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Matra Sports V12 engine

{{Short description|Matra racing V12 engine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox engine

|name = Matra Sports V12 engine

|image = Matra MS11 (3).jpg

|image_size =

|alt =

|caption = Matra MS9 V12 engine in MS11 F1 car

|manufacturer = {{flagicon|France}} Matra

|designer = Georges Martin

|aka =

|production = 1968–1982

|configuration =

|displacement = 2993 cc

|bore = 79.7 mm

|stroke = 50 mm

|block = Aluminum

|head = Aluminum

|valvetrain = Gear driven DOHC, 4 valves × cyl.

|timing =

|compression = 11:1

|idle =

|redline =

|operating principle=

|fuelsystem =

|management =

|fueltype =

|oilsystem = Dry sump

|coolingsystem = Water-cooled

|power = {{cvt|450|bhp|0}} at 11,000 rpm

|specpower =

|torque = {{cvt|343|Nm|0}} at 8,000 rpm

|length =

|width =

|height =

|diameter =

|weight = {{cvt|168|kg|0}}

|predecessor =

|successor =

|test =

}}

The Matra Sports V12 engine is a family of automotive internal combustion engines built for Formula One (F1) and sports car endurance racing. Cars powered by versions of the engine won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and gave Matra the World Championship for Makes title in 1973 and 1974. The Matra Sports V12 is also remembered for its distinctive sound.

History

Starting with the 1966 season, F1's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), raised the displacement limit for naturally aspirated cars to 3.0-litres.

Georges Martin was a French engineer who joined Matra at the end of 1966 at the invitation of Philippe Guédon, a former colleague of his at Simca. Jean-Luc Lagardère, Matra's CEO, informed Martin that his first project would be to design an engine for the new F1 rules with a specific output target of 150 horsepower per litre. Lagardère had already determined that the new engine would be a V12.

Work on the Matra Sports V12 began in 1967. The project was underwritten by a loan of six million francs from the French government (approximately US$1,200,000), and, after Lagardère met with Jean Prada, head what became the French oil company Elf Aquitaine in April of 1967, an additional two million francs (US$400,000).

Development took place in Matra's base in Vélizy-Villacoublay. Leading the effort were Martin and his colleague Georges Chariatte. René Fortin was responsible for testing and development.

Martin quietly negotiated an agreement with British Racing Motors (BRM) for the British firm to design a considerable portion of the engine, including the camshafts, cam drives, and tappets, among other items, while Martin and his team would design the cylinder heads and combustion chamber shapes. This arrangement fell apart after Sir Alfred Owen, Chairman of Rubery Owen and head of BRM, disclosed BRM's involvement in designing the engine for the new "all French" F1 car at a British motor industry dinner. BRM's contract was cancelled, and Matra continued work with French engineering firm and engine specialist Moteur Moderne.

Moteur Moderne was contracted to produce three prototype engines. The cylinder blocks for the prototype engines were made of aluminum, while the production block, and possibly the cylinder heads, were to be of magnesium. Production of the first test engine took only seven months, and the V12 was first fired up on a test bench on 19 December 1967.

Matra planned to unveil a V12-powered road car in 1971. A later model MS81 V12 was installed in an extensively modified Matra Murena by the factory.

Beginning in the 1972 season, the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) amended the rules for sports prototypes by combining the previous Group 5 and Group 6 classes into a single new Group 5 class with no minimum production requirement and a maximum displacement limit of 3.0-litres, eliminating the 5.0-litre cars that had raced in earlier seasons, and opening a new competition venue for the Matra V12.

Common features

All members of the Matra Sports V12 family are water-cooled, four-stroke V12 engines with an included angle of 60° between cylinder banks. All engines in the family also have the same bore × stroke dimensions of {{cvt|79.7| × |50|mm|in|2}}, and total displacement of {{cvt|2993|cc|cuin|1}}. The block and cylinder heads are of light alloy. The block uses wet liners in the cylinder bores. The crankshaft has six throws and seven main bearings, and is machined from a solid billet. The engine has two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank driven by a straight-cut geartrain, and four valves per cylinder.

