Matra · 1962–1967

Matra Djet

The Djet is a French sports car designed and sold by René Bonnet (1962–1964) and then Matra (1965–1967). It was the world's first rear mid-engined production road car. Different versions were sold under a variety of names, including René Bonnet Djet, Matra-Bonnet Djet, Matra Sports Djet, and finally Matra Sports Jet.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Matra 530

All Matra Djet data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Djet

The car started out as the René Bonnet Djet in June 1962. This model became known in retrospect as the Djet I. Bonnet named it "Djet" as he wanted it to be pronounced by French speakers more like the English word "jet" instead of the French word "jet". The name is often styled "D'jet" or "D'Jet". It was powered by a 65 PS (48 kW) 1,108 cc engine from a Renault 8 in a mid-engine location mated to a gearbox from the Renault Estafette van. This power-train gave the car a top speed of 165 km/h (103 mph), or 190 km/h (118 mph) in the later Djet III with a Gordini engine. A fiberglass body was chosen for its lightness, ease of repairs, and to keep initial investment costs low. The body was made by Matra's Générale d'Applications Plastiques subsidiary in Romorantin, and was bonded directly to a steel chassis. The chassis were built in Bonnet's factory in Champigny-sur-Marne (a Paris suburb), where final assembly also took place. As part of Bonnet's contract with Renault, the Djet was developed to be able to compete in several different classes, but in the end only 1,000 and 1,100 cc models were made. The competition Aérodjet of 1963 (pictured in the gallery) came with special long-tailed bodywork and bigger fenders to accommodate wider wheels. Multiple Aérodjets were entered by Automobiles René Bonnet at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Djet's suspension was quite advanced for the time, being a fully independent system having upper and lower A-arms with coil springs and disc brakes at all four wheels. The car accommodated just two people, as the engine took the space where a rear seat would otherwise be. The Djet I was 3,800 mm (149.6 in) long by 1,400 mm (55.1 in) wide by 1,150 mm (45.3 in) high and weighed only 600 kg (1,323 lb). Announced in 1962, the Bonnet Djet was the

Matra takes control

When Bonnet got into financial troubles, Matra, who already supplied both the bodyshells and the factory for the Djet, took over René Bonnet Automobiles and its debts in October 1964. Production of the original Djet was stopped in December 1964. Matra's President Marcel Chassagny considered this a great opportunity for Matra to expand into the automobile market. Chassagny hired Jean-Luc Lagardère away from aeronautics competitors Avions Marcel Dassault to run the newly formed Matra Sports and Engins Matra divisions. Former Simca designer Philippe Guédon was hired to modify the original Bonnet Djet. The car became slightly bigger, measuring 4,220 mm (166.1 in) long by 1,500 mm (59.1 in) wide by 1,200 mm (47.2 in) high and weighing 660 kg (1,455 lb). Production resumed in April 1965 with two new versions; the Matra-Bonnet Djet V and the Djet V S, the latter having a Gordini-tuned engine. During his 1965 tour of France, Yuri Gagarin was presented with a Matra-Bonnet Djet V S coupé by the French government. The car was later photographed wearing Soviet license plates. Production was gradually moved away from the old Bonnet plant, and late Jets were built entirely at Matra's home plant in Romorantin-Lanthenay. After the Paris Motor Show in 1965, the Roman numerals and the Bonnet name were dropped. The car was now called the Matra Sports Djet 5. In 1966, a version with a bigger Gordini engine became available and the Djet name was dropped in favour of its original meaning: Jet. The model range now consisted of the Jet 5 (1,108 cc Renault 8 Major engine), Jet 5 S (1,108 cc Renault 8 Gordini engine) and Jet 6 (1,255 cc Renault Gordini engine).

Model range

=== René Bonnet Djet === There were four types of René Bonnet Djet: René Bonnet Djet I 1,108 cc Renault 8 Major engine (72 PS), 165 km/h (103 mph) René Bonnet Djet II 1,108 cc Renault 8 Gordini engine (80 PS), 190 km/h (118 mph) René Bonnet Djet III / Djet IV 996 cc engine with double overhead camshafts (80 or 100 PS). These models were developed for competition use. Only 198 René Bonnet Djets were built between 1962 and 1964, 179 of which were of the lesser Djet I model. Matra-Bonnet Djet / Matra Sports Djet / Matra Sports Jet. Three types of Matra-Bonnet/Matra Sports Djet/Jet were produced from 1965 until 1967: Matra-Bonnet Djet V / Matra Sports Djet 5 / Jet 5 1,108 cc Renault 8 Major engine, 70 PS (51 kW), 170 km/h (106 mph) Matra-Bonnet Djet V S / Matra Sports Djet 5 S / Jet 5 S 1,108 cc Renault 8 Gordini engine, 90 PS (66 kW), 190 km/h (118 mph) Matra Sports Jet 6 1,255 cc Renault 8 Gordini engine, 105 PS (77 kW), 210 km/h (130 mph). Apart from these model designations, a luxury version with wooden dashboard and bigger bumper was available. Production of the Jet ended in 1967 with a total of 1,495 Matra (D)Jets and it was replaced with the Matra 530. The last Jets (all Jet 6s) were sold in 1968. Specifications.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Matra Djet
aka: René Bonnet Djet, Matra-Bonnet Djet, Matra Sports Djet, Matra Sports Jet
Manufacturer: Automobiles René Bonnet, Matra Automobiles
Production: 1962–1964 (René Bonnet), 1965–1967 (Matra)
Assembly: France: Romorantin-Lanthenay
Successor: Matra 530
Class: Sports car
Layout: MR layout
Body style: 2-door berlinette
Engine: 996 cc Cléon-Fonte Gordini DOHC I4, 1,108 cc Cléon-Fonte OHV I4, 1,255 cc Cléon-Fonte Gordini OHV I4
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2400 mm
Length: 4220 mm
Width: 1500 mm
Height: 1200 mm
Kerb weight: 660 kg
Related: Renault 8 (engine), Renault Estafette (gearbox)
Designer: René Bonnet, Jacques Hubert (original design), Philippe Guédon (redesign)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1908950CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matra_DjetCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1357141060 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Matra_Bonnet_Djet_V.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Robert Brink · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.