Thanks for including just the engine working with no voice over. I remember those days, but living in the southern US, I've never had the opportunity to attend an event. The Matra V12 was truly a growling beast of an engine...almost like some mythical monster
I was there too! We attended the race weekend in our motorhome which was parked along Shoreline drive. So we had some of the best seats in the house! Listening to that Matra-powered Ligier accelerating out of the turn 5 hairpin and coming down Shoreline Drive all weekend long was a truly life-altering experience for a young kid like me. Even the sound it made when Laffite was shifting gears was incredible because at times the backfire made it sound like it was exploding. To this day, no engine I’ve ever heard has sounded as singularly unique as that Ligier/Matra!
@@michaeltyler4034That's great! I was a junior in high school. Bought a camping permit, drove my dad's VW Westphalia camper out from Colorado. Pit row grandstand seats for us, directly above the Ferrari pits. I had a distant relative who worked for the City of Long Beach, so we got a tour of all the innards of the Queen Mary and then some kind of government passes that allowed us to roam the race course.
I was at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montréal in 1981 when Jacques Lafitte won there. I was sitting in the grand stands in front of the garages. To hear the Matra engine revving up and down in the pits was an enthralling experience. For me no other F1 engine ever produced such an exciting sound.
I remember hearing the Matra V12 at the defunct Ontario Speedway during the Questor Grand Prix. The sound was phenomenal, reminding me of the Air Force fighters stationed nearby.
The Ford/Cosworth DFV was anything but boring. On the contrary. He vibrated, screamed, the sound was terrifying - and he was strong, light and reliable. Unfortunately, there were A and B engines. Only the top A-motors got the A-motors...
I still remember attending the first day of practice for the 1972 British GP at Brands Hatch and hearing the Matra V12 driven by Chris Amon howling it's way around the entire circuit. An absolutely magical sound
I was a marshal at the 1968 Silverstone GP when Jackie Stewart’s Matra pulled off at my post. I was standing 4 feet behind it when Jackie fired it up to rejoin. Oh my God ! Sheer music to the ears !!
Around that time, I went to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. There was everything from V-8s to H-16s, but the standout was the Honda V-12. It shrieked.
I was sitting in the main grandstand on the main straight of old kyalami during practice for the f1 South African Grand Prix. By the way the longest straight in grand prix at that time. Vividly remember the ford dfv v8. Wonderful. The higher pitch but drone sound of the Ferrari flat12 and the mind splitting, deafening high pitch howl of the Matra v12. The one with the enormous air scoop that was banned later in the season. Had to block me ears. They were in top gear flat out at that point. Just unbelievable. By the aay Lauda in the t2 Ferrari won that year. Thanks for the video.
What year are you talking about? I'd have thought the Mistral straight at Paul Ricard was longer than the run to Crowthorne? Dottinger Hohe at the Nurburgring is much longer without question.
I heard as well as saw the Matra's at Watkins Glen twice in the early 70s. Once in the F1 race and once at the Glen 5 Star Weekend which included a 6 hour endurance race. 50+ years later I still can hear the scream of the Matra's in my mind. An amazing sound, one you can't forget
Despite knowing everything about Matra's V12 and that era of formula 1, the first minute had me HOOKED. Great editing, music choice, clip choice, everything really.
As a child I was lucky enough to visit the British GP a number of times in the 70s (and 80s) at Brands Hatch and Silverstone and the Ligier Matra V12 going from Paddock to Druids at Brands Hatch is a memory that still makes the hairs on my neck stand up.... Awesome. The Ferrari flat 12 was also awesome but different...
My favourite F1 engine sound is a tie between the Ferrari 3.5L V12 (‘89-‘94) and the V10’s from the early 00’s. Another one of my favourite engine sounds that isn’t from F1 is the CART/Champ Car 2.65L turbo V8.
Great sounding engine but Stewart wasn't a fan and Tyrrell chose to split with Simca Matra to keep the Ford DFV in the back. Interestingly, Tyrrell kept using French racing blue after the split.
@@patrickporter6536, Stewart also mentioned when they first put the DFV in the chassis, after a session they would have to retighten all the bolts as the DFV vibrated so much more than the Matra V12.
