Elf Scan 23: Matra MS 7

The MS 7 was Matra's highly successful F2 car, which dominated the 1968 and 1969 F2 seasons before new regulations ended its run in 1970.

This photo of an airborne Henri Pescarolo at the Nurburging marks the final installment of our weekly Elf Scan series here at Automobiliac. I hope you enjoyed all the wonderful period imagery and learned new facts--as I did!--about Matra, Alpine and the French racing scene of the late 1960s.

Elf Scan 21: Matra MS 5

The Matra MS 5 was a full monocoque Formula 3 car which dominated the 1966 and 1967 championship years.  Here the car is seen at its presentation at Montlhery with Henri Pescarolo looking pensively into the distance.

Elf Scan 19: Matra MS 11

Revealed at the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix, the MS11 was the first F1 car to be 100% Matra-developed, from its chassis to its 3L V-12 engine.  The MS11 was a complete monocoque, but it was slightly behind the leading edge set by Lotus in the previous season, as the engine did not play a structural role in the chassis, unlike the Ford-powered MS10, which was designed after the Lotus.  Jean-Pierre Beltoise piloted the car to 2nd in the Dutch Grand Prix that year, also beating the lap record.  The Matra V-12 was a magnificient engine, but Matra decided it needed more development before it could be a winner, and the political pressure to win was too great.  Therefore a Ford Cosworth DFV, rather than a French engine, would power Matra to the championship in 1969.

Elf Scan 17: Matra MS 80 Grand Prix Car

After a solid season in 1968 with the MS 10, Matra-Ford went all the way in 1969 with the Championship-winning MS 80, piloted by Jackie Stewart.  In the great action shot above, he's shown airborne at the Nurburgring.

Elf Scan 16: Matra MS 10 Grand Prix Car

The MS 10 was the first true F1 car designed by Matra. The French team was actually managed by Englishman Ken Tyrell, with Jackie Stewart as lead driver. Matra were in the midst of developing their own proprietary V12 engine, but sourced the Ford Cosworth DFV as an interim powerplant. In the end, the Ford V8 was to prove itself a reliable workhorse, powering Stewart to his championship the following season, in 1969.