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StarLight Garage presents today another gorgeous Formula One car, Matra-Simca MS120b from 1971. This car did very well during the F1 championship in 1971 with Chris Amon and Jean-Pierre Beltoise behind the wheel, in 1972 Chris Amons used the same car with a few upgrades resulting in the MS120c.
This car model (MS120) marked also the end of Matra Formula One cars.
Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra (Mécanique Aviation TRAction) was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.
Matra was owned by the Floirat family. The name Matra became famous in the 1960s when it went into car production by buying Automobiles René Bonnet. Matra Automobiles produced racing cars and sports cars, and was successful in racing.
It’s worth it to be able to hop into the featherweight, 485 horsepower monster, light it up and play the glorious 11,000 RPM symphony that is its Matra V12.
The MS120B have sport a wedge-shaped nose that incorporate the brake cooling ducts, radiator inlets and leading-edge flicks meant to help airflow over the top of the front wheels. There would even be design in which the nose would be really pointed and the opening to the radiator would be tucked up underneath the nose and the front wings.
Aft of the nose, the MS120B would also sport differing sidepod designs; it would depend on the type of circuit. Wedge-shaped partitions added to either side of the chassis held the fuel. In some places where less drag was important.
The car with Chris Amon, raced during the 1971 season and again in ’72 with a few upgrades. The car took also a win for its debut in the non-championship round in Argentina and claimed it's best ever result of third in the Spanish Grand Prix later in the year.
Chris Amon finishing 11th in the Drivers' Championship and Matra remaining 7th in the Constructors' Championship standings.
In 1972 the car received the ‘C’ specifications and an adjusted body and engine, which helped Chris Amon to claim 6th and 4th in Monaco and Brands Hatch respectively, before the car was retired.
The obvious loss in direction would cause the MS120B to fail to live up to the potential everyone believed existed after the team dominated 1969 with Stewart behind the wheel. Many failed to realize the politics behind the scenes affecting the team. But what they would see would be the failed success on the circuit.
Matra had lost its way. Unfortunately, for the company, the MS120B could not help clear up the waters for the team. The way would remain uncertain and it would undoubtedly lead to Matra withdrawing as a team from Formula One just a few years later. From then on, this mighty amalgamation of industries and potential would be reduced to supplying engines to customers, something it would do throughout the 1970s and for a short period in the early 1980s.
It then went on to have a successful historic racing career, particularly in the Monaco Grand Prix Historique, in which it won its category in 2008.
Specifications
Engine Type: V12 2993 cc | 182.6 cu in. | 3.0 L.
Power: 435 HP (320.16 KW) @ 11000 RPM
Bore: 3.1 in | 80 mm.
Stroke: 2.0 cu. ft.
Transmission: 5 Manual Hewland FG400
Engine Location: Mid
Drive Type: Rear Wheel
Weight: 1235 lbs | 560.187 kg
HERE ARE THE OTHER FORMULA 1 CARS
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