To be fair I don't think you played comparable clips of the engine sounds. Seemed like in the Ford and Ferrari clips the drivers weren't revving the engines nearly as much as in the Mantra clips.
The very first F1 cars i heard in the flesh were two Matra MS120'S blasting up through Abbey curve at Silverstone in May 1971, Amon and Beltoise. i was 17 and went with a mate called Graham Hill(no relation). that sound has stayed with me ever since. todays cars just don't do anything for me, it's not just the sound, it's everything about them. the size, the sound, the wieght, f1 going in the wrong direction as far as i am concerned. i'll leave the latest iteration of F1 to the young generation, though i doubt they will be able to look back in 50 years time with the same excitement that i remember.
Fabulous video! Loved F1 all my life, but missed this one!! It sounds absolutely stunning!! Re watched this with headphones on! 😲 I agree...possibly the best sounding engine ever!! Thanks for sharing.
The Matra V12 was the best sounding F1 engine in its days and for sure had one of the most exciting sounds ever in competition motoring history.I still have full recollection of it's sharp howling sound down the Monza straight lines both during the F1 GP and the 1000 Km Sport Prototypes.This said,it proved itself to be a winner in the long term races of the Sport Prototypes Championship while,in full fairness,it was most often outperformed by the"boring"Ford Cosworth in F1 competitions.Let apart its less than decent reliability the french engine was constantly suffering high fuel consumption and consequently this meant quite an extra weight on the car.
For anyone interested, the Matra V12 powered Matra Simca 670 won Le Mans 24 in 1972-1974, taking 1st and 2nd, 1st and 3rd, 1st and 3rd respectively. 1972 was Graham Hill and Henri Pescarolo. Graham Hill hadn’t competed at Le Mans since 1966. He’d never won Le Mans, until 1972, when he did it with Pescarolo. Pescarolo raced Le Mans 33 times, won overall 4x, class winner 6x. Raced Le Mans in 4 decades. Far and away the most experienced Le Mans driver of all time. Next closest still active is Emmanuel Collard at 24 races and Jan Magnussen at 23. They’d each have to race into their 60’s to catch Pescarolo.
Fantastic sound and brilliant engineering. Thanks for posting the video and the great history lesson. If only the F! Cars sounded like this today. Magnificent
My parents had a Simca hatchback, my mother rolled it down a hill so my panel beater father rebuilt the front end, made his own wings and front, used lights from a bus, was an interesting car, very Volvo like in it's new shape
I didn't realise until now how different these engines sound. I prefer the matra. To put into words the why, the dfv had a harsh deep sound in part of the gear change and the flat 12 had a higher harsh sound in the same manner. The matra sound was a whole more uniform sound throughout the gears.
V12s were great sounding but ineffective in F1 with a single title for a V12 car in 1991 for Ayrton Senna in the McLaren MP4/6 Honda V12, though Ferrari won 3 drivers titles with the flat 12 in the 70s.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but besides those three WDCs, Ferrari won four constructors championships in the 1970s with a V12 engine (and it was a V12 and not a flat 12 - just a V12 with a 180 degree angle; the reasoning behind this designation was a bit beyond my understanding, but had something to do with how the crankshaft was configured.)
@@Argent_99the Ferrari flat 12 was still a flat 12, just not a "boxer", so yes, in essence it's a horizontally opposed V12, a great design for the pre-ground effect era but once skirts and venturi tunnels became de rigueur packaging this configuration became very problematic, the fact that they won the '79 title was mainly down to reliability and the fact that the opposition were getting their ground effect cars together during the season and encountering problems, Ferrari with their resources and private test track were simply better prepared for 1979 and Lotus, all conquering in 1978 dropped the ball in terms of further developing their ground effect car
I'm a Cosworth fan, but that Matra is one of the best engines from F1 . In those times , was something to hear on a track that engines sound . Not in our days ,unfortunately.