Over the life of the engine family, outputs for individual versions ranged from {{Convert|395-520|hp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}}, and {{Convert|198-253|lb.ft|N.m|0|abbr=on}} of torque.

Variants

=MS9=

File:V12_Matra.jpg

The MS9 was the first model of the Matra Sports V12 to race. Its intake ports are placed between the camshafts on each cylinder head, so that the intake trumpet above each port angled outward on an assembled engine. Some models also had a "pipe organ" exhaust system consisting of a trio of long straight pipes running down each side of the engine.{{cite news|title=The racer that came out of mesh|url=http://www.matrasport.dk/Gallery/Misc/2922_08fbdef9.pdf|website=Matra Sport}}

The included angle between the valves is 56°, raising the height of the combustion chamber and requiring a high dome on the piston to achieve the desired compression ratio.

Unlike the Cosworth DFV, the MS9 was not designed to be a load-bearing part of the car's structure.

The MS9 produced {{cvt|395|PS|0}} at 10,500 rpm. It was presented to motoring journalists on 11 January 1968 at Vélizy-Villacoublay.

Applications:

=MS12=

The MS12 engine was the result of a significant redesign of Matra's V12 engine. A single-cylinder test engine was built by Moteur Moderne to experiment with combustion chamber design. When the data from the test engine were applied to the V12, it resulted in an included angle of 33½° degrees between intake and exhaust valves. Valve diameters in early engines were 31 mm for intakes and 27 mm for exhausts, while on later motors these dimensions increased to 33 mm and 27.2 mm. The intake ports were moved to the side of the cylinder head, indicated by two rows of six trumpets that are mounted vertically in the vee of the cylinder block.

The oil scavenge and pressure pumps for the dry sump system were moved from their position below the crankshaft in the MS9, to the front of the crankcase below the water pump. This had the benefit of reducing the height of the engine assembly. The same 120° steel crankshaft was used as on the MS9, but there was less free space around it in the MS12, to reduce windage losses. Connecting rods were 116 mm long titanium parts, with 44 mm big ends. The pistons are flat-topped, fully-skirted forged aluminum parts.

The MS12 was designed to handle suspension loads fed into a strengthened sump and new structural members bolted to the sides of the top of each cylinder heads. The block and heads were both castings of AS9KG aluminum alloy. The heads were attached by 14 studs, with an additional 6 cap screws threaded from the block into the head on the outboard, exhaust side.

The first generation MS12 developed {{cvt|435|PS|0}} at 11,000 rpm, and was ready for the 1970 racing season.

Applications:

=MS71=

The next iteration of the Matra Sports V12 was the MS71, which debuted in 1971. It produced {{cvt|440|PS|0}} at 11,000 rpm.

Applications:

  • Matra MS120C
  • Matra MS120D

=MS72=

The MS72 went into service in 1972. Its power output is {{cvt|485|PS|0}} at 11,800 rpm.

Applications:

  • Matra MS120C
  • Matra MS120D

=MS73=

This engine, also called the MS12/73, saw service in both F1 and sports cars in 1975 and 1976. It developed {{cvt|490|PS|0}} at 11,500 rpm.

Applications:

=MS76=

The MS76 powered two different Ligier F1 models in 1977 and 1978. It produced {{cvt|520|PS|0}} at 12,300 rpm.

Applications:

=MS78=

The MS78 was the Ligier F1 team's engine for two models in 1978. Power output is {{cvt|520|PS|0}} at 12,300 rpm.

Applications:

  • Ligier JS7
  • Ligier JS9

=MS81=

The MS81 engine was used by a different F1 Ligier model in 1981–1982. It was also installed in a prototype road car. In racing trim it developed {{cvt|520|PS|0}} at 13,000 rpm. It was detuned for the road car application.

