Talbot Matra Rancho test! Dream moment for me.

[@stephenjcuk7562]

That is the nicest most sorted Rancho I have ever seen. A credit to the owner.

[@dgedi78]

i remember the new ones, they were never as shinny as this one

[@howardg186]

Absolutely. Props to the owner. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@darrenmeears3912]

Were the heck did you find this one I would think you've got more chance of winning the lottery than stumbling across this rear beast SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MR NUT FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE CHANNEL👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@chriswilliams-lilley3069]

That’s why he needs to drive USA 333S (Kashmir Yellow Vauxhall FE 5-Speeder) take another look at this model. Not drive a tired FE Victor. 👌😉🎁🇬🇧

[@danielrussell446]

@@chriswilliams-lilley3069remember that one well a VX490

[@Blueblur444]

I absolutely love the styling of these - I remember seeing them in a book when I was a kid, and being extremely fascinated by it. It's incredible how much more modern it looks than the late 70s given what Matra was working with to develop it.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Right? It basically looks late-80s!

[@heavyt749]

Same with me had the matchbox car .

[@philllev]

My Dad worked at a Peugeot /Talbot main dealer and had the branch keys, Talbot's were great cars for pretend driving because the indicators worked without the keys in the ignition 😂 Thanks for bringing some great memories back Ian.

[@djanil9733]

I was always fascinated by these cars as a kid too!!

[@BigYouDog]

In the early 1990's I owned 2, both second hand. The first one was totalled on the M25 by being rear ended. The second was eventually traded in. I remember being stranded when the electrics failed. The RAC guy showed me what caused it. Under the engin at the front is a spade conneter that can come away and the car won't start. A couple of years later this knowledge came in handy. I was motorcycling home after my night shift, and as I neared home I came accross a Q of traffic at the Robin Hood roundabout. At the head the Q was a stranded Rancho with a perplexed driver with a " WTF do I do" expression. I stopped the bike, took my helmet off and ducked down under the front of the car. Yes, the wire had come off. I refitted it, stood up and indicated to the driver to turn the key. It fired up, the look on his face was priceless.

[@persevere777]

If there were ever an example of the direction that land rover should be going today, it is this vehicle right here😊

[@hughprice5237]

They did! See this then look at a 3-door original Discovery 😅

[@RossHall-UK]

Pleased to say my Matra Rancho is in absolute mint condition. No rust, no scratches, everything works. It is, however, a Corgi.

[@silvaaanrandom7575]

😂

[@manuheber9011]

I think the shown small model is made from "Matchbox" out the Series "Superkings".😁

[@littlepippin8445]

Nice punctuation there....

[@drewstewart9016]

Brings back memories of 1978 when my dad had an emerald green one. We towed the caravan with it and did loads of long trips. FAB !

[@Imagewalk]

I've always liked this car and it's part of my imagination when I was young. I would like to have one.

[@jdtseventyfour]

A friend of mine had a Rancho in the mid 1980’s and was very impressed with its practicality. He said the only real issue he had with it was one of the scuttle mounted lights escaped and was bouncing along behind the car still attached to its unfeasibly long wire. He later had a Murena 1.6 as well. I had two Espaces myself (a mk 2 and a Mk4 both Matra built). As always, its great to see you driving cars that many people have never seen or heard of. Thanks for sharing a very detailed video about a very interesting and extremely rare car.

[@vinylrulesok8470]

As a child, i used to live right oppisite a Talbot dealer and i remember well this car because of the spotlights, they fascinated me. I also remember there was a Talbot Lotus Sunbeam on their forecourt which looked mean.

[@alansimpson835]

I love these. When i saw the video notification pop up i was already thinking that so many 80s kids will have grown up with the matchbox and Corgi models of these without probably having the chance to see a real one. Im very much in that camp. So happy you produced a model. There's something I love about a car with loads of roofspace and natural light too.

[@johanwejedaldesign]

The child version of me was also fascinated by the Rancho and I stll got my Matchbox-toy car-Rancho! Btw, if modern SUV:s were this down to earth and funky, I would not hate them...

[@merciasafetyservices6992]

I have always loved the Rancho - they’re just off the scale - and the one in the video is simply amazing- still looks modern in a retro kind of way . I would love to buy the design and tooling and restart production of these iconic motors - perhaps with 4x4 and of course a more modern powerful engine and switchgear - the amount of people I’ve heard saying they wish they could have one ! You can certainly see where Landrover got the Discovery design cues from - even the rear lights look similar to the Rancho Great vid Mr Hubnut as always 👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@cemu1065]

Absolutely. Agree on everyone of your comments. They were way ahead of their time in styling & extras. And yes, you can see, even today. A lot of car companies took?? some of their styling ideas. I would love to see these back on the road. Especially as range rover, discovery, freelander reliability is in the pan. 👏👏And probably 4 times the price of one of these beauties.

