The legendary Matra MS 670, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972. -
NICOLAS MESSYASZ / SIPA
A monument of motorsport, the Matra MS 670 will be auctioned at the Retromobile show in Paris on February 5, 2021. The legendary vehicle won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1972 in the hands of Henri Pescarolo.
The famous prototype, owned by the Lagardère group, is estimated “between 4 and 7.5 million euros,” the auction house Artcurial Motorcars said on Thursday.
Since its last race in 1973, the car has been at the Matra Museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay (Loir-et-Cher).
The legendary Matra MS 670 auctioned in February 2021 https://t.co/xTtBTCWKvN #AFP pic.twitter.com/SJlfp89lbc
- AFP Sports (@AFPSport) September 17, 2020
" It's scandalous !
"
The auction of the MS 670 is due to a court decision.
On January 31, after eight years of trial, Matra was ordered to pay 4.2 million euros in compensation to 296 former employees of the Romorantin plant, closed in 2003. Their dismissal was recognized "without cause. real and serious ”by the judges.
"All the richness of our memories of the Matra saga [...] cannot compensate for Lagardère's obligation to honor the consequences of a court decision," said the group's co-manager in a press release.
Driver Henri Pescarolo blasted Lagardère's decision to sell this “monument of motorsport”.
" It's scandalous !
Stupid !
», He reacted.
"We tried a few years ago to classify the Museum's cars because it's not just that one," explains the former driver.
“There are several that reflect the legend 'Matra Jean-Luc Lagardère' between 1965 and 1974. The group refused.
Arnaud Lagardère destroys everything his father did!
"
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Lagardere
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24 hours of Le Mans
Auction