Beauty with a bite - Talbot Matra Murena
03/02/2012
The Matra-Simca Bagheera was named after the cuddly panther from the Jungle Book, but its successor Tabot Matra Murena was named after a biting fish. The short-sighted moraine is not necessarily popular with divers. Although it does not normally attack anyone, it will snap at you if you approach its dwelling without thinking. A moray eel bite is very painful and - if you catch a poisonous species - also life-threatening.
In general, bites, whether from dogs, ticks or vampires, are unpleasant side effects of our existence on earth. It is therefore difficult to understand why this was used to advertise a very pretty and appealing car. Perhaps because the little 1.6 and 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine didn't quite live up to the sporty shape and snappy name? Or because the Murena is a relatively dangerous vehicle in and of itself? No, not the car itself, which is as friendly as a well-behaved dog.
It's the special layout with three seats close together. You are inevitably in close contact with each other when the middle seat is occupied.
But who wants to sit in a car like this with three people? Let's assume I own the Murena and I'm taking a couple of friends with me. Then my friend's wife sits snuggled up next to me. Does he think that's funny? I'm sure I'd have to listen to at least one snarky remark ...
Or I take two friends with me: does the woman sitting outside find it funny that she's too far away to get up close and personal with me via my knees and shoulders?
And would I love it if the mother-in-law in the middle seat got so close to me that I preferred to stroke a moray eel?
On the other hand, it would be a perfect family idyll if my daughter or junior were sitting in the middle. But what young family in the early 1980s could afford a mid-engined sports car in addition to the obligatory Pampers bomber?
Questions upon questions that even the Matra makers were unable to answer. After only 10,000 Talbot Matra Murenas had been built, the production facilities had to be cleared for the Renault Espace! It was the answer to all questions and really had bite... To this day!
