Matra MS84

The Matra MS84 was the fifth Formula One car produced by Matra (following the MS9, MS10, MS11 and MS80), which competed in the 1969 Formula One season.

Matra MS84

Jackie Stewart pictured with the MS84 at the Nürburgring
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Matra
Designer(s)	Bernard Boyer
Predecessor	Matra MS80
Successor	Matra MS120
Technical specifications
Chassis	Steel spaceframe
Engine	Ford Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) V8 NA mid-engined
Transmission	Ferguson / Hewland 5 speed
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Dunlop
Competition history
Notable entrants	Matra International
Notable drivers	Johnny Servoz-Gavin Jean-Pierre Beltoise
Debut	1969 British Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F/Laps 4 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

Development

The car was built at Matra's Formula One base at Vélizy-Villacoublay in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, designed under the direction of Bernard Boyer and built by Jean Bee (a.k.a. "Bunny") under the direction of Legan. It was run by the Matra International team of Ken Tyrrell with full technical support from Matra and the financial backing of Elf.

Although it has a family resemblance with the MS80 with which Matra won the 1969 Constructors' Championship, it is a completely different car with a steel tube chassis instead of an aluminium monocoque. At the back the engine is mounted back-to-front with the gearbox and transfer case directly behind the driver. The four wheel drive system was designed by Derek Gardner of Harry Ferguson Research. The Ferguson transmission and other necessary additions left the car much heavier than the two-wheel drive MS80s (635 kg with no fuel).

Racing history

Like the Lotus 63, the MS84 made its first appearance at the Dutch Grand Prix, where Jackie Stewart tried the car out but opted to use his MS80, as he would for the rest of the season.

The car was still present at all the remaining races as a spare, and at Silverstone Jean-Pierre Beltoise gave the car its first race and came home ninth, six laps behind Stewart's two-wheel drive Matra (but three laps ahead of John Miles's Lotus 63). By the next time the car raced, the front differential had been disconnected and the car effectively ran as an over-weight MS80 with inboard front brakes,^[1] memorably giving the lie to Johnny Servoz-Gavin's protestations about the 4WD car being "undriveable" after he finished the Canadian Grand Prix six laps down in sixth place. Servoz-Gavin also drove the car at Watkins Glen, finishing 16 laps down and unclassified, and finally in Mexico, crossing the line "just" two laps down in eighth place. Although there was a project for a 4WD Matra MS 124, the MS84 was never replaced.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Engines	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Points	WCC
1969	Matra International	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8	D		RSA	ESP	MON	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	CAN	USA	MEX	661	1st
				Jean-Pierre Beltoise				PO		9
				Jackie Stewart				PO	PO		PO
				Johnny Servoz-Gavin								DNA	6	NC	8

^1 Includes 9 points scored using a Matra MS10 and 57 points scored using a Matra MS80.