The Matra Djet is a famous French sports car, created and marketed by René Bonnet. It made its debut in June 1962 as the René Bonnet Djet and was the first road car with a rear mid-engine. The vehicle had several iterations, sold as the Matra-Bonnet Djet, Matra Sports Djet, and finally, the Matra Sports Jet.

h/t: vintag.es

At its launch, the car was priced comparably to the larger and more luxurious Facel-Vega Facellia, at 20,000 French francs. However, the car’s level of finish left something to be desired, and the unisolated fiberglass bodywork resulted in a noisy interior. René Bonnet believed that the car’s competition record and his company’s reputation would be sufficient to entice consumers to purchase it, but this was not the case. As a result, Bonnet encountered financial difficulties.

In October of 1964, Matra acquired René Bonnet Automobiles and its outstanding debts. Marcel Chassagny, President of Matra, recognized this as a remarkable opportunity for the company to extend its reach into the automobile market. Jean-Luc Lagardère, who was poached from aeronautics rival Avions Marcel Dassault, was appointed to oversee the newly created Matra Sports and Engins Matra divisions. The original Bonnet Djet underwent modifications by Philippe Guédon, a former designer for Simca, resulting in a slightly larger car measuring 4,220 mm in length, 1,500 mm in width, 1,200 mm in height, and weighing 660 kg.

Production of the Djet ceased in December 1964, but in April 1965, two new versions were introduced: the Matra-Bonnet Djet V and the Djet V S, the latter equipped with a Gordini-tuned engine. The vehicle gained notoriety when the French government gifted Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space, a Matra-Bonnet Djet V S coupé during his 1965 tour of France.

Following the Paris Motor Show in 1965, the vehicle’s name was changed from Bonnet to Matra Sports Djet 5, and the Roman numerals were eliminated. In 1966, a larger Gordini engine was introduced, and the name Djet was replaced with its original, Jet. The model lineup then included the Jet 5, Jet 5 S, and Jet 6.

The Matra Djet underwent a complex evolution, involving multiple modifications in nomenclature and changes in ownership. Nevertheless, it endures as a noteworthy artifact of automotive history and a cherished sports car for aficionados.