This year she celebrates her fiftieth anniversary: Matra-Simka Bagherra. It’s 1973, Simca and Matra are introducing their new small sports car. A partner chosen not at random because Mécanique Aviation TRaction specializes in the development of sports cars, and had a brilliant career in Formula 1 (world champion in 1967). Therefore, Bagherra represents a aerodynamic silhouette and a then-record air penetration rate thanks to the work of Matra.

engine (four-cylinder 1.3-liter engine with a capacity of 82 horsepower) comes from the Simca 1100 Ti. It is located in the central-back position. Thus endowed, she goes to 182 km/h at maximum speed (Bagherra S) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.7 seconds. In many ways, this is a new model, born under Philip Gedonwhich would later become the father of the Renault Espace!

Original and innovative

No longer published as this is the first collaboration between the two brands. They will later give birth Rancho (1977) and Murena (1980), Replacement of Bagherra. Bagherra is innovative in its design. She introduces full composite panelsmounted on a self-supporting body. Three adults can also take place on board, in the layout sitting next to each other instead of the 2+2 place contest valid at that time.

Thus, the absence of the second row makes it possible to place the engine almost in the center of the chassis. thereby offering a good weight distribution (42/58). Combined with four independent wheels, each with disc brakes, the Bagherra is stable, dynamic and playful. It flows by 1980, more than 47,000 copies, and is still an icon of the French automotive industry. Therefore, on her 50th birthday, she deserved a birthday with great splendor…

A beautiful tribute from the students of Sbarro

THE ESPERA Sbarro students at the Belfort-Montbéliard University of Technology have it paid my respects. Having done a neo-retro prototype which reimagines the original 1973 Bagherra! Under the name “Tribute 550” (550 was the code for the Bagherra project), it was made from a blank sheet of paper. And in only four months! We recognize Bagherra’s silhouette, waistline and window embrasures. The front side reflects a modern face, complemented by a large air intake on the hood. One would think to see a A scaled-down Ferrari of the 70s! However, we do not know what kind of motorization drives it, and how many people can fit in it. 3 as in the original Bagherra? Although this is only a study, we would like to see it sold in series. after all Neo-retro is gaining more and more fans in the automotive industry…

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