The sports car that time forgot 🏁 Part 2 - René Bonnet Djet and Matra Djet
René Bonnet Djet was the world’s FIRST production mid-engined sports car in 1962. The ATS 2500 GT (1963), the first Italian mid-engine sports car; and high-performance models like the Lamborghini Miura (1966) and the Ferrari 246 GT (1969), which entered production in the late 60s. Other notable examples include the racing-inspired Ford GT40 but it existed as homologation and produced in limited numbers and the Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT was a concept car, not in production.
Fiberglass splendor that was aerodynamic with coefficient of 0.27, constructed around a steel backbone chassis that was similar to what the era’s race cars were using. Small 1.1-liter, four-cylinder sourced from Renault, initially available in either 71 or 79 hp. Linked with a four-speed manual taken from a Renault van, it sent only 62 lb-ft (84 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels and reached close to 110 mph (177 kph). Bonnet actively put it all together successfully
2 Le Mans class wins to its resume, the Djet, in its original street-legal guise, was nowhere near as successful as Bonnet had hoped. By mid-1964, the company only managed to sell around 180 road versions and its coffers were all but empty. Forced to sell to French industrial conglomerate Matra (Mécanique Aviation Traction), as covered in previous post:-
Partnered with Chrysler Europe's Simca division to produce the Bagheera sports car from 1973 to 1979. Was acquired by the PSA Group (Peugeot Société Anonyme) in 1978 and rebranded with “Talbot” name as Talbot-Matra Bagheera. Final production year was renamed “Matra Murena”.
Final chapter: After its automotive arm began bleeding financially, Matra Automobiles went bankrupt in 2003, and its assets were sold. The company's production facility and legacy are now preserved at the Espace Automobiles Matra museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay, France.
Matra's corporate parent, the Lagardère Group, later privatized the company and sold off many of its enterprises. In it’s final chapter with it’s automotive arm that began bleeding financially, Matra Automobiles went bankrupt in 2003, and its assets were sold. The company's production facility and legacy are now preserved at the Espace Automobiles Matra museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay, France.
Reference 1:- http://www.classicandsportscar.com/features/matra-jet-rocket-science
Reference 2:-
Initially built by Automobiles René Bonnet, but later refined by Matra, the Djet was the first mid-engine road car and it has an interesting
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