[@General_Confusion]

In the early 80s i worked for a GEC company and was given a Talbot/Dodge/Simca 1100 van, what these were based on. It was painted in Black and Yellow GEC colours, and looked like a Wasp. As a 19/20 year old, it sounded like a Wasp when i was driving it as well, or a strimmer. My mates were driving Escorts and Viva's, so i was the fastest kid on the block in my Waspy van.

[@FuzzWoof]

I think every child of a certain age in the UK had a Rancho toy at some point. I have no idea why, it just seemed to be the law. Only one I ever saw in person was one belonging to a someone local, I remember seeing it and thinking "Wow, they actually exist!" haha. EDIT - Just recognised the area you're driving through and wondering if it's the same car, given how uncommon they are!

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Denmark too ...early 80s

[@bentullett6068]

Saw some in the 1990's in stores but never owned one till now. I have a collection of UK made toy cars and there are a few Rancho's in it.

[@moritzhummel9747]

My sports teacher had one (and we have had to Simca 1100 Familiale before) 🙂

[@TheRonaldbaxter]

Like every tape left in the car would turn into Queen’s greatest hits

[@keef71]

I had a Majorette Rancho, metallic gold-brown colour (small-Matchbox size)

[@davidhays7749]

The love I have for these cars knows no bounds. I've actively been looking for one over the last three years at home and abroad. One day.....

[@alcorfield1157]

So excited Ian! ... I learnt to drive in my parents 1978 Matra Simca Rancho as it was badged then. I was the bees knees or at least thought I was.... loved it 😊

[@jackworsley2562]

Me too mate 😁 Passed my test in it, fun car 🚗

[@eviephillipson5249]

My uncle had one of these had loads of fun in it when I was a young boy

[@thomasalbrecht5914]

The Rancho was a sort of precursor to your Berlingo or the Renault Kangoo - a vehicle with space for family, sports and leisure based on a small utility vehicle. Matra was full of ideas that were far ahead. Here’s a idea to sell to Miss Hubnut - a trip with Bella and Bob to the Loire next year, with a visit to the Matra Museum at Romorantin.

[@JohnLawley24v]

Iirc they made the first Espace' till mid 90s, way ahead of everyone else's MPVs

[@endlesstwisties]

There were cars like Renault 4 F6 and Rapid before Kangoo

[@paulrandomview]

Fab review, thanks. I remember these cars from childhood - they were literally 30 years ahead of their time.

[@robinwells8879]

Right from the time I first saw one as a teenager in probably 78, I wanted one. A real design icon I think. Bonded composite construction is so advanced for the period. That the same team came up with the espace should be no surprise I suppose. ❤

[@numberstation]

The first time I saw a LR Discovery I thought “My word, that looks remarkably like a Rancho!”

[@larszenthio1012]

Nice to see a red Talbot Matra Rancho again. I had one exactly like this in the mid 90's. The sad thing was that they were prone to rust in the rear of the chassis and there were hardly any spare plates to buy. I lived centrally in a small town, so I put it outside the garage with a "For sale" sign in the windshield. It took less than a week, when a man in his late 50s came and knocked on my door. Apparently he had been looking for such a car ever since he saw one in a car magazine years ago. The rust was no problem for this man, as he was a tinsmith and blacksmith by trade. Without haggling over the price, he bought it on the spot and picked it up a couple of days later. I was happy, but he was probably even more happy and satisfied, having found his "dream car" 😎👍

[@JoeBlowUK]

I bought one of these in around 1986 second hand. They were known as the poor man's Range Rover. I got it at a reduced price, as it kept randomly jumping out of gear. On inspection, I discovered there were several rod linkages which had a nylon ball and socket joints, which were used to connect the gear shift to the gear box. They were well worn, so I replaced them at a massive cost of about 75p each. I toured around Wales in it with my family and our Doberman dog. After owning it for a year, I sold it on. It was the only vehicle that I ever sold for more than I bought it for. Thanks for the video, brought back lots of good memories!

[@Twmpa]

This car has a timeless design which still looks as good today as it did in the early 1980s.

[@timoplants5869]

Wow! Great to see; memories of 5 of us going camping in the Lakes in the early ‘80’s!

