Matra Djet 5

The History of Matra and the Djet 5

Matra, in full Mécanique Aviation Traction, started out in the aviation and defence industry, but from the 1960s onwards it conquered the world of motorsport too. The marque became an icon on the circuit, reaching its high point with victory at Le Mans in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Their famous Matra MS 670B, in that iconic blue-and-green livery, remains one of the most respected endurance racers ever built.

The Matra Djet was the marque's first road car project, born from the idea of translating racing technology to the public road. The result was a compact, extremely light sports car with a mid-mounted engine, a novelty for its time. Where rivals such as the Alpine A110 and the Lotus Elan impressed with sharp handling, Matra added a futuristic, aerodynamic shape and aviation-grade precision.

The Djet 5, launched in the second half of the 1960s, offered refinement over earlier models: better finish, improved suspension and an efficient lightweight construction. In an era when sports cars often sold on brute force, Matra chose refinement, balance and technical innovation.

A rich racing heritage as DNA

Although this particular Djet 5 never turned a wheel on the circuit, racing runs through its veins. The influence of Matra's sporting successes is visible everywhere: the taut bodywork, the low centre of gravity and the mid-engine layout, directly inspired by the marque's endurance racers.

The aforementioned Matra MS 670B is a key piece of the story. With a 3.0-litre V12, an aerodynamic chassis and unbeatable stamina, this racer became a triple Le Mans winner. The blue-and-green colour, today synonymous with Matra's glory years, instantly conjures images of night-time laps around the Circuit de la Sarthe, the roar of the engine washed away in the French summer air.

The experience: driving the Matra Djet 5

Picture this: you settle into a cockpit-like driving position, surrounded by slim door panels and a minimalist dashboard that whisks you straight back to the 1960s. Turn the key and the Renault-sourced engine, mounted centrally behind you, springs to life. You feel the mechanical connection through the manual gearbox: every gear clicks precisely into place.

Thanks to its extremely low weight, the Djet 5 responds instantly to every steering input. Corners are not obstacles, they are invitations. The mid-engine architecture delivers perfect weight distribution, so the car all but dances across the tarmac. The sound is raw, pure and undiluted: no filters, no electronic trickery, just you, the machine and the road.

Spirit of the age and rivals

When this Matra Djet 5 came to market in 1967, the sports car world was in a period of transition. Marques like Alpine, Lotus and Porsche were busy building lightweight, agile sports cars. The Alpine A110 was the king of the rally stages, the Lotus Elan the purist's favourite, and Porsche's 911 was only just beginning to build its legendary status.

Matra, however, chose a path of its own: translating aviation technology and racing innovation into a compact, reliable sports car for the public road. Where many rivals used a front-mounted engine, Matra opted for the revolutionary mid-engine concept, a choice that would become the standard for serious sports cars decades later.

Condition & restoration

This Matra Djet 5, first registered on 20-10-1967, has recently undergone a complete, no-expense-spared restoration. Every detail has been restored to perfection:

• No hairline cracks, no loose ends, everything is new.
• Bodywork perfectly taut, sprayed in the original colour.
• Mechanicals overhauled or replaced, down to the last nut and bolt.
• Interior completely re-trimmed, with its authentic character preserved.
• Restoration photos available

An estimated 200 or so Djets remain worldwide. How many of those are in this condition, with this documentation, with this history? I daren't answer that question. What I will say is this: this is not a car you buy as an investment. This is a car you buy because you understand what it means. Because you know that without the Djet, the Miura might never have been built. Because you want to drive a piece of aviation history that happens to have a number plate too.

And because, deep down, you have always wanted to be a Frenchman with a slide rule.

Experience it for yourself in our showroom in Katwijk.