Sit like in a van
If you are looking for a relatively cheap sports car with a mid-engine, a Toyota MR2 is the most obvious choice. If you are looking for something else, the search becomes a lot more difficult. This Talbot-Matra Murena proves that it is not impossible, of which only one copy is currently on our occasion portal!
The Talbot-Matra Murena was the successor to the Matra Bagheera. Like its predecessor, the Murena had three seats and a mid-engine. Where the Bagheera was developed in collaboration with Chrysler Europe (Simca), the Murena was a project of Matra and PSA. The two sides had some work to do as the Bagheera was very susceptible to rust. To avoid a repeat of those problems with the Murena, the entire chassis was galvanized and the car was fitted with polyester body panels. Power also went up. While the Bagheera’s engines remained below the 100 hp limit, the Murena 2.2 and Murena S had 118 and 142 hp respectively. Even the base engine of the Murena, a 1.6 with 92 hp, already had more power than the most powerful Bagheera (90 hp).
Talbot Matra Murena
The Murena on the AutoWeek used car portal is the 2.2 with 118 hp. This power source allows the Murena to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and to reach a top speed of 197 km/h. These are by no means bad figures for the early 1980s. In terms of design, the Murena with its pop-up headlights and angular lines fits perfectly into the style of the eighties. Due to the relatively long ‘bonnet’ and the fact that the Murena has a large glass rear window, it almost seems as if the engine is just in the front. Usually cars with mid-engines have fins on the engine to be able to cool it properly. This is not the case with the Murena. The engine is located just behind the front seats and is covered with a large plate, which has been removed for the photos. A small window should ensure that the sound is slightly muffled.
Talbot Matra Murena
The Talbot-Matra Murena did not have a long life. The car rolled off the production line for the first time in 1980 and production ceased in 1983. In those three years, approximately 10,500 Murena’s were built. Built in 1981, this copy is a relatively ‘early’ copy. According to the registration data, it was brought to the Netherlands in 2007 and has had three private owners here since. The last owner owned the Murena for five years and is now offering it for sale. In the ad, the seller honestly indicates that there is still some work to be done on the interior of the car. The upholstery does indeed appear to be somewhat weathered in the photos, which is not surprising given the mileage of almost 200,000 kilometers, but it does not look very serious.
Talbot Matra Murena
Although this Murena has quite a bit of experience, it is clear that in general it has been well taken care of. According to the seller, he always had it serviced by a Matra specialist, and the braking system and fuel supply were recently addressed. Also from the outside, the car seems to look pretty good in its silver-grey paint. All in all, the asking price of €8,000 does not seem very crazy. Moreover, you have something exclusive in your hands!
Looking for a classic yourself? Take a look at the classic range of the AutoWeek used car portal!
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl