@ Yes for sure.I have clear recollection of those high pitched engines on the Monza bankings at the 1000 km in the early 70es. However the drivers' skill does play a huge role and the guy on the Matra seemingly is a pretty good driver...A bit too aggressive though :-) This is vintage car racing, a basic gentlemen's etiquette should be shared by those guys.
@ yeah, Matra Sport won the 24 Hours in 1972, 1973 and 1974, but they were 3 different variants, on different chassis: the MS670 short tail in 1972, the MS670-B in 1973, and this one, the MS670-C, in 1974.
that chassis may seem simple, but it was way ahead of it's time back in 72, the went aluminum Monocoque when most were steel tube, and the body panels were stressed skin like an airplane, was lighter than most of it's competition without giving up stiffness, and the airflow over the entire chassis, incl the rear were developed..Stuff nobody was doing in can am till the 80's.. Makes a difference when you give the Leiger engineers some real money and toss out the rule book.. That engine was basically an F1 unit punched out a bit, and was peaky, but coupled with that light chassis, it didn't need a ton of low end and gripped like crazy, as the aero provided downforce , not like todays lmp, but waay ahead of it time.. amazing story behind the concept and the project.. French ingenuity at it's best...
... and on to now. I suppose Matras (660) were the elegant yet highly flamboyant french contrast to the in a way pretty raw and brutal 917s. It may even be seen in a comparison between the late C6 and a big Audi. Good old Ferdinand was indeed lucky to find some Wyer honey helping his potent tubebees stick to the road. It is a shame Matra ran out of multiple competition under the 3liter rule.
Is it fair to assume the gearbox has been severly updated? Matra Sport is wonderful concepts, cars and drivers. The Le Mans pictures springing to mind are timeless precious.
must be some kind of semi-automatic. i dont think there is a way someone shifts this fast this consistently. check out the video from the other driver... he is indeed shifting manually.
It’s an original gearbox with very modern, very close tolerance dog gears. This gives the incredibly quick gear shifts. (No clutch input required if done correctly).
I basically agree....historic racing overall talking shouldn't lead to making contact. Racing conditions may cause cars run close to each other,either way there should be just enthusiasts on the track and not opponents. Just my feeling about these vintage racing events....
The Matra was in a different league than the McLaren. The Matra was basically a f1 car disguised as a sports car, and it is a later model. The Mac is a beast of a car and the driver was doing his best with her. But she could never hang with French master piece.
I don't think they can help being competitive, even in million-dollar one-of-a-kind racecars. I've seen vintage races get ugly real fast, as in 30-car pileup at Road America, front straight with destroyed Corvettes, jags and a Maserati, if I remember correctly...
Matra sport prototypes were fitted with the Matra 3000 V12 detuned F1-engine. In endurance racing configuration this engine was rated around 480/500 hp,approximately a 10% less powerful than the F1 version. However, we don't know anything about the drivers' skills .... and that's something. As for me,classic cars racing shouldn't be as competitive as can be seen in this specific overtaking footage: I'd rather watch at a sort of shake down for those vintage racing cars while being driven in full gentlemen's mutual respect.
The driver is highly skillful and has a lot of courage, just awesome...
Don't know how I've missed this one before now! Thank you SC
Thanks for sharing this! Superb car! Great driving
I can't belive my eyes, a 1971 Chevy-powered 8-liters McLaren M8 being beated hard by a mere 3-liters wonderful Matra V12 from 1974!
That Matra won the LeMans 3 times
What about the drivers' skill ?!!
What about how much they were pushing ?!!
@@INDIGOBLUE555 The 630-650-670 Matra line was a top thing back at those times.
@
Yes for sure.I have clear recollection of those high pitched engines on the Monza bankings at the 1000 km in the early 70es.
However the drivers' skill does play a huge role
and the guy on the Matra seemingly is a pretty
good driver...A bit too aggressive though :-)
This is vintage car racing, a basic gentlemen's
etiquette should be shared by those guys.
@ yeah, Matra Sport won the 24 Hours in 1972, 1973 and 1974, but they were 3 different variants, on different chassis: the MS670 short tail in 1972, the MS670-B in 1973, and this one, the MS670-C, in 1974.
Just few gauges, stick-shift, and superb engine...romanticism on wheels. Days of brains & balls. Pour la Sacre Magdalene, vive la différence!!
that chassis may seem simple, but it was way ahead of it's time back in 72, the went aluminum Monocoque when most were steel tube, and the body panels were stressed skin like an airplane, was lighter than most of it's competition without giving up stiffness, and the airflow over the entire chassis, incl the rear were developed..Stuff nobody was doing in can am till the 80's.. Makes a difference when you give the Leiger engineers some real money and toss out the rule book..