[@neildaniel8232]

The happiness on your face is brilliant, so glad you liked meeting it in person! It's not always the case but so good when it happens. Definitely a car before it's time, funny that they were ridiculed for ages but now everyone drives cars that are basically the same idea! It's the same story with the Rover Streetwise and Ford Fusion (Fiesta on stilts version), rufty tough superminis that were laughed at when released but now similar cars are everywhere. There was a green one in my town when I was little, on the same estate as the local Invacar. It succumbed to rot though in the late 90's as I remember seeing it on the driveway with the rear sat on the floor and lots of brown bits of metal underneath, was replaced by a Renault Kangoo when it finally disappeared in the early 2000's.

[@keegan773]

I remember thinking how cool they looked when they came out. Last seen by me in Padstow some 15, or more, years ago.

[@anthonygregg862]

Ian, This is an amazing review and test. A lot of memories here for me as my dad worked for peugeot/talbot. He had one as a demonstrator for a while. I also have a soft spot for talbots as my first car was a Horizon 1.3 LS. Also thankyou for all the fabulous content over the years. Good times.

[@PaulPadoan]

I saw the Rancho on a car show in Sweden when the car was launched. I was stunned, a memory for life, but I do remember that I was disapointed when it wasn't 4x4.

[@jasonk7072]

I remember seeing one of these in Barmouth with my dad and him being particularly excited by the car+van combination, owning at the time both a car and a van. Sadly the dream died when he spoke to his friend who had had Simcas in the past who told him that they seemed to be constructed from rust, a bad experience with a rusty 4 year old SD1 meant this wasn’t something he wanted to get involved in. So he bought a Renault 18 Estate instead.

[@Tinovodanovic]

What fascinating car, always had a soft spot for Ranchos.

[@JR90.]

Every time I see one of these in video, I always think the design is timeless. If that had a private plate on it, unless you knew what you were looking at, I would bet people would assume it's much newer than it is! Love these.

[@tomaszdabrowski8591]

Matra Sinca Rancho was one of my very first matchboxes and I was equally fascinated by its design.

[@Kai-Peter.Schellhase]

Such a characterful car. Really happy that you were finally able to test drive it. Thanks for bringing us along, Ian.👍

[@philipgallagher3234]

In 83 we had a couple on the fleet at "Peugeot Talbot Rentals" in London. Not that popular for rent but one guy came down to London each month and I had to meet him at Kings X with the Rancho he insisted on. He loved them and bought two for his estate in Scotland..... great for hay bales apparently. I took one home one weekend and showed a friend. She paused as she considered it and said .... "looks like a red hearse". She had a point! Modern day equivalent? Considering the 2W drive, Land/Range Rovers can be ignored, as can Suburu Foresters etc. But, the Dacia Duster I have is probably the nearest to it in spirit.

[@justsomeone89]

For fellow Dutch viewers this is known as: De Bassie & Adriaan Auto ;) (funny that you are wearing a dutch t-shirt and did not mention the Bassie en Adriaan fun fact) A Rancho was used in a TV-Series for kids with a Clown and Acrobat as main characters. One of the cars they drove is a Red Talbot Matra Rancho with yellow dots on the side. The series started in the late 70's it run in the 80's and 90's but still repeated way into the 00's so a lot of dutch people know that car. They followed it up by a Honda Prelude, but the Rancho is still the most well known of the cars they used.

[@MauriceEscargot]

Came here to say this!

[@volvo480]

They had a sponsor deal with Chrysler so that is why a Rancho appeared in the second and third series in 1978-1979 (in the first season they drove a Beetle based Ruska Classica). Unfortunately Bassie & Adriaan are very keen to enforce copyright so very little can be found online, except on their own channel, like this Starsky and Hutch spoof. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpfUeZyKeK5saKc

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Dear God, with every time seeing that duo, my IQ dropped by 1 point.

[@micheltebraake7915]

Het gras is voor mijn voeten weggemaaid.

[@Worstenboer]

Die vervelende clown en acrobaat ✊

[@trevorjacobs]

If they started making these again I'd buy one in an instant. I do have that toy car as well.

[@frglee]

Ooh, it's a Talbot Matra! I also thought that was a very cool vehicle back in the day.🙂

[@sonofdat]

AMAZING, when i was a kid i had a matchbox version of one of these in blue. I liked it alot because it had tow hitch. Never seen one since, and never expected to ever see one in real life. How very cool. Hubluv!

