Matra Rancho
| Company type | Collaboration between engineering company and car manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Simca 1100 pickup (basis for design) |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Matra and Simca |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Fate | Production ended |
| Successor | Talbot Matra Rancho (renamed version post-1979) |
Key people | Antonis Volanis (designer) |
| Products | Leisure activity vehicle (off-road style, front-wheel drive) |
| Parent | Matra, Simca (later Talbot under PSA Peugeot Citroën) |
The Matra Rancho represents a leisure activity vehicle created through a collaboration between the French engineering company Matra and the car manufacturer Simca, aiming to capitalize on the off-road vehicle trend sparked by the Range Rover. It provided an off-road aesthetic while maintaining a more affordable price compared to traditional models.
History
Introduced in 1977, the Rancho quickly became well-liked, although it did not address the larger challenges faced by Chrysler Europe, the parent company of Simca. In 1978, Chrysler divested its European operations to PSA Peugeot Citroën, which subsequently rebranded the division as Talbot in 1979. Following this transition, the Matra-Simca Rancho was renamed the Talbot Matra Rancho, with production continuing until 1984 and a total of 57,792 units manufactured.
The design, credited to Antonis Volanis, was based on the pick-up variant of the Simca 1100 supermini, incorporating its front-end components and an extended chassis. Matra crafted the body using fibreglass and polyester materials, adding robust moldings to emphasize durability—a technique later employed in the Renault Espace, Europe’s pioneering MPV produced by Matra. Although ground clearance was raised, the vehicle maintained front-wheel drive from the Simca 1100 instead of adopting a conventional four-wheel-drive system. Inside, elements such as the dashboard and front seats were borrowed from the Simca 1100 GLS model. Power came from an 80 hp, 1,442 cc version of the Simca Poissy inline-four engine.
Multiple variants were available:
- The Grand Raid included off-road features such as an electric winch, a spare wheel mounted on the roof, a limited-slip differential, skid plates for underbody protection, bronze-tinted windows, and was exclusively offered in matte green.
- The higher-spec Rancho X featured alloy wheels and metallic paint finishes.
- The Découvrable provided a rear cabin outfitted with roll-down fabric panels for an open-air driving experience.
- The Rancho AS served as a commercial model without rear seating, making it exempt from French passenger car taxation.
The Rancho played an indirect role in inspiring the Renault Espace. Matra developed a prototype called "dessin orange," which anticipated the Espace’s design but with three doors. Peugeot declined this concept due to cost concerns and perceived lack of market potential; however, Matra later presented it to Renault, who launched it in 1984 as Europe’s first minivan.
External links
- Matra-Simca Rancho at matrasport.dk
- SIMCA Club UK
- [1] French site on Matra Rancho evolution