Matra MS120D
#1
Posted 13 October 2004 - 16:51
Of the MS120 cars, three versions are listed:
1970 Matra MS120 - 3 cars - Chassis /1 /2 /3
1971 Matra MS120B - 3 cars - Chassis /4 /5 /6
1971 Matra MS120C - 2 cars - But just one chassis listed /7
In this thread Allen states
1970 Matra MS120 - 3 cars
1971 Matra MS120B - 3 cars
1971 Matra MS120C - 2 cars
1972 Matra MS120D - 1 cars
So here we have now a MS120D listed.
The results for MS120C/7 here seems to indicate that it is in fact the MS120D.
So was the MS120D chassis 7, or was an eight (or even a ninth?) car built?
Advertisement
#2
Posted 13 October 2004 - 17:29
Matra MS 120 : 3 cars chassis 01, 02, 03 in 1970
Matra MS 120 B : 3 cars chassis 04, 05, 06 in 1971
Matra MS 120 C : 2 cars chassis 05, 06 (reconditioned MS 120 B) in 1972
Matra MS 120 D : 1 car chassis 07 in June 1972
Matra MS 120 D chassis 07 appeared the first time at the French GP and
finished season 72.
#3
Posted 13 October 2004 - 20:55
#4
Posted 13 October 2004 - 21:59
I've checked my notes and they don't agree with the site. Total production was indeed 7, with the seventh car either called MS120D/1 or MS120D/7.
On my site, I've made a mess of the model numbers of chassis 4, 6 and 7 although I believe the individual race histories of each chassis are correct. The car shown as MS120C/7 should be MS120D/7; the races shown for MS120B/4 in 1972 should appear as MS120C/4 and likewise the races shown for MS120B/6 in 1972 should appear as MS120C/6.
However, I don't agree with HEROS about chassis 5. I don't believe 5 became a MS120C, I believe it was chassis 4 that was the upgraded car. By the time chassis 5 came into private hands, it was in such a mess it was hard to tell whether the minor C spec changes had ever been made.
Thanks for pointing this out.
Allen
#5
Posted 13 October 2004 - 22:11
I think that both the 120Cs were converted Bs.Originally posted by Rainer Nyberg
Thanks, Jean-Bernard, that seems like a very probable production, with one of the cars being a converted chassis.
While we're on the subject, can anyone summarise the differences between the different types? I know there were differences in nose cones, wings and air boxes, but these things could have been put on to any chassis.
Chassis 120B/5 and /6 had a differently shaped monocoque from the 1970 cars, but as far as I know 120B/4 was the same shape as the previous year. So what really distinguished the Bs?
The only differences between the B and the C that I know of is modified front suspension and ventilated rear brakes. Was there anything else?
Incidentally, in his report on the 1972 Spanish Grand Prix, Denis Jenkinson was that MS120/4 had been brought up to C specification. I can find no mention of MS120/5 being used in 1972. This seems strange if, as suggested above, 120/4 really did use the older shaped monocoque than 120/5 and/6. It would be interesting to see a picture of 120/4 in 1972. Amon raced it in monaco and Britain.
#6
Posted 13 October 2004 - 22:18
Allen
#7
Posted 14 October 2004 - 10:51
Roger here are a couple of pics from the races you requested :
Chris Amon at the British GP.
Chris Amon at Monaco.
#8
Posted 14 October 2004 - 13:39
Amon did use the MS120 in the 71 Argentine GP and then again at the Spanish GP.
The main feature of the MS120B was the distintive front bodywork.
The MS120C was just a tidied up MS120B, with slight bodywork changes at the rear monocoque.
The MS120D was a completely new chassis and I'm not sure if more than one was ever produced?
#9
Posted 14 October 2004 - 15:57
Your photo of Chris in the Matra at Brands is the MS120D/07. I took the photo ;) during practice before Chris crashed this car and switched to MS120C/04..
One of the obvious external differences between the C and D (at Brands) was that the C chassis had a small winglet/tab at the rear of the sidepod, which was not there on the D.
This is the MS120C/04 at Brands...
(Source unknown)
This is the MS120C/04 at Monaco...
(Source unknown)
Rob
#10
Posted 14 October 2004 - 16:17
#11
Posted 14 October 2004 - 16:59
#12
Posted 14 October 2004 - 19:08
Allen Brown's post:
There's a trick to 04. The first car to bear the chassis plate was 03 in early 1971 (and possibly at Mexico 1970 - see MN). Then the real 04 appears - a MS120B. Or was it as MS120½ at Kyalami?
is interesting. I hadn't heard that before. Amon drove 120/4 at the 1971 Spanisg Grand Prix, Beltoise drove the new 120/5. DSJ's report said that the two cars had differently shaped monocoques, 120/5 having smooth sloping sides while 120/4 the original shelf-like layout.At heir next race, the International Trophy, the two drivers had the same cars with 120/2 as a spare. Autosport said that this allowed a comparison between the 1970 and 71 car "the sloping air trough of last year's cars has been replaced by an angular bulge". This suggests that 120/4 was new for this race.
If so, Matra introduced 120/5 in Spain, 120/4 (the real one) at Silverstone, and 120/6 at Monaco.
#13
Posted 14 October 2004 - 21:46
This thread should be a tangent over at the "famous Amon" domain!!