Car & Classic Dealer

1966 The first mid-engined road car in History For Sale

The first Djet was a prototype raced at Le Mans in 1962, powered by a newly designed Gordini racing engine. Four months later, René-Bonnet presented a road-legal version, almost identical to the race car : it was the first mid-engined production GT in History...

The 1962 Djet was a breakthough, the Birth of a Breed, imitated the follwing year by the De Tomaso Vallelunga, and then by the Ferrari Dino and the Lamborghini Miura... and also by all modern supercars.

The production of the Djet was continued by Matra-Sports after René-Bonnet failed. Matra will then become famous with triple Le Mans victory and Jackie Stewart's Formula 1 World Champion title in 1969 with the Matra-Cosworth MS80.

The Djet VS is a remarkable race-inspired 2-seater GT, powered by the famous Renault-Gordini engine with big valves, hemispheric combustion chambers, "hot" cams, and delivering 100 BHP... same as the 1963 Alpine-Renault, but in the Alpine, engine is behind the rear wheels, not quite as sexy.

A true road-legal prototype, the Djet VS has a lightweight glassfibre bodywork, and an aerodynamic and spectacular shape. In 1966, it cost three times the price of a middle-class sedan.

Our example is one of the handful of survivors (only 355 were built), authentic and in excellent condition throughout - and matching colours.

A frame-off restoration of chassis, bodywork has been done in the late nineties. More recently engine and suspensions were completely rebuilt, and the engine has hardly 2000 km.
Contrary to modified examples, our Djet VS is a very desirable one: engine, gearbox, transmission, brakes, clutch, electricity, and all elements are authentic and in excellent working condition. Our example is fitted with the rare options :

- Moto-Lita wooden steering wheel,
- Rear boot hooks for "semi-open" position (to improve cockpit refreshment)
- Two-tone horn
- Bullet-shaped rear-view mirror

The car is still with its orignal tinted sunshades, and with its period chrome wheel caps and distinctive butterfly nuts.

The Gordini-powered Djet is by far the best version, not to be confused with the simple Renault-powered (not Gordini) Djet V, of less power, and also more common and much less sought-after.
The historic interest of the Djet is very high, as "the mother" of all mid-engined GT cars ; this is a unique opportunity to acquire an important Classic.

The race-car looks and driving sensations of the Matra Djet VS are close to the original Le Mans prototype, with the wonderful racing Gordini engine. The Djet is of course eligible to many international racing events (Tour de France, Sebring, Monte-Carlo, etc.).
Price : 75. 000 €

More Classics on - details above

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
Please see the list below for similar live adverts.