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The Matra Djet, introduced in 1962, was the world's first production mid-engine sports car. Predating the DeTomaso Vallelunga, Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari 250 LM, it set the stage for performance street cars for decades to come, demonstrating the superior handling characteristics of a mid-engine layout to the world. This example is in near-perfect condition, and it's coming up for sale at RM Sotheby's Sáragga collection auction in Portugal this weekend. You should buy it.
The Djet was originally conceived by René Bonnet and Charles Deutsch, and sold under the Automobiles René Bonnet nameplate. In 1964, French aerospace company Matra purchased the company, and continued to sell the Djet unchanged. According to Hagerty, just 1495 Djets were built by Matra, while an unknown (but much smaller) number were constructed by René Bonnet.
The car used a tubular "backbone" chassis supporting a fiberglass body. It had a fully independent suspension, as well as four-wheel disc brakes and rack-and-pinion steering. Most Djets were powered by a 70-horsepower 1100cc Renualt inline-four sending power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, though a small amount of later cars got a bigger 90-horsepower 1255cc engine.
RM Sotheby's says the Djet was the ideal first choice for aspiring pro drivers thanks to its race-inspired setup. Perhaps the most famous Djet was the one gifted to Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space.
The car you see here is a Djet V, painted in the popular French racing blue and sporting the 1100cc engine. Judging by the pictures, everything looks to be in great condition, and we suspect it's equally as lovely to drive. RM Sotheby's estimates it'll sell for somewhere between $33,000 and $44,000 at its Sáragga collection auction in Portugal on September 20th, 2019. Seems like a pretty good deal for a car this interesting.
You Can Drive the Same Car As the First Man in Space
The Matra Djet was the first production car to feature a rear mid-engine layout. Yuri Gagarin drove one. Now you can too, thanks to an RM Sotheby's auction this week.
SPECIFICATIONS
OVERVIEW
• Manufacturer: Matra
• Country: France
• Year: 1967
• Type: Road car
• Tags: #Road car, #Midship
ENGINE
• Engine: Renault Cléon-Fonte OHV I4 C1E
• Power: 70 HP / 6000 rpm
• Torque: 84 Nm / 4800 rpm
• Engine location: Mid
• Displacement: 1108 cc
• Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated (NA)
PERFORMANCE
• 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Time: Unknown
• Top Speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
• Power-to-weight ratio: 0.11 hp/kg
DRIVETRAIN
• Layout: MR
• Drive: Rear wheel drive
• Body: Fibreglass
• Chassis: Steel
• Gearbox: 4-speed manual
• Suspension: Double A-arms and coil springs
• Brakes: Disc brakes
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
• Lenght: --- mm
• Width: --- mm
• Height: --- mm
• Weight: 614 kg
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