| 'Vehicle Weight' | "895 kg (1,973 lb)" | "895 kg (1,973 lb)" | "980–1,015 kg (2,161–2,238 lb)" | "980–1,015 kg (2,161–2,238 lb)" | "980–1,015 kg (2,161–2,238 lb)" | "980–1,015 kg (2,161–2,238 lb)" | |
| 'Fuel Tank Capacity' | "60 L (16 US gal)" | "60 L (16 US gal)" | "56 L (15 US gal)" | "60 L (16 US gal)" | "56 L (15 US gal)" | "56 L (15 US gal)" | |
| 'Top Speed' | "185 km/h (115 mph)" | "185 km/h (115 mph)" | "190 km/h (120 mph)" | "185 km/h (115 mph)" | "190 km/h (120 mph)" | "190 km/h (120 mph)" | |
| 'Acceleration (0–100 km/h)' | "11.5 seconds" | "11.5 seconds" | "10.9 seconds" | "11.5 seconds" | "10.9 seconds" | "10.9 seconds" | |
Additional resources
- Bagheera : L'irrésistible panthère de Matra-Simca by André Dewael. Editions Techniques pour l'Automobile et l'Industrie, 2010, (French)
- Revue Technique Automobile, no. 341, Matra-Simca Bagheera. (French)