Applications:

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
Year

! Entrants

! Chassis

! Engine

! Tyres

! Drivers

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! Points

! WCC

rowspan=3| {{F1|1968}}

|rowspan=3| Matra Sports

|rowspan=3| Matra MS11

|rowspan=3| Matra V12

|rowspan=3| {{Dunlop}}

|

| RSA

| ESP

| MON

| BEL

| NED

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| ITA

| CAN

| USA

| MEX

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan="3"| 8

!rowspan="3"| 9th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Beltoise

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

|

|

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Pescarolo

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:white;"| DNS

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|

|

|

|

|

rowspan=3| {{F1|1970}}

|rowspan=3| Equipe Matra Elf

|rowspan=3| Matra MS120

|rowspan=3| Matra V12

|rowspan=3| {{Goodyear}}

|

| RSA

| ESP

| MON

| BEL

| NED

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| ITA

| CAN

| USA

| MEX

|

|

|

|

!rowspan="3"| 23

!rowspan="3"| 6th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Beltoise

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|

|

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Pescarolo

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

|

|

|

|

rowspan=3| {{F1|1971}}

|rowspan=3| Equipe Matra Sports

|rowspan=3| Matra MS120B

|rowspan=3| Matra V12

|rowspan=3| {{Goodyear}}

|

| RSA

| ESP

| MON

| NED

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| ITA

| CAN

| USA

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan="3"| 9

!rowspan="3"| 7th

align="left"| {{flagicon|NZL}} Chris Amon

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

|

|

|

|

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Beltoise

|

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

|

|

|

|

|

|

rowspan=2| {{F1|1972}}

|rowspan=2| Equipe Matra Sports

|rowspan=2| Matra MS120C
Matra MS120D

|rowspan=2| Matra V12

|rowspan=2| {{Goodyear}}

|

| ARG

| RSA

| ESP

| MON

| BEL

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| ITA

| CAN

| USA

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan="2"| 12

!rowspan="2"| 8th

align="left"| {{flagicon|NZL}} Chris Amon

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15

|

|

|

|

|

rowspan=2| {{F1|1975}}

|rowspan=2| UOP Shadow Racing

|rowspan=2| Shadow DN7

|rowspan=2| Matra V12

|rowspan=2| {{Goodyear}}

|

| ARG

| BRA

| RSA

| ESP

| MON

| BEL

| SWE

| NED

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| ITA

| USA

|

|

|

!rowspan="2"| 0

!rowspan="2"| NC

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jarier

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

|

|

|

rowspan=2| {{F1|1976}}

|rowspan=2| Ligier Gitanes

|rowspan=2| Ligier JS5

|rowspan=2| Matra V12

|rowspan=2| {{Goodyear}}

|

| BRA

| RSA

| USW

| ESP

| BEL

| MON

| SWE

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| NED

| ITA

| CAN

| USA

| JPN

|

!rowspan="2"| 20

!rowspan="2"| 6th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

| style="background:#000000; color:#ffffff"| DSQ

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|

rowspan=3| {{F1|1977}}

|rowspan=3| Ligier Gitanes

|rowspan=3| Ligier JS7

|rowspan=3| Matra V12

|rowspan=3| {{Goodyear}}

|

| ARG

| BRA

| RSA

| USW

| ESP

| MON

| BEL

| SWE

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| NED

| ITA

| USA

| CAN

| JPN

!rowspan="3"| 18

!rowspan="3"| 8th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jarier

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

rowspan=2| {{F1|1978}}

|rowspan=2| Ligier Gitanes

|rowspan=2| Ligier JS7
Ligier JS7/9
Ligier JS9

|rowspan=2| Matra V12

|rowspan=2| {{Goodyear}}

|

| ARG

| BRA

| RSA

| USW

| MON

| BEL

| ESP

| SWE

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| NED

| ITA

| USA

| CAN

|

!rowspan="2"| 19

!rowspan="2"| 6th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 8

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

rowspan=5| {{F1|1981}}

|rowspan=5| Equipe Talbot Gitanes

|rowspan=5| Ligier JS17

|rowspan=5| Matra V12

|rowspan=5| {{Michelin}}

|

| USW

| BRA

| ARG

| SMR

| BEL

| MON

| ESP

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| AUT

| NED

| ITA

| CAN

| CPL

|

|

!rowspan="5"| 44

!rowspan="5"| 4th

