An excersize in creases is the Matra 530 to me. A typically French design by one Philippe Guedon; obscure and like nothing else so that it is nearly impossible to describe.
By comparison, cars in the same genre like the Fiat X1/9 are simply common and even its predecessor, the Matra Djet is quite ordinary. The 530 is like a cubist work on wheels, appealing - like all my favourite designs, to only a small group! It wasn't a particularly popular car, less than 10 000 units were constructed from 1967 and all were left hand drive, confining this piece of automotive, sculptural master-class to Europe where even there, they are rare.
Said to have been inspired by its competitive stable-mate, the Matra MS620 sports racer, the 530 was a design that was destined for the people. There was nothing very exotic about the diminutive Matra at the time of its launch. A mid-mounted Ford Taunus V4 of 1.7 litre capacity provided motive power, but this is just a detail. The real joy in owning one of these jewels must surely be the sense of occasion when using it, and enjoying it - targa-roof removed on a beautiful day, imagining that you are taking a leisurely drive along the Champs Elysees or perhaps a more concentrated and urgent sprint through Maison Blanche, wishing that there was rather more than 1.7 litres behind the seats...
In any case, a stunning design that speaks of the time and place that it was created, and a car that we are unlikely to see built again.
No comments:
Post a Comment