Matra Murena: The Forgotten Three-Seat French Sports Car

Quirky Legacy - In the world of vintage sports cars, names like Porsche, Ferrari, and Lotus tend to dominate the conversation. Their sleek shapes and roaring engines have earned them a permanent spot in the collective memory of car lovers. But every so often, a lesser-known gem pops up—a car that quietly carved its own niche and then disappeared, almost as if it was never there. One such curiosity is the Matra Murena—a French sports car named after the moray eel—that was daringly different, refreshingly quirky, and yet strangely forgotten.

The Matra Murena, shown here in the 1983 model, came with a bold promise of rust-free durability, achieved through a groundbreaking hot-dip galvanising process that treated the entire chassis—making it the first production car to do so—and backed by a six-year anti-rust warranty. (Picture from: Carthrottle)

Built between 1980 and 1983, the Matra Murena wasn’t just another mid-engined coupe trying to play catch-up with the big names. It was a true oddball—innovative, smart, and unafraid to go against the grain. Designed by Antonis Volanis, who would later gain fame for the original Renault Espace, the Murena replaced Matra’s earlier model, the Bagheera. But unlike its predecessor, the Murena came with a promise: no more rust nightmares. To fulfill that, Matra employed a groundbreaking hot-dip galvanising process, making it the first production car to treat its entire chassis this way. It was so confident in the result that every Murena left the factory with a six-year anti-rust warranty.

The Matra Murena also made an appearance in 'Les Aventures de Tintin et Milou,' or 'The Adventures of Tintin,' the famous comic series by Hergé. (Picture from: Phn16 in X)

What made the Murena especially unique, though, was its seating. While most sports cars of the era stuck rigidly to the two-seat layout, Matra added a twist. Rather than squeeze a cramped back seat into the cabin, they offered three seats side-by-side up front—each a fully individual unit. The middle seat could fold down into an armrest when not needed, giving it a level of practicality rarely seen in performance cars of its time. It was the kind of clever packaging you'd expect from the French: a little odd, but undeniably smart.

The Matra Murena, shown here in its 1983 model, combined sharp looks and impressive handling with typically French comfort, offering a spacious cabin for two that became slightly snug when the third seat was in use. (Picture from: Carthrottle)

Underneath, the Murena borrowed heavily from the Talbot, Peugeot, and Renault parts bin, which helped keep costs down and repairs manageable. The entry-level engine was a modest 1.6-liter inline-four producing 90 horsepower—respectable, but not exactly thrilling. Thankfully, a 2.2-liter Chrysler engine was also available, upping power to 118 horsepower and making the drive much more spirited. And for those wanting more punch, a performance kit later offered by dealers (and eventually the factory itself in the Murena S) bumped output to a healthy 142 horsepower. That version could finally hold its own against rivals like the Porsche 944.

The Matra Murena stood out for its unique seating layout, offering three individual seats side-by-side up front—an unconventional twist at a time when most sports cars rigidly adhered to a two-seat design. (Picture from: Carthrottle)

Behind the scenes, Matra's engineers were dreaming even bigger. A prototype with a 16-valve engine and flared arches packed a whopping 180 horsepower, hinting at a Murena that might’ve turned heads in every paddock. They even went as far as cramming a Formula 1 V12 into a Murena chassis—a wildly ambitious project that never made it past the experimental phase, thanks to Peugeot pulling the plug. 

The Matra Murena, shown here in its 1983 model, was powered by a 2.2-liter Chrysler engine that delivered 118 horsepower for a livelier drive.. (Picture from: Carthrottle)

Sadly, the Murena’s story was cut short. Production ended in 1983 as Matra turned its attention to the upcoming Renault Espace. That shift marked a move away from sporty coupes to practical MPVs, but it wasn’t the end of Matra’s clever engineering spirit. In fact, the same rust-fighting process pioneered in the Murena was carried over to the Espace, proving that the car’s influence lingered in surprising places.

The Matra Murena, shown here in its 1983 model, featured the same mid-engine layout and familiar hatchback style as the Bagheera, allowing for easy access. (Picture from: Carthrottle)

Only 10,680 Murenas were ever built at Matra’s Romorantin-Lanthenay plant, and far fewer survive today. One 1983 example, complete with the more powerful 2.2-liter engine, recently resurfaced after decades in storage. Its original owner drove it home from France to the UK, only to tuck it away in 1992. In 2024, it’s up for auction, offering a rare chance for someone to breathe life back into this forgotten French marvel. | EmduziLFux0 |

The Matra Murena might not be a household name, but it stands as a testament to what happens when a carmaker dares to think differently. It was smart, inventive, and full of character—proof that you don’t need a famous badge to make something truly memorable. So the next time you're at a classic car meet and spot a sleek wedge-shaped coupe with three seats across the front, don’t be surprised if it's a Murena—and don't forget to smile. You've just found one of the automotive world’s best-kept secrets. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARTHROTTLE | WIKIPEDIA | LANEMOTORMUSEUM | ROADANDTRACK | PETROLBLOG | ARONLINE | HAGERTY | PETROLICIOUS | PHN16 ON X ]

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