MATRA MS630 For sale
First continuation car built at E.P.A.F.
One of the most exotic race car from the 60s
FIA papers and race ready
Description
This wonderful car, chassis 630-05 was built upon the original drawings by ex. Matra people via the company EPAF with authorization from Matra. Accordingly it received a Matra chassis number and chassis plate. As the original Matra-Ford chassis 02 later received the Matra V12 engine, consequently there were no more Matra-Fords. The Lagardère Group ( owner of the Matra brand ) then decided in 2007 to authorize the build of continuation cars to complete the missing link between the MS620 and 650, so the legendary line of Matra prototypes could be complete.
Chassis 05 has been constructed to the highest standards and in accordance with the original blue prints. This car that weighs in at only 820kg and is fitted with a high performance GT40 engine, immediately displayed its considerable potential as a vintage racer. With 40 years of development on the Ford engine, the Matra-Ford makes it an even better car for vintage racing. After a few testing sessions and after acquiring its FIA HTP, it was entered in 2013 in the Master Series at the Barcelona ( 2.05sec ) and Dijon (1.30sec ) rounds. It immediately demonstrated its turn of speed lapping quicker than GT40s for instance for its first two outings.
In 2014 its current owner gave the car to Art & Revs for a thorough preparation. It received the latest specification engine and various period correct modifications to increase its potential. It was entered in the 2014 Daytona Classic and won the qualifying race on Friday, lapping consistently in 1.57sec. However the biggest surprise was the car’s stability which enabled it to reach 295 km/h on the banking. The car enjoyed great success there and was the subject to an extensive article in the Vintage Motorsport magazine.
Matras are extremely rare on the vintage racing scene and always attract a great deal of attention and this car would be welcome at any major event. Now completely serviced and ready to race, this wonderful MS 630 is a unique opportunity to acquire a very fast and easy to maintain Matra Sports Prototype.
Model history
Matra Sport was created in 1964 by the famous eponymous French company, a leader in military equipment. The idea was to promote Matra’s name around the world via the medium of Motorsport. Jean Luc Lagardère who was in charge of the program decided to build and race at the same time Formula and Sports Prototype cars powered by V12 engines, just as Ferrari did then. These were the seeds of one of the most fabulous odysseys in Motorsport as Matra managed to win the F1 championship in 1969 and Le Mans three times in a row from 1972 to 1974. The MS630 was an important step in Matra’s history, originally fitted with the 2 liter BRM engine but it was actually designed to receive the V12 unit. However, due to delays in the engine’s development it was decided to build an “interim” version in 1967 with a GT40 4.7 Liter engine.
This was a superbly handling and very quick car. Both Pescarolo and Servoz Gavin drove the MS630-Ford in competition and were very quick compared to the JWA GT40s and Porsche prototypes. Notably at Monthléry in 1967, the MS630 displayed an amazing turn of speed. At Le Mans in 1968, Servoz and Pescarolo were running 2nd on Sunday morning with the MS630 V12 but were forced to retire due to a tyre blowout. Among the four cars built at this period, one was destroyed, one still belongs to Matra and the other two are privately owned but not raced or shown.