not BX but when was the last time you saw one of these

Mickey taker · Post by **Mickey taker** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:37 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TALBOT-MATRA- ... 2a137b4783

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:18 pm

Cor! I used to really want one... Last one I saw was in a breakers near Limoges whilst doing the BXagon. Needless to say it had just a smidgen more rust than this (comparatively good) example!

ren16tx · Post by **ren16tx** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:20 pm

Two!! earllier this month, in a french scrapyard!!! both looked savable and yard happy to sell them, amongst other treasure.....!

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:33 pm

Rare indeed, in that condition probably unique!

mike22861 · Post by **mike22861** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:08 pm

I used to have a Simca van great to drive unbelievably noisy engine due mainly as with most Simcas very little or zero oil feed to the rocker shafts. Its one of the few cars where ive built up the tappets with weld to offset the rocker wear pending the arrival of yet another rocker shaft. It did also have a habit of putting the oil light on below 30mph when hot but never actually broke down

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:39 pm

They have a lovely one in the Matra museum near Salbris. I was there whilst at the 2CV world meeting a few weeks ago.

ragger · Post by **ragger** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:23 am

I also had a Simca 1100 van that had a very nosiy engine. IIRC it went really well, even with the Great Danes I had at the time in the back. I have a vague recollection of the handbrake lever coming off in my hand.

Sorry for going off topic.

Rob

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:35 pm

According to 'How Many Left', there were only 5 on the road as of the beginning of the year, with another 6 on SORN!

I remember seeing them about in the early 80's, but they all seemed to disappear quite quickly. The last time I saw one was around 20 years ago disintegrating on a driveway in Yate.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Sun Sep 04, 2011 2:43 pm

My first car was a Simca van which I'd been given by my first boss. I washed the engine with a hosepipe and it never went again - which was probably a good thing as I was only sixteen at the time

Edit: Talbots equalled rust if I remember correctly

Post by **Tim Leech** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:36 pm

Scarecrow, you are now a "guest"?

mds141 · Post by **mds141** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:35 pm

Love the look of these Rancho's. Remember having the Corgi toys one when i were a nipper. Really ahead of their time.

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:11 pm

I agree they were really 20 years ahead of their time.

Strange that they did not catch on back in 1981.

Perhaps they would have done if they had been made by another manufacturer with a stronger image.

I remember the rattling of the engine in the Talbot Solara my Dad had for a while.

Mike

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:59 am

Not a Matra, but in a similar vein and at least this one's mostly Citroen!
And if anyone wants one, I know where there's a VERY good one for sale in the UK...

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:59 pm

Ah - Tangara!

I'll put the anorak back now