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jarier

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jabouille

|

|

| style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| NC

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrick Tambay

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|

|

rowspan=3| {{F1|1982}}

|rowspan=3| Equipe Talbot Gitanes

|rowspan=3| Ligier JS17
Ligier JS17B
Ligier JS19

|rowspan=3| Matra V12

|rowspan=3| {{Michelin}}

|

| RSA

| BRA

| USW

| SMR

| BEL

| MON

| DET

| CAN

| NED

| GBR

| FRA

| GER

| AUT

| SUI

| ITA

| CPL

|

!rowspan="3"| 20

!rowspan="3"| 8th

align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10

| style="background:#ffcfcf;"| DNQ

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

|

align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret

|

World Sportscar Championship results

The table below summarizes the results obtained by Matra's World Sportscar Championship cars fitted with the Matra Sports V12:

class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
style="background:#DCDCDC; align:center; valign:middle; font-weight:bold"

| Year

| Event

| Team

| Car

| Engine

| Power at rpm

| Driver

| Position

196824 Hours of Le MansMatra SportsMatra MS630MS9390 at 10,500Pescarolo-Servoz-GavinDNF
197224 Hours of Le MansEquipe Matra-Simca ShellMatra MS670MS12435 at 11,000Pescarolo-Hill1
197224 Hours of Le MansEquipe Matra-Simca ShellMatra MS670MS12435 at 11,000Cevert-Ganley2
19736 Hours of Vallelunga1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
19731000 km of Digione1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
197324 Hours of Le Mans1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
197324 Hours of Le Mans1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Jabouille-Jaussaud3
19731000 km Zeltweg1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
19736 Hours of Watkins Glen1Equipe Matra-SimcaMatra MS670BMS12450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
19741000 km of Spa2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670CMS12/73490 at 11,500Jarier-Ickx1
19741000 km of Nürburgring2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670CMS12/73490 at 11,500Jarier-Beltoise1
19741000 km of Imola2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670B/CMS12/73490 at 11,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
197424 Hours of Le Mans2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670BMS12/73450 at 10,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
197424 Hours of Le Mans2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670BMS12/73450 at 10,500Jabouille-Migault3
19741000 km Zeltweg2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670B/CMS12/73490 at 11,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
19746 Hours of Watkins Glen2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670CMS12/73490 at 11,500Jarier-Beltoise1
19741000 km of Le Castellet2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670CMS12/73490 at 11,500Jarier-Beltoise1
19741000 km of Brands Hatch2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670CMS12/73490 at 11,500Jarier-Beltoise1
19746 Hours of Kyalami2Equipe GitanesMatra MS670B/CMS12/73490 at 11,500Pescarolo-Larrousse1
style="text-align:left; font-size:95%;" colspan="13"|Note:
1Valid for the 1973 Sports Prototype Championship, at the end of which Matra will be the overall winner
2Valid for the 1974 Sports Prototype Championship, at the end of which Matra will be the overall winner

Proposed replacements

=MS71 flat 12=

In 1971 Matra Sports developed a 3.0-litre flat-twelve engine for their MS120B F1 car. A prototype with an aluminium crankcase is part of the engine display at the Matra Museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay.

=MS82 V6=

Work began on a new turbocharged F1 engine at the end of the 1980 season. Martin left the choice of the engine's configuration up to the customer bankrolling the project.

In the end the configuration chosen was a V6 with a 120° bank angle. Bore × stroke were {{cvt|80| × |49.6|mm|in|1}}, for a total displacement of {{cvt|1496|cc|cuin|1}}. The engine weighed {{cvt|144|kg|lb}}. A power output of {{cvt|650|PS|kW}} was observed during a test run in 1982, with outputs of up to {{cvt|805|PS|kW}} predicted in the future. At the end of that year, Matra owner Peugeot declined to finance further development, and their chief client, the Ligier F1 team, opted to buy Renault engines instead."

