Talbot Matra Rancho

[JK240]

Absolutely nothing to do with Z's I realise, but I think this is being sold by a club member @Fairlineguy

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Talbot-Matra-Rancho/133504424891?hash=item1f157bdbbb:g:jIYAAOSwf~tfPYC5

My dad had one of these when I was a kid and I loved it. He hated it though, he used to call it the ice cream van

If I had the space.....

Good luck with the sale

Cheers,

JK

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Yeh I liked those. My dad has had 2 Talbot Alpines and I think they were similar mechanically. Basically Simca.

The styling was ahead of its time bit SUV.

 

[JK240]

The styling was ahead of its time bit SUV.

When it was launched it was a full 12 years ahead of the 1st LR Discovery which was clearly a more capable car in lots of areas, but still not disimilar in styling.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

When it was launched it was a full 12 years ahead of the 1st LR Discovery which was clearly a more capable car in lots of areas, but still not disimilar in styling.

View attachment 40809

Very similar styling yes, remarkable really.

 

[Paul_S]

I always think "Popemobile" when I see them!

 

[uk66fastback]

Great looking motor at the time. Peterborough reg too.

 

[Mr.G]

The British car designer Geoff Matthews had a big influence in the design
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Leonard_Matthews

Very ahead of it's time.

 

[Huw]

Yeeess. Not wanting to knock the positive vibes going on in the thread for this vehicle BUT.

I had one for a bit. Bought it because of the styling and I was young and didn’t know a lot about cars. Hated it after driving around for a couple of days in it. Two wheel drive and utterly gutless, rattled and squeaked all over the shop. Sold it a month after buying it.

On the positive side the one in the advert looks in far better condition to the pile I bought all those years ago.

 

[Fairlineguy]

Yes I have to own up I am the owner.
Tbh she is a real survivor totally solid . There are only 2 showing as tax on how many are left.
Real figure is no more that half a dozen by all accounts.
Something a bit unusual.
Really the first people carrier suv in away Matra went on to work with Renault after this
With the Espace .

 

[peter_s]

When it was launched it was a full 12 years ahead of the 1st LR Discovery which was clearly a more capable car in lots of areas, but still not disimilar in styling.

View attachment 40809

First thing I thought of when I saw the ebay link.

I have never seen this car before, must be really uncommon.

 

[atomman]

The British car designer Geoff Matthews had a big influence in the design
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Leonard_Matthews

Very ahead of it's time.

I worked with Geoff for a few years and became good friends with him , what a legend he was and is sadly missed

 

[Mr.G]

I worked with Geoff for a few years and became good friends with him , what a legend he was and is sadly missed

Wow that's pretty amazing, I have heard Geoff was a great mentor to many, the documentary by his son, "The Rise and Fall of Geoffrey Matthews". was very sad viewing.

 

[AD240Z]

I can’t help but like cars like these , ones that stand out as much today as they did at the time ( good or bad).

Also never knew there was a ‘convertible-ish’ version...,

 

[Bazzateer]

These were pretty common back in the day. Rotted while you watched though. Loved the styling but hated the rattley Simca engines.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I worked with Geoff for a few years and became good friends with him , what a legend he was and is sadly missed

Interesting - where was that?

 

[Fairlineguy]

Sold

 

[atomman]

Interesting - where was that?

I met him through a mutual friend when I worked at Rolls Royce Motor Cars and ended up working with him a few years later at a Welsh car company called Connaught,