1962 Rene Bonnet DJet

In 1959, Rene Bonnet and his partner Charles Deutsch formed Automobiles DB. They built a successful line of LeMans class-winning sports prototypes. The union between these two did not last for long, for in the early 1960s they split. Deutsch continued with the Panhard-based cars while Bonnet turned to Renault-based cars. His car was dubbed the Rene Bonnet D'Jet and it was developed to compete in several different classes, but ultimately only raced in 1000 and 1100cc classes.

The 1,108cc engine from a Renault 8 was positioned mid-ship and backed by a gearbox from the Renault Estafette van. Its fiberglass body was elegant, aerodynamic, and lightweight. The suspension was rather advanced for the time, being fully independent with upper and lower A-arms with coil springs. Disc brakes at all four corners provided the stopping power. The 1,320-pound vehicle with 55.1 inches wide, 45.3 inches high, and had a length of 149.6 inches.

Production lasted from 1962 through 1964 with around 150 examples constructed. It was sold under a variety of names that included the Matra Sports Jet, René Bonnet Djet, Matra-Bonnet Djet, and Matra Sports Djet.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009