[@cdansmith9753]

Excellent blog - the love you have for this car is clear for all to see.

[@obelic71]

This is one of the few cars if they were produced new again they would sell in even bigger numbers today!

[@Grimwriggler]

This has to be the cleanest Rancho on the UK roads . Amazing condition. Great Video and review. love it

[@neodonkey]

He said there were only 2 on the road, so it was a 50/50 chance 😁

[@Nino500]

I seem to remember seeing one at the NEC show last year and it was immaculate. I guess that was the other one of the two so sadly, this is the worst one currently on UK roads (although still very good and very lovely)

[@jinxylad71]

Looks far more modern than its age. Great colour too

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I too had the Corgi Rancho model - it was one of my favourites! As for the real thing - my dad used to know a drummer who owned a Rancho - it was vast inside, and swallowed a drum kit, a PA system and an electric piano with ease! My dad always wanted one, but they were quite rare, and eventually he bought a Volvo 240 estate instead. It’s a pity they were so rot prone.

[@hondapete1]

Hi , i left the UK in 1981 .i have never heard of that vehicle , look's like the pope mobile, thanks for sharing

[@trailingarm63]

Like you I always loved these cars. I agree they were decades ahead of their time. When I was a student at Strawberry Hill (West London) there was one parked on the road a mile from college. I cycled past it every day and it ranked high among my list of desirable future drives. Fantastic looks, great space and an appropriate-sized engine. In reality, a limited-slip front wheel drive is as much as most people need for driving on wet campsites or muddy farm tracks. With modern upgrades (power steering, a nice diesel, etc) you could relaunch it today. Dacia should consider it. Great film, thanks for posting.

[@ritchi4343]

Honestly I had that toy as a kid and was obsessed by them in the 80s. Seemed so futuristic back then. Great vid 👍

[@sonnylatchstring]

Years ago I saw a production film of the Rancho and I was shocked by the fact that they simply cut away the wheel arch edges of the fenders with nibblers in order to install the plastic widenings. And that without further rust protection.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

That explains a great deal!

[@jwsoaresjones1560]

Rusty Jones? Mais non, Monsieur. Mais non.

[@GhostNation1]

Much like yourself was always fascinated by these as a child . They always looked so rugged and purposeful. Sadly never knew anyone who owned one. I went on to test drive 4x4’s at Millbrook, Lake District etc, but always wondered if the Rancho was all show and no go. Great film, thanks 😊

[@iancull77]

The company my dad worked for got one as a pool car, oddly. I remember him bringing it home and I fell in love with it immediately. Ended up with at least one model of it!

[@brianiswrong]

Rust and a simce was a marriage made in heaven. My mum paased me on her 1974 simca 1100 estate when in 1981 she bought a brand new zastava 1300, and the dealer offered £50 OFF the zastava if she didnt part exchange it😊 It was my first car and i wasnt old enough to drive, so it might aswell have been a rolls royce or a porsche to me. 1 of my weekly routines was to spray the wings around the headlight bezels with white car spray ,in an attempt to hide the rust.

[@niklaswejedal463]

When I was a kid in the early 80s, this was like the coolest thing ever. You actually saw them now and then here in Sweden back then. I was so happy when I got the smaller Corgi toy version of it - but then some time later my twin brother got the Machbox-version that was way cooler... hm... Anyway, I especially remember seeing one at a Norwegian ski hotel in the mid 80s. It just looked so perfect there - talk about the full blown adventure look. Wow! Funny thing is that it took probably 10-15 years before I realised it was based on the (in my eyes back then) little old ladies hatchback of the 60s... another funny thing is that when I saw it's replacement, the Espace, for the first time, it then was the new coolest thing ever...

[@jamesgraham814]

Fantastic to see you driving and critiquing a Rancho Ian. I wanted my dad to get one when they were new, but on a Welder’s wage he had to stick with the Talbot Horizon! When I was about 23 (early 90s) a silver one came up in the small ads locally and I snapped it up immediately. I absolutely adored it and with my limited knowledge, set about making it look very presentable. But by God, it caused some trouble mechanically and structurally. Also it’s gear selector was so long and and indecisive, getting in to the desired ratio was never easy! Thanks for the great video ❤

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

The only time I have seen one of these and this was at the Practical Classics show in March, as you said I think it was a brown one but I have to admit I did get very excited 😂 A excellent review and very scenic roads on the test.

[@gazzertrn]

Superb example of its type , well sorted car . Great to see it still going . Although the back of it looks like a Pope mobile .