Replica/continuation engines

After becoming established as a rebuilder of original Matra Sports MS76 engines, the Nicholson-McLaren company was commissioned to produce a run of ten reproduction engines. A set of complete drawings for the engine block, cylinder heads, crankshafts, and all anciliaries was created based on original blueprints, scans of original components, and reverse-engineering of original Matra parts.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.matra-passion.com/Site/Competition/Competition/LeMans.html |title=Matra en Compétition : Au Mans et en Sport Prototype |trans-title=Matra in Competition: At Le Mans and in Sport Prototype |language=fr |author= |date= |website=www.matra-passion.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/matra-ms670-the-underdog-story-of-the-french-car-that-won-le-mans-three-times-in-a-row-220230.html |title=Matra MS670: The Underdog Story of the French Car That Won Le Mans Three Times in a Row |last=Radu |first= Vlad |date=28 August 2023 |website=www.autoevolution.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.matra-passion.com/Site/Competition/Competition/Formule1.html |title=Matra en Compétition : De la Formule 3 à la Formule 1 |trans-title=Matra in Competition: From Formula 3 to Formula 1 |language=fr |author= |date= |website=www.matra-passion.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=http://sitematrarama.free.fr/martin.htm |title=Georges Martin |language=fr |author= |date= |website=sitematrarama.free.fr |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/autosport-70-the-shambles-success-and-demise-of-britains-first-big-f1-team-4982576/4982576/ |title=The shambles, success and demise of Britain’s first big F1 team |last=Nye |first=Doug |date=23 December 1976 |website=www.motorsport.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/3836.html |title=A timeline of Formula One |last=Williamson |first=Martin |date= |website=en.espn.co.uk |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.blog-moteur.com/38340/histoire-matra_v12-le-mans-f1.html |title=L'épopée Matra en Sport Auto, de la F1 aux 24 Heures du Mans |trans-title=The Matra epic in Motorsport, from F1 to the 24 Hours of Le Mans |author= |date=5 November 2017 |website=www.blog-moteur.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-matra.html |title=Constructors — Matra Sports SARL |author= |date= |website=www.grandprix.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/matra-simca-ms670-group-5-1972.386105/ |title=Matra-Simca MS670 Group 5 1972 |author= |date=14 March 2019 |website=www.gtplanet.net |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3022/Matra-MS670B.html |title=Matra MS670B |last=Melissen |first=Wouter |date=4 April 2007 |website=www.ultimatecarpage.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.teamgrente.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:georges-martin&catid=10&Itemid=101&lang=fr |title=Georges Martin — Team Grente Associés |language=fr |date= |publisher= |access-date=2024-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208161445/https://www.teamgrente.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:georges-martin&catid=10&Itemid=101&lang=fr |archive-date=2015-02-08 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.supercars.net/blog/1973-matra-simca-ms-670b/ |title=1973 Matra-Simca MS 670B |author=Nick D |date=2016-04-18 |website=www.supercars.net |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/spec/5496/Matra-MS670C.html |title=Matra MS670C |last=Melissen |first=Wouter |date=25 March 2013 |website=www.ultimatecarpage.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.speedhunters.com/2013/10/sonic-destroyers-v12-thing/ |title=Sonic Destroyers: It’s a V12 Thing |last=Moore |first=Jonathan |date=9 October 2013 |website=www.speedhunters.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-2021/90/the-v12-engines-greatest-hits/ |title=The V12 engine's greatest hits |last=Frankel |first=Andrew |date=November 2021 |website=www.motorsportmagazine.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/moteur-matra.aspx |title=Engine Matra |author=Alicia |website=www.statsf1.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/moteur-matra/grand-prix-1975.aspx |title=Matra — Grands Prix started 1975 |author= |website=www.statsf1.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.poleposition.ca/actualite/2022/12/19/19-decembre-premier-test-au-banc-dessais-du-fabuleux-moteur-v12-matra-en-1967/ |title=19 décembre : Premier test au banc d’essais du fabuleux moteur V12 Matra, en 1967 |trans-title=19 December: First test bench of the fabulous Matra V12 engine, in 1967 |language=fr |last=Fagnan |first=René |date=19 December 2022 |website=www.poleposition.ca |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.goodwood.com/grr/columnists/doug-nye/doug-nye-the-golden-era-of-matra-sports/ |title=Doug Nye: The golden era of Matra Sports |last=Nye |first=Doug |date=1 March 2017 |website=ww.goodwood.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite magazine |author=RSM|title=70s Back In Fashion |url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/autosport-international/70s-back-in-fashion/ |magazine=Racecar Engineering |location= |publisher= |date=21 December 2012 |access-date=}}

