Matra M530 6 wheels – Bernard Cholet – 1980

This Matra M530 to 6 wheels is one of SixMania's flagship subjects, it was already during oto6. In 2003, the book “Matra de route” talking about a M530 Millipede to 6 wheels, succinctly tells her story and tells the reader that it is in a broken state and that it might be time to save it.
When I started the oto6 site, I quickly became interested in the case, I contacted the Matra club, then the story continued its course until a sad end.
Today I reorganize my article and voluntarily I start the story at the end to quickly understand what was this beautiful car and its owner, Bernard Cholet.

February 2018

An article appeared on Bernard Cholet in the section Collectors Gift in Life Auto No. 1805 of February 1 2018.

“Bernard Cholet is kind of handyman-inventor and can not do without a toolbox, 24 24 hours.”

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In 1976, inspired by & rsquo; engineer Derek Gardner (creator of the Tyrrell P34) Bernard Cholet builds single, without a plan, saddle 6 wheels from d & rsquo; a Matra 530 rough, in his garden, pendant 1 year and a half !
He lengthened the car 85 cm and lined the front without difficulty. It decreased the diameter of the wheel 14 to 13 inch). His biggest challenge was to lengthen the radiator hoses front to back. The total on weight of the car n & rsquo; to take that 45 kg and more.
The result was exceptional, almost 50% d & rsquo; speed increase in curves.
In September 1980 he covered 150 km of high-speed roads to reach Bures hillclimb, himself impressed by these new performance !
at Matra 530 6 the wheels would be powered with a V6, but it c & rsquo; is ultimately not.

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So much for the & rsquo; article j & rsquo; have summarized, at the end there is still a novelty, it is said that the M530-6 was bought by Luc Legleuher (with whom I & rsquo; had had contact to me it seems) to restore and & rsquo; exposing his RN Museum 13, Station 70 in Osmanville. And since, it was bought by another collector, but parts, the frame being broken into two…

So little chance of seeing a whole day 🙁

Source : The life of the & rsquo; Auto

I don't have this book yet “Matra de route”, but I have re-typed the original text found on the Internet 🙂

M530 “centipede”

“A strange fate than that of this M530 IX entered during the 1970s in rally-cross competitions on the Bas-Normand circuit Essay, Orne.

The car is lively and effective, but the weight of the engine in the back night at the grip of front. The car is difficult to steer on soft ground. The conclusion is simple, requires more grip at the front, thus more weight.

Never mind ! One second M530 found in a junkyard, we cut everything ahead with its drive train and makes an effective structure to provide the M530 front of two trains, both by a function directional linkage fully extended revue.La bodywork is summarily by panels taken from the wreckage of supplying parts. And the monster born of this surgical operation back on track.

Unfortunately if the car holds well the track, V4 engine barely pulsing the machine. Its owner envisions a time to hop the V6 xx?? but the operation will not be completed.

The pilot passed between the time Bagheera, then the Murena. La M530 “centipede” remain parked in a garage for twenty years before reappearing in a scrap yard in the region 2002. This oddity deserves restored.

Will there be a brave to save “centipede” ?”

See as well le circuit de Rallye-Cross d’Essay 

On the Matra-Passion we read the Club 9 June 2011 :

February 2014

I must recover 2 comments you've left on this page :

De Daniel Harquin :

This 530 “Centipede” is that of M. Bernard Cholet Sèvres 92310. I have a photocopy of the CG.
This car had to be difficult to drive, already heavy front and with 2 trains to run !! ??
There is only one.

Christophe Cholet :

Hello
it is quite funny to read the various comments in the vehicle when fantasized history.
that is why I would like to clarify.
this car was indeed built by craftsmen by my father Bernard in the family garden 1980 to sèvres 92310 .
she does 85 centimeters 45 kilos more than the original model .
she participated in the opening race at odds of Bures 61 in 1980 .
may have rolled in this configuration it has been stored for long years.

here, history take a real turn, but it is not over, they did not count on Jean-Claude Lebrun is pressed for a walk near the museum armed with his camera, Still thank you Jean-Claude.

Matra has been placed on a marble body,
I hope soon the new !

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