There are a number of cars that have interesting histories but few can match that of the Matra-Simca MS670 series of cars.
Mix in equal parts of high tech engineering brilliance, national pride, image building and political intrigue and you end up with a three time Le Mans winner.
The Twenty-Four Hours of Le Mans was started in 1923 and established itself fairly quickly as the premier endurance race in the world. From its beginning until racing was stopped by the Second World War French cars won six of the sixteen races and vied for podium spots in almost all of them. English cars also won six races and Italian cars the other four.
After the race was revived in 1949 though things had changed. A French built Talbot-Lago won the race in 1950 but what followed was 21 straight years of futility where French cars seldom even seen on the grid except for the generally smaller displacement cars that vied for a prize called the “Index of Performance” which factored in how far a car traveled in the race relative to the size of its engine. While the French built Alpine cars routinely won this award nobody really cared. Even worse for the French, besides the continued success of British built cars in the 1950’s and Italian cars in the 50’s and 60’s The Americans (with British help) and the Germans had thoroughly eclipsed them as well.
Even more galling was this was happening while the French government was trying re-establish French identity and prestige by doing everything from pulling out of NATO to trying to cull ‘foreign words’ from the French language.
It was in this climate that Matra, principally a high tech military equipment manufacturer bought into the idea of building race cars with the twin goals of winning Le Mans and the F-1 championship. Their aerospace background translated well into building prototype car bodies and chassis but coming up with a powerful and dependable engine took a bit longer. In the end their V-12 engine became competitive, thanks in part to the financial backing of the French government and through a combination of steady development, a partnership with Simca and the FIA changing the rules so that much of their more powerful competition was legislated out of existence.
In the end, Matra won three consecutive Le Mans races (1972, 1973 & 1974) two manufacturers championships (1973 & 1974) and also the F-1 title in 1969. While the 1972 victory was tainted (Ferrari dominated the Manufacturers Championship that year with the 312PB, winning every single race except Le Mans which Ferrari chose not to compete in) the 73 & 74 victories showed that the French had finally come out on top.
Spark Models has decided to bring these rare and unique cars to life in 1:18 scale with a number of fine resin cast models of the cars that ran at Le Mans.
The latest two are the #14 MS670 ‘long tail’ that came in 2nd in 1972 and the #12 MS670B that ran third in 1973
First off Spark does a very good job getting the shape and stance right. There are now six cars in this series and all are unique. The cars have clean crisp lines and features and are excellently finished with cleanly executed livery and nice lights and real screening.
I’ve always been a believer that wheels and tires can make or break a model and these look very good indeed to me. I also am a big fan of scoops and louvers being ‘real’ and Spark does an excellent job with the fender vents on this car, particularly with the way the sponsor logos are applied to them. The interior is pretty sparse but what there is is done fairly cleanly.
Next on the list to see would be this cars stellar V12 engine but alas all we get to see besides the intake scoop behind the cockpit is a bit of detailing under the rear deck. That is because this is a sealed model, as just about all resin based cars are, and has no opening parts. It also comes without front wheels that ‘steer’ or any real suspension – active or otherwise.
In the end this car is a compromise. The lower production costs for resin based models allows manufacturers like Spark to make exotic cars like the Matra 670B that might otherwise be passed over but as collectors we have to accept that the models beauty is indeed only skin deep.
Thus far Spark has been successful with its Matra cars. Its earlier offerings are already sold out and getting premium prices on the secondary market. If you are a race car guy you really should check out this model or the 670 ‘Long Tail’. Both are in stock at Legacy Motors and both are worthy additions to your collection even if you don’t get to see that French V12.
-Frank Lemire
