Matra Murena and Bagheera for sale
4 cars in stock right now, inspected in the European country where they are located, priced landed at a US port with the import paperwork done.
1981 Matra Murena 2.2
duty at rate in effect
1981 Matra Murena 1.6 S
duty at rate in effect
1979 Matra Bagheera
duty at rate in effect
1978 Matra Bagheera
duty at rate in effect
The Matra Bagheera (1973–1980) and its successor the Murena (1980–1983) are mid-engined French coupés with a fibreglass body, a steel frame and, unusually, three seats across the front. The Murena added a galvanised chassis — a first for a production car — and a 2.2-litre engine of 118 hp. Neither was sold in the United States.
Why Americans want it
A mid-engined three-seater is a layout almost nobody else has built, and these are the affordable way to own one. They are also genuinely rare: fewer than 11,000 Murenas were made, and almost none are in America.
What the US never got
- The brand: Matra sold cars through Simca and then Talbot in Europe only.
- Bagheera (1973–1980), 1.3 then 1.4 Simca engines, series 1 and 2.
- Murena (1980–1983), 1.6 and 2.2 engines, galvanised chassis, and the rare 142 hp Murena S.
Eligible years (25-year rule)
Every Bagheera and Murena is eligible now. Production ended in 1983.
What to look for
- Chassis rust — the deciding factor. The Bagheera’s frame was not galvanised and rots badly under the fibreglass body, where it cannot be seen. The Murena’s galvanised chassis is far better but not immune at the repair points.
- Body panels: fibreglass does not rust but cracks and crazes, and panels are hard to source.
- Engines: Simca and Chrysler Europe units, simple but with scarce parts. The 2.2 in the Murena is the one to have.
- Interior: the three-seat bench trim and the specific dashboard are nearly unobtainable. Buy a complete car.
- Club support: strong in France. A car known to the club with a history is the safe purchase.
Typical landed price
Europe: roughly €9,500–€17,000, with sound Murena 2.2 cars at the top and tidy Bagheeras below. Landed at Newark or Baltimore with duty at the rate in effect on entry: roughly $21,000–$32,000.
Registration notes
- California: built after 1967, gasoline; CARB lab certification applies, not guaranteed.
- Fuel: gasoline.
- Title: pre-1981 cars have a short VIN, which some DMVs handle differently. US title from Salvage Motors LLC, with the CBP package as the source document.
Our take
Buy a Murena if you want to drive it, because of the galvanised chassis. Buy a Bagheera only after someone has looked at the frame from underneath, with the car on a lift.
FAQ
Was the Matra Murena sold in the United States?
No. Matra sold only in Europe, through Simca and Talbot dealers.
Three front seats — is that legal in the US?
A 25-year-old import is exempt from federal safety standards on form HS-7, so the car enters as built. State registration treats it as a three-seat car.
Murena or Bagheera?
The Murena, for its galvanised chassis and the 2.2 engine. Bagheera frames rust invisibly under the fibreglass body.