Highlights

Recently unearthed from long-term storage
Paper tax disc in windscreen from 2000
A fascinating French oddity

The Appeal

Named after a French air-to-air missile, the Matra 530 is one of those quirky cars which makes us glad that the French made the most of their drawing boards while they still could. The Matra is a car like no other, with its avant-garde styling, mid engine behind the rear seats — almost in the passenger compartment — and still space for a boot at the rear. And of course, some very stylish pop-up headlights.

This particular Matra has stood unused for an unknown period of time and has only recently been brought out into the light of day. It is the perfect candidate for a restoration. We’re sure an enthusiastic lover of the esoteric will relish the challenge.

The History and Paperwork

Declared manufactured in 1970
First registered in the UK in September 1985
Has been stored unused for an unknown period of time
V5C in vendor’s name
Road Tax and MOT exempt
Paper tax disc from 2000 still in the windscreen

The Interior

Generally in need of a deep clean
Vinyl seat covers appear to be in good condition but dirty
Likewise the door cards
The carpets are coming away in places
Dashboard requires attention
Headlining damaged
Front seatbelts fitted
One of the window winders is not fitted but still with the car
There is a decent sized boot, which contains a few pieces of trim and a Smarties tube

The Exterior

Flamboyant styling
Pop-up headlights
Targa roof
The paintwork seems to be in reasonable condition
There is a crack across the bonnet
Bumpers could be rechromed
Steel three-stud wheels have some surface corrosion
The tyres are said to retain good tread but should be replaced due to their age
The underside is showing sighs of corrosion
The rear windscreen hinges upwards to provide access to the engine bay

The Mechanics

Rear-mounted Ford Taunus V4 engine
Registered as 1498cc
The engine is untested and its condition is unknown
The rest of the running gear is also untested
A full inspection is advised to determine a plan for restoration

Summary

This Matra 530 is a fascinating oddity. You can be sure that you’ll almost never seen another one on the road, which makes this car all the more worth saving. It’ll be a great project, and very rewarding.

And how could you resist such an unapologetically flamboyant little car. It has character by the bucketload and will make an excellent addition to any collection.

Notice to bidders

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