That engine was basically an F1 unit punched out a bit, and was peaky, but coupled with that light chassis, it didn't need a ton of low end and gripped like crazy, as the aero provided downforce , not like todays lmp, but waay ahead of it time.. amazing story behind the concept and the project.. French ingenuity at it's best...
@@planegaper Two years later, this comment still bangs. Good stuff, man.
... and on to now. I suppose Matras (660) were the elegant yet highly flamboyant french contrast to the in a way pretty raw and brutal 917s. It may even be seen in a comparison between the late C6 and a big Audi. Good old Ferdinand was indeed lucky to find some Wyer honey helping his potent tubebees stick to the road. It is a shame Matra ran out of multiple competition under the 3liter rule.
Is it fair to assume the gearbox has been severly updated? Matra Sport is wonderful concepts, cars and drivers. The Le Mans pictures springing to mind are timeless precious.
Rob amazing driving mate.Talk about taking it to the limits.YOU WERE ON THE LIMIT
Rien de plus beau que ces barquettes Matra !
Surprising how quick the gearbox is!
Is it original?
proper gearbox is as quick as the person using it, in this case very quick!
must be some kind of semi-automatic. i dont think there is a way someone shifts this fast this consistently. check out the video from the other driver... he is indeed shifting manually.
@@bagger2222 remember that the matra is basically a f1 car in disguise so probably has a pretty quick shift to start with
It’s an original gearbox with very modern, very close tolerance dog gears. This gives the incredibly quick gear shifts. (No clutch input required if done correctly).
@@samcadigan5308 thanks for letting me know
MATRA is a LEGEND!!!
Bloody epic.
wow, some very "spirited" racing in priceless machinery! "Rubbing is racing", right?
Apparently, this is how a 3 litre V12 Matra schools a 7 litre "Yank Tank".
He broke the golden rule of gentleman's racing. NO PHYSICAL CONTACT!
But damn this car sounds good. Best car sound of any kind!
Easier said than done, takes two to tango and rubbing is racing!
I basically agree....historic racing overall talking shouldn't lead to making contact.
Racing conditions may cause cars run close to each other,either way there should be just enthusiasts on the track and not opponents.
Just my feeling about these vintage racing events....
Lol. Where youbread that rule? :)
The sound of Stradivarius is fantastic¡¡¡¡
real engines, real drivers...everything later is unreal...
V12 atmo !
This car works much better here than the McLaren. Gears are perfect for the track too.
Are you jocking? I hope it.....
The car works better in the whole (braking, handling and may be tyres).
My guess is that the driver is better as well.
And historic racing rebuilders were thinking "here comes my retirement money... closer, closer... DAMN!"
0:43 BONG!
Excellent, Matra sound! Too bad the McLaren driver is no match for him, could have been a nice battle, and hopefully without rubbing bodies.
The Matra was in a different league than the McLaren. The Matra was basically a f1 car disguised as a sports car, and it is a later model. The Mac is a beast of a car and the driver was doing his best with her. But she could never hang with French master piece.
the matra had the mclaren with smoother corner exits. the torque of the mclaren showed on the straights.
Both cars are lovely!
Nope, just watch the two onboard, it has nothing to do with the both fabulous drivers, I am sure ; )
I don't think they can help being competitive, even in million-dollar one-of-a-kind racecars. I've seen vintage races get ugly real fast, as in 30-car pileup at Road America, front straight with destroyed Corvettes, jags and a Maserati, if I remember correctly...
WHAT A BATTLE!! And how the Heck is this car THIS fast??
740kg, cca 550 hp, nearly 10 000 revs and a good driver
Matra sport prototypes were fitted with the Matra 3000 V12 detuned F1-engine.
In endurance racing configuration this engine was rated around 480/500 hp,approximately a 10% less powerful than the F1 version.
However, we don't know anything about the drivers' skills .... and that's something.
As for me,classic cars racing shouldn't be as
competitive as can be seen in this specific overtaking footage: I'd rather watch at a sort of shake down for those vintage racing cars while being driven in full gentlemen's mutual respect.
duro
Lighter car I guess
The matra v12 was a special motor..
@@unfairfight3625 the 8 liter Chevy is a more powerful motor. By a long ways
@@Shadowboost in this case the matra wins
Amazing, but the driver has been way too aggressive with the McLaren
These are irreplaceable classics; they should be driven but not raced like that
You do know that they are race cars, right?