ID:148 is a
1974 Matra-SIMCA Bagheera
In early 1973, Matra (Mécanique Avion TRAction), an aicraft R&D company designed and built this stylish three-seater mid-engined sports coupé. It was extremely aerodynamic and had a strong body with plastic bonded to steel tubing.
They saved money by using many off-the-shelf SIMCA parts. The mid-mounted engine came from the Simca 1000TI (1294 cc), yet the extremely well-designed Bagheera comfortably reached 162 km/h.
Designed by an aircraft R&D company, the handling was exceptional, and the car won a 1974 trophy for the most beautiful yet functional design, beating the Lancia Beta and the Ferrari 308 GTB which also competed!
The 4-cyl. 1,294 cc engine was tuned to crank out 84 bhp @ 6200 rpm and 106 Newton-metre of torque @ 4400 rpm. It breathed through twin Weber 36-DCNF carbs.
The last Bagheera X series II got a 4-cyl. 1,442 cc engine that put out 90 bhp @ 5800 rpm and 120 Newton-metre of torque @ 3200 rpm. It could top 190 km/h.
Friends, no talk about the Bagheera would be completed without also discussing
the unique U-8 concept engine.
The Bagheera eminently fulfilled the complex design challenge of
featuring an inexpensive and practical sports coupe, with a small fuel-efficient small engine. It looked like a Lamborghini Uracco, yet used as little fuel as a Renault 5.
Matra customers still asked for a larger engined Bagheera.
With Chrysler's impoverised spending, Matra's imaginative engineers concocted a fascinating U8-engine prototype.
They joining two Simca 1294 cc 4-cyl. engines side-by-side, each turning its own crankshaft.
I quote from :
http://sitematrarama.free.fr/le bagheera u8.htm
...A l'avant du groupe gauche, une chaîne reliait le vilebrequin à l'arbre central et une autre chaîne assurait la liaison avec le vilebrequin droit mais cette fois à l'arrière. Le moteur droit recevait le volant, un embrayage à diaphragme et une boîte de vitesses Porsche à 5 rapports. Un différentiel autobloquant devait faire partie des options. Le moteur présentait ainsi une disposition en U sous un angle de 80°...
...my translation:
A chain in the front of the left bank connected its crankshaft to the central shaft. Another chain at the rear, ensured the connection with the right crankshaft. The flywheel, diaphragm clutch and Porsche 5-speed gear box were on the right engine.
A limited-slip differential was an option. The engine thus presented a "U" at 80°.
clickable image
So specs became: 8-cylinders, 2.58 litres, 168 BHP @ 6200 rpm.
Unfortunately, its voracious fuel consumption at the worst time -- the oil crisis and Chrysler's budget constraints killed the project.
Ram