{{cite web |url=https://nicholsonmclaren.com/motorsport/case-studies/matra/ |title=Matra - Nicholson McLaren Engines |author= |date=2021-07-09 |website=nicholsonmclaren.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite book |last=Ludvigsen |first=Karl E. |author-link= |date=28 August 2017 |title=Classic Racing Engines |chapter=1970 Matra MS12 3-Litre V12 |url=https://archive.org/details/classicracingeng0000ludv/mode/2up |location= |publisher=Bentley Publishers |pages=190–193 |isbn=978-0837617343 }}

{{cite book |last=Ludvigsen |first=Karl E. |author-link= |date=June 2005 |title=The V12 Engine |chapter=Chapter 11: Competition Ambitions |url=https://archive.org/details/v12engineuntoldi0000ludv/mode/2up |location= |publisher=Haynes Publishing |pages=273–278 |isbn=1-84425-004-0 }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.motoremotion.it/2021/08/24/v12-matra-sports-sinfonia-francese/ |title=V12 Matra Sports, sinfonia francese |trans-title=Matra Sports V12, French symphony |language=it |last=Campi |first=Massimo |date=24 August 2021 |website=www.motoremotion.it |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web|url=https://rarefrenchsportscars.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/matra-murena-specials-final-6.pdf|title=Matra Murena 'Specials' 1980-today |work=rarefrenchsportscars.files.wordpress.com}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.matra-passion.com/Site/Voitures/Voitures/Murena/murena_prototypes.html |title=Talbot Matra Murena Protypes [sic] |language=fr |author= |date=4 November 2006 |website=www.matra-passion.com |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=http://sitematrarama.free.fr/V6turbo.htm |title=Le V6 turbo |language=fr |last=Dewael |first=André |date= |website=sitematrarama.free.fr |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/f1-motoren-ohne-einsatz-porsche-ferrari-alfa-romeo-subaru/ |title=F1-Motoren ohne Renneinsatz |trans-title=Unraced F1 engines |language=de |last=Schmidt |first=Michael |date=2023-01-07 |website=www.auto-motor-und-sport.de |publisher= |access-date= }}

{{cite magazine |last=Jenkinson |first=Denis |date=February 1968 |title=Matra Racing |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1968/10/matra-racing/ |magazine=Motor Sport |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}

{{cite book |last=McDonough |first= Ed |author-link= |date=15 May 2010 |title=Matra Sports Cars: MS620, 630, 650, 660 & 670 — 1966 to 1974 |url= |location= |publisher=Veloce Publishing Ltd. |page= |isbn=978-1845842611 }}

}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |last=Rosinski |first=José |author-link= |date=1 December 1997 |title=Matra — la saga, 1965-1982 |language=fr |url= |location= |publisher=ETAI |page= |isbn=978-2726883013 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Delaroche |first=Frédéric |author-link= |date=1 January 1982 |title=MATRA la puissance et la gloire |trans-title=MATRA the power and the glory |language=fr |url= |location= |publisher=Jacques Grancher |page= |isbn=978-2733900338 }}

External links

{{Commons category|Matra racing automobile engines}}

  • {{cite web |url=https://velocetoday.com/matras-v12/ |title=Matra’s V12: Upholding the Honor of the French |last=Vack |first=Pete |date=4 May 2011 |website=velocetoday.com |publisher= |access-date= }}
  • {{cite web |url=https://carjoy.nl/Matra%20motoren%20mainE.htm |title=Overview of the race engines developed by Matra |date= |publisher= |access-date=2024-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623205944/https://carjoy.nl/Matra%20motoren%20mainE.htm |archive-date=2008-06-23 }}
  • {{cite AV media |people= |date=2023-06-10 |title=French Made An Ear-Bleeding F1 V12 Engine |type= |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ohhcRgE8lc |access-date= |format= |time= |location= |publisher=VisioRacer |via=Youtube |id= }}

Category:Formula One engines

Category:V12 engines

Category:Gasoline engines by model

Category:Matra

Category:World Sportscar Championship engines