[QUOTE=henk4]but it finished the race, proudly sporting race number 1[/QUOTE]
You took that photo soley so you could use it on me one day didnt you?!
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[QUOTE=henk4]but it finished the race, proudly sporting race number 1[/QUOTE]
You took that photo soley so you could use it on me one day didnt you?!
[QUOTE=crisis]You took that photo soley so you could use it on me one day didnt you?![/QUOTE]
I know how to please you don't I?
PS mind the helmets
[QUOTE=henk4]I know how to please you don't I?
PS mind the helmets[/QUOTE]
Im in two minds. Firstly I would regard the helmets as excess weight given the 8kw this beast has on offer BUT, given the structural integrity (got that off Star Trek :) ) of the roof and the inherent stability I suppose they have made the right call.
[QUOTE=crisis]Im in two minds. Firstly I would regard the helmets as excess weight given the 8kw this beast has on offer BUT, given the structural integrity (got that off Star Trek :) ) of the roof and the inherent stability I suppose they have made the right call.[/QUOTE]
stability was the big trick of this model, you could easily take corners at excessive speed (all is relative :) ), and lift the inner rear wheel, but you only had a remote chance to topple over when you decided to brake firmly. (and believe me I have tried it)
[QUOTE=henk4]stability was the big trick of this model, you could easily take corners at excessive speed (all is relative :) ), and lift the inner rear wheel, but you only had a remote chance to topple over when you decided to brake firmly. (and believe me I have tried it)[/QUOTE]
I hear you. And I bet excessive speed for that thing was a two pronged sword. I didnt have any until you tried to corner.
[QUOTE=crisis]I hear you. And I bet excessive speed for that thing was a two pronged sword. I didnt have any until you tried to corner.[/QUOTE]
doing a 90 degree with 50 or 60 is excessive in many cars, and this version was capable of at least 90 in a straight line :)
Hehe my friend used to own one of these. A summer car indeed with the peelable roof and all :P One detail that I remember was the simplicity of the "air conditioning" ( :rolleyes: ) You just open up the front panel and there's a net protecting you from having bugs all over your face. Suicidal bugs that is, since they'd have all the time in the world to fly away when they hear/see you coming... :D
The M530 was a car aimed at the young buyer in France.
So the styling is a little "avant garde" and it was built down to a price, so some of the construction wasn't the best - as noted especially the frog-eyed lights they added to later models ( the SX ) :(
It is one of those few cars which when you first see you are sure it is the ugliest thing you could ever imagine and after seeing a few it "grows on you" :) Still not the prettiest tho' :)
It was comeptition to the Porsche 914, Alpine A110 and Opel GT. If you look at it against those some of the styling cues are clear :) It was also cheaper, comparable performance and UNIQUELY was actually a 2+2 !!!!! ( well 2 + 2 halves :) )
With about 9,000 sold it was reasonably successful for a low volume maker in the 60s :)
More info at [url]http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/M530/history.html[/url]
To confirm the "quirkiness" French artist Sonia Delauney provided a "special" version whci can still be seen at car shows. :)
[img]http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre5/matra/530/soniadelaunay/1967_matra_530_sonia_delaunay_03_m.jpg[/img]
PS: The lights were STILL a problem on Bagheera's. It is common to see an owner jump out of their car and PULL the lights fully open before driving off :) They used manifold pressure to operate the mechanism and stored the vacuum in the chassis - whcih inevitably leaked !!!!
No offense... but.. it looks like someone stumbled into the drawing board...
[QUOTE=ruim20]No offense... but.. it looks like someone stumbled into the drawing board...[/QUOTE]
There was also a less "avant garde" version for conservative minded (it appears that most of the UCPers fall in that category :p :))
Built by Vignale.
[I][SIZE=1]Sorry about the image quality[/SIZE][/I] :o
and the "Laser" version
[img]http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/M530/Gallery2/Med/laser.jpg[/img]
Here is a frog-eyed version, the SX
[QUOTE=Matra et Alpine]The M530 was..... and UNIQUELY was actually a 2+2 !!!!! ( well 2 + 2 halves :) )[/QUOTE]
Hehee, a bit of wishful thinking there....:D
That picture makes it look worse that it is.
It's still not full comfortable adult sized 2+2 but very few of them are - or they'd be called 4 seaters :D
Not hi-res, so attached. matt will likely delete it later (slap my own wrists) gives a slightly more realistic view of it. [IMG]http://www.matrasport.dk/Cars/M530/Gallery1/Med/int1.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=Matra et Alpine]It's still not full comfortable adult sized 2+2 but very few of them are.[/QUOTE]
Well, "not fully comfortable" is spot on description :D
[IMG]http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/7329/rep388d6hr.jpg[/IMG]
Nice pic, but that's not sitting down is it :D
Actualy, I had a dig through the Matra images archive and even a few on-line sites dedicated to the marque and NOBODY has a pic of anyone sitting in the back.
I'll get the M530 fanatic ( he had 5 at the last count ) to get some pics of him and family in it :D
It's actually better than another 2+2 from then - the Elan !! ( and that was even WITH the mid engine in the M530 )
[IMG]http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre2/lotus/elan/plus2/1967_lotus_elan_plus2_11_m.jpg[/IMG]