July '06 Puzzle #6 -Solved! 1969 Matra 640

[Otto Puzzell]

We're looking for the year, make and type.

Please, respond below and let us know what make and model you think you see here.

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Thanks!

[SeaLion]

It is a french Matra 640 for the Le Mans in 1969.

[Otto Puzzell]

Wow - that didn't take long!

Sea Lion and Porridgehead look like formidable competitors!

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The Matra M640 Story

In 1968/69 Matra aerodynamic engineer Robert Choulet began work on a slippery, closed body prototype for Le-Mans. Like his work with Charles Deutsch, Choulet design featured long, graceful curves – similar to the Panhard CD Peugeot 66C, including the vertical fins at the rear. The chassis was a traditional tubular steel structure with horizontal dampers in the front.


Peugeot CD


Matra 640

On the 16th April, 1969, Matra first took the 640 to the Sarthe circuit. Veteran driver Henri Pescarolo took it on a shake-down run. A few miles down the Mulsanne straight, the car became airborne and was mostly destroyed. Pescarolo survived the crash, but he was badly burned.

Pescarolo noted the bodywork on the front was flexing at high speed, allowing air under the car, creating great lift.

Surprisingly, Choulet blamed Pescarolo, who, he said, destroyed the car, by applying full throttle instead of progressively accelerating. He also claimed that it was not the front of the car, but doors that were flexing, allowing them to act as airfoils, creating enough lift to reduce traction.

Regardless, the 640 was not rebuilt, and the project was cancelled.