matra?

[suffolkpete]

It's just there to make the Murena parked behind it even better Glad you like the Rancho, it's currently for sale http://www.btinternet.com/~peter.chalon ... amart.html
The Rancho comes in for a lot of criticsm, but it is the fore-runner of every MPV. The Espace was also a Matra design and was intended to succeed the Rancho.

[JPB]

Aye, it's strange to think of the fact that the Espace was related. In place of the famously rust-prone steel bits of the Rancho, suddenly we had revolutionary - hot pressed - GRP shells on Galvanised backbone chassis. Why are there now so few 1st phase Espaces left on the roads?

[suffolkpete]

Aye, it's strange to think of the fact that the Espace was related. In place of the famously rust-prone steel bits of the Rancho, suddenly we had revolutionary - hot pressed - GRP shells on Galvanised backbone chassis. Why are there now so few 1st phase Espaces left on the roads?

A logical development. The galvanised backbone construction was first used on the Murena with great success, following rust problems with its predecessor, the Bagheera, so it made sense to use it on the successor to the Rancho, whilst retaining its MPV attributes.
The reason for the demise of the Espace Phase 1 wasn't rust, more likely the costs of repair and the fact that MPVs aren't generally viewed as classics. A four wheel drive Espace Quadra is worth having, if you can find one.

[rich.]

espace anyone...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTEy3sVqhw