Matra Rancho

The Matra Rancho wis a leisure activity vehicle creatit bi the French engineering group Matra in cooperation wi the automaker Simca tae capitalize on the off-road trend, stairtit bi the Range Rover, bi providin the "off-road look" at a lawer price.

The Rancho wis launched in 1977 an became a popular model, but this did na alleviate mair wider problems at Chrysler Europe (Simca's parent company). Chrysler finally sauld its European arm tae PSA in 1978, follaein which it wis rebranded as Talbot in 1979. The Matra-Simca Rancho nou became the Talbot Matra Rancho an production continued until 1984 (awtho it remained on sale up tae Januar 1985), reachin 57,792 caurs in tot.

Designed bi Antonis Volanis, the Rancho wis based on the pick-up version o Simca's popular supermini, the Simca 1100, uisin its front structur an a stretched chassis. The rest o the body wis made bi Matra frae fibreglass an polyester, includin the mouldings adornin the body, which made it leuk mair "sturdy". This technology wad later be uised on the Renault Espace, Europe's first MPV, which wis manufactured bi Matra. The grund clearance wis an aa increased. Unlik maist off-roaders, it wis na fitted wi all-wheel drive, retaining the 1100s front-wheel drive layoot. Ither elements retained frae the 1100 includit the dashboard an front seats (identical wi the anes foond in the Simca 1100 GLS). The Rancho wis pouered bi the 1442 cc, 80 bhp version o the Simca Type 315 straight-4 ingine.

During its life, the Rancho wis offered in several versions. Apart frae the basic Rancho, thare wis the Grand Raid, fitted wi sic "off-road" extras as an electric winch on the front bumper an the spare wheel mounted on the ruif - as well as a leemitit-slip differential. The Rancho X wis the upscale model, wi additional standard items sic as alloy wheels an metallic paint. The Découvrable model's rear cabin consisted o an open frame wi roll-doun fabric covers, which coud serve as an "open" caur during guid wather. Finally, the Rancho AS wis the commercial version, wi nae rear seat, makin it exempt frae the French tax on passenger caurs.

The vehicle that Matra proposed tae PSA as a replacement for the Rancho (which haed been available wi twa extra, rear-facing seats) wis a "monospace" (single box shape) concept, wi flexible seating, which wis ultimately rejected bi Talbot's parent company. Houiver, Matra managed tae sell it tae Renault an it became the Renault Espace.

External links
Matra-Simca Rancho at matrasport.dk
The Matra Rancho: Chrysler Europe’s Car-Based SUV at allpar.com
SIMCA Club UK

Matra Rancho
Rancho
Category:1970s automobiles
Category:1980s automobiles
Category:Vehicles introduced in 1977