[@ingopaul67]

Seeing the Rancho again, the likeness to the original Discovery is quite striking. Surely Land Rover designers were heavily influenced by the Rancho.

[@brianwhittington5086]

Six of us went to the 1981 London boat show in a friend's X reg, terracotta coloured Matra Rancho. I drove it home to South Yorkshire, from the car park outside King's Cross station, after the pubs closed. It was only a few weeks old, but it was surprisingly quick, with six adults on board for the journey up the almost deserted M1. It was quiet, spacious, and comfortable to drive at 70mph too. The wipers leaving that large top right area of unswept screen, was very annoying on the rhd model.

[@evo5dave]

My parents had a Simca 1100. I remember it being quite nice inside but you could virtually watch the rust creeping along the wings.

[@garycollard1981]

My art teacher at school (a long haired, bearded gentleman) had a green one. Thought it so bizarre at the time, was quite fascinated by it. First time I've seen how the back opened up in this video. Thanks Hubnut

[@barryjackson8512]

Absolutely love these. I used to know of one with a 1.8TD XUD7 fitted

[@JoeWalker98]

That thing looks so cool. Retro, rally, utility, big enough for the job without excess. Love it

[@owenfish5450]

It's funny how you had this planned when I randomly mentioned this car a few weeks ago. Brilliant review, like you upto this point, I've never so much as touched one but I remember there being a pea green one in my neighbourhood growing up. It's not that out of place today styling wise; could easily be revived and updated and people would like the retro look I think

[@jwsoaresjones1560]

Did like the retro look...do like the retro look...will like the retro look. A vehicle for all times!

[@davidclarke9767]

I remember in the early nineties an absolutely georgeus female rep used to call in a Simca Rancho.

[@Tagora2664]

I'm ashamed to say that when I was a young man I hated these and thought they were a bit of a joke. Oh how things change, I'd love one now and can appreciate their forward thinking design. 👍

[@gr3yh4wk1]

Wow, this looks brand new! Props to the owner for tons of love given to it!

[@mattw8332]

Splendid! I am assuming that these were offered as amore affordable option to a Range Rover. I think my dad used to like Matra Ranchos. Closest he came to owning something like this was a 1980 Horizon 1.3. The latter met his criteria for a car with “at least 4 doors“ I also had a Matra Rancho toy car, which I think was a small Matchbox one. It was blue.

[@mikecleasby709]

I was five when these were launched…..loved the look of them from the first time I set eyes on one too, even as a young child!

[@TrevorBuick]

Rancho caught my attention as a kid too, innovative and inspired the Discovery's styling?

[@rgorham99]

The Discovery came much later and stole the idea😂

[@mikes747]

I think that because it was so ahead of its time ,it still looks fresh today! Amazing car!

[@MorristheMinor]

To say Simca had rust issues is a bit of an understatement. I remember one of the former chairmen of the Scottish branch of the MMOC telling a story about the Simca he owned back in the 1970s. He'd done some repairs, spray painted the panel and the following morning was horrified to discover that the rust was showing through the paint already.

[@gavinjames1145]

I too shared a fascination for these cars. I vaguely remember having a matchbox toy, but never drove in one. Glad they're still around!

[@gaufrid1956]

What an amazing car, Ian! It seems like lots of auto vlogging has been happening in the New Forest recently. Steph from I Dive A Classic was there in an Austin-Healy 3000.

[@nigelbond4056]

Like you, I had the toy as a kid and lusted after the real thing. All these years later it still looks funky, fresh and fabulous 👍

[@terencehawkes3933]

We never had anything like this in Canada. It might have been very interesting to see how they would have sold if they came here.

[@Zeem4]

They rusted so quickly that sales would have bombed once people got wise to it. That's certainly what happened to one of my favourite cars, sold in the US and Canada as the '71-'73 Plymouth Cricket. I think a similar thing happened to the contemporary Vauxhall Viva, sold in Canada as a Firenza.

[@gordtulk]

The closest thing would have been the goofy Toyota Tercel wagon. Not sure if it came only with AWD. Waay more rugged and reliable than this. In western Newfoundland A guy I worked with used one to go moose hunting with one. Got the biggest moose I’ve ever seen. www.tflcar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/1984_toyota_tercel_4wd_wagon_4.jpg

[@stuartsaunders4518]

My Dad had a new 1979 V reg Dodge high top van as a work vehicle years ago which is very closely related and looks like the Mantra Rancho with side panels instead of windows The dashboard and door handles were exactly the same, which brings back memories

[@HistoryNeedsYou]

At last! We have waited so long for this review. Disco, HRV and so many cars of today can all look back to see their DNA here.

