Matra MS670B #11 – Ixo

MS670B
1973 Matra MS670B 
Pilots: H. Pescarolo, G. Larrousse 
Team: Equipe Matra-Simca Shell 
Race: 1st GC (S 3.0 class) at Le Mans in 1973 
Ixo - LM 1973 (diecast) 

Published 09/03/18

As a substitute for the MS660C in the World Championship of Makes, Matra introduced in 1972 the MS670. In that season, the MS670 only raced at Le Mans, and car #15 piloted by Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill finished in 1st place. That was the 1st French car to win at La Sarthe since 1950. Despite the great result in 1972, for the next season Matra further developed the MS670 into the MS670B. The MS670B used a fiberglass body over an aluminum monocoque chassis very similar to the one used in the 670. The engine was also the same from the previous year, the Matra MS73. It was a 2999 cm³ 60º V12, longitudinally mid-mounted, and was good for 450 hp. However, the suspension was improved and Matra switched their 5-speed manual gearbox for a Porsche unit, with the same configuration. Those changes made the new car 12 kg lighter.

MS670B
Though I love the flowing lines of the car, it does look like somebody hacked the cockpit open.

Aspiring another podium, Matra Sport took no chances and enrolled four cars at La Sarthe. But at Le Mans big teams are not a guarantee of success, and all the Matra cars had a pretty rough race. In the end only two cars managed to finish, and Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse brought #11 home in first place. That was Pescarolo’s second (of three) wins at La Sarthe.

In 1:43rd scale this 670B is a really nice model. Ixo did a bang-up job, and the car looks really good. Okay, maybe not as detailed is their modern efforts, but still VERY nice. For instance, seat belts are cloth, with a photo-etched buckle! That’s not a common feature for a “budget model”. So another winner from Ixo (maybe better then my #7, since I didn’t need to swap tires).

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