In the early to mid-70s, I worked at a Chrysler dealership, Horton Motors in Spencer Street, Leamington.
There were a couple of new and interesting cars that were produced by the French company Matra.
The Matra Simca Rancho, a front-wheel-drive leisure vehicle looking a bit like a Landrover Discovery but way smaller. And the Matra Simca Bagheera, a three-seater rear-engined rear-wheel-drive car, was quite unique.
So while on holiday in France a few years ago I visited the Matra Museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay.
In the museum, they had the range of cars that Matra produced over time and the racing cars that Graham Hill won the Le Mans with the Matra MS670 in 1972 and the F1 MS80 that Jackie Stewart drove and won the World Championship with, in 1969.
The car was built at Matra but finished with a Ford Cosworth engine at the Tyrrell workshop of East Horsley, near Ripley, in the UK.
Although officially a Matra the team behind it was a privateer team “Matra International” and run by Ken Tyrrell.

So what has this got to do with the Motoring History of Leamington and Warwick?

In 1969 a four-wheel-drive system was being developed for the Matra based on the MS80 the MS84, but it seems as though it was never very successful.
The drive was designed by the Harry Ferguson Research department. Harry Ferguson of the “Little Grey Fergie” 1955 Tractor fame.
So far so good, Derek Gardner worked for the Harry Ferguson Research department at the time and was involved with the development of the four-wheel-drive system of the Matra MS84.
Derek was born in Warwick and went on to design the chassis for the first Tyrrell 001 in his garage at home and which was then driven by Jackie Stewart.
He also designed the iconic Tyrrell 6 wheeler, the P34 which finish 1st and second in the Spanish Grand Prix in 1976.

Derek died at home in Lutterworth in 2011.

Talbot Marta Rancho – 1977