[@davidtomlinson6138]

I've always wanted one , loved the styling , was only 2 wheeled drive

[@breseler]

We had a couple of Simca vans in the company I was an apprentice in. They were great vans, handled well in all weather (including ice/snow) and were fun to drive. When they brought out the Rancho I wanted one as they were so different to what was on the roads at the time...

[@williamdeegan7840]

I can understand your excitement. Ever since Matchbox came out with one in 1980, when I was 11 years old, in blue, I've loved this vehicle. Such a cool vehicle. Great video

[@Renzsu]

I loved this car as a kid, it was so funky looking and had all these cool details. Glad to see such a nice specimen!

[@richjones5432]

As a puppy / youth I served my apprentiship at aPug/Tal dealership. They rotted like the morning dew. The mech bits had a short life but some of those Simcas where wild fun to drive @ 18/19 yrs. So fast from 0 to about 40. Ride quality great ....... stopping could be a issue. But the Rancho was just so ahead of its time. Massive shame about the rust x10 factor. But please everyone, step back & think again. Is there a early Rover Disco in that design ???? ................. I think so.

[@mk6957]

The toy model of this car was my favorite to play with when I was I child. A wonderful car with charisma that was ahead of its time.

[@zzuave2666]

I used to walk to school and see a green one most days. Early 80's. Always loved them.

[@NoelHarrisonfan]

I had two toy Ranchos as a little boy and it was definitely the car I wanted when I grew up. Now a very happy Berlingo owner!

[@ched999uk]

I remember driving past a green one on the way to work in the early 90's and just loving it. Thanks for reminding me of it and showing me a bit more about them. So sad that there are only 2 survivor's.

[@sixtring73]

I had the Corgi model of this when I was a kid, in red, like this one. I loved it! Great to see one of these still in use.

[@TonyJewell0]

Used to pass one on my walk to the station in the very late seventies. Just fell in love with the shape then. Great video and a credit to the owner.

[@theclocker7406]

Wow, what an absolutely fabulous car. I loved these growing up, they looked so incredibly cool and I wanted one for many years, but I can't remember when I last saw one, sadly. So ahead of its time and packed full of innovations. Part of the reason why I so love French classic cars, they each trod their own paths and were more amazing for doing so. Thank you for showing this amazing car, for all of us who will never have a chance to drive such a brilliant vehicle.

[@chrisstuart9425]

Wonderful. A neighbour of mine had one, a keen camper he seemed to go everywhere in it. What a great find ❤

[@niallsommerville9813]

Excellent long awaited review, your enthusiasm is shared by many. My father very nearly traded his Alpine (egged on by me) for an early example, the 1100 engine was the only thing that broke the deal. He eventually did the trade but for a Wartburg Tourist, which I also loved, not so much my mother who was petrified of the freewheeling gearbox. It's a pity more don't survive or nobody made a mold for a kit car. It's as if this was designed by Bill Towns French cousin, brilliant and practical.

[@georgehale3640]

Nice to hear these "boring" facts. My first car was a 1984 Spanish Peugeot 205 GT, it had the same 1442 Talbot engine, was terribly noisy but at the same time gave the impression of being more powerful than it was 😊

[@lloydyoung754]

When I was a kid dad worked for talbot Fleet sales and has 2 rancho s as demos/company cars. An early lime green one badged just Matra and a later bronze Talbot one. Loved them . We managed to ground the sump on the bronze one towing a heavy trailer out of a query. I remember he sold a fleet of them to a swimming pool supplies Co.

[@1mic3]

I used to love these cars as a kid, my dad had the Simca hatchback and to me at the time it was the simplest of jobs for him to swap one car for the other yet he never did it!! Fabulous looking cars 👍👍👍

[@dwegmull]

The reason the French loved (still do?) commercial versions of cars is that the VAT was 18% instead of 33%. So lots of commercial vehicles were bought new and then later fitted with extra seats!

[@alexwild4350]

I owned one of these Rancho's in my early twenties. I was so thrilled with it, now 40 years later with the memories of all the cars I've owned in that time, I have absolutely no idea what happened to it.

[@horsenuts1831]

I can tell you what happened to it. It rusted away to nothing. 😁

[@simes205]

These were everywhere in France in the early 80’s……we loved them…..so much want. I’ve got that model….in green!

[@adzy166]

Absolutely love that car. Neighbour had an orange one when I was a kid growing up in 1970s Leicestershire !