My first Grand Prix was at Silverstone in 71, I was 17. We got there late, just before the start and ended up at Abbey, a poor place to see the cars. It didn't matter in the end, hearing those two Matras go by at full chat through Abbey (in those days just a slight left) was glorious. It still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it. The funny thing was the Lotus 56 turbine car took part in that race, and it would whisper past, what a contrast.
I heard the screeching MATRA at Watkins Glen Grand Prix 1972. Its exhaust music could be identified from my pit roof spectating position- all around the course . It was The Best F1 symphony of all time.
I first heard the Matra in the non points 1971 Argentina GP, one of the few races Chris Amon won. I was 11 then and it was etched in my mind ever since. I could tell it was coming long before it came into sight.
My favourite noise from an F1 is a 12 cyl. I was in London '71-'76 and saw F1 races at Brands hatch and Silverstone. I had some privilege in the pit area and will never forget being in the pit area during practice for British GP. Lauda was driving for Ferrari then and he brought the beast in for something, I was allowed close to the works area and squatted 1mtr behind the exhaust where I was able to look thru the roll bar and watch the tacho rev to 13,000rpm - my hearing is still suffering, BUT WHAT MUSIC, so I do understand the quality mentioned here.
My brother and I went to the Questor GP. It was about a half mile walk to the track. We heard the Chevy V-8's, Cosworth and Ferrari while going to the stands. then this shriek came out of nowhere. My brother and I looked at each other and at the same time said MATRA!
I have never heard it in person, maybe one day at a vintage race. My favorite in person is the DFV, but only in mid 70’s tune, as the earlier are too mellow and later are too harsh sounding. 75-77 DFV’s are the sweet spot, at Waltkins Glen stand at the last corner looking down the front straight, as a DFV accelerates away the scream will change as it gets farther away and a secondary resonance hum forms, no other engines do it there.
I have been a lover of F1 since I was a small boy. In addition to those engines mentioned, which were all incredible, I would add the BRM V16. Quite simply, for me personally, the most exciting F1 engine ever. It was overly complicated, unreliable, and notoriously difficult to work on. But, that sound- going up through the rev range and gears, it still sends shivers down my spine. On full chat, it would frighten the Devil himself.
Yeah I agree, making the next video a bit longer to run through the lasting effects / changes on the sport as a whole. Next one is on the last v12 the ferrari 412t2.
I remember the sound of this remarkable engine echoing through the hills at Mosport. I also remember its association with the unluckiest driver ever in F1, Chris Amon. Such a talented driver.
And when he passed several years ago there was not a Single mention of his death at the following F1 race. Hobbo piffe 8:46 d me off with his no mention...hell, he raced against him ims.
So let's do a beauty competition, marks out of 6: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 4; C. Overrun feedback: 3; D. Harmonics: 4; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. For comparison, the BRM V16: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 5; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Mazda quadruple-rotary: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 4; C. Overrun feedback: 4; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Porsche 917 flat-12: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 5; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 5. Subaru WRC Boxer: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 4; D. Harmonics: 4; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. Audi S1: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 6; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Ford BDA-4: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 5; C. Overrun feedback: 6; D. Harmonics: 5; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. Mercedes-Benz W123 4-cyl: A. Feedback sound under load: 3; B. Liftoff sound: 2; C. Overrun feedback: 1; D. Harmonics: 1; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 0. Voilà.
Yes the Matra V12 is a great sounding engine, i don,t believe they were as reliable as the Cosi, but certainly makes the hair on back of the neck stand up. I remember the 76 season very well, I went to most of the F1 races that year at Brands, and saw Hunt, lauda, Andretti et al battling it out !! I remember it must have been the British GP of that year, in the Brands Paddock you could have your picture taken inJaques laffites ligier Matra that had won a GP a few weeks earlier !, I remember as a 12 year old boy how thrilling it was to sit in this fantastic F1 car, I've still got the picture somewhere, great memories the best days of F1 in my opinion. Best sounding engine for me it would have to be the Ferrari Flat 12, thanks everyone !
Went to the ‘73, ‘74, and ‘75 Watkins Glen GP. Back then fences were about 20 feet from the track guardrail and you could almost FEEL the shriek of the Matra. And the venerable Ford DFV that howled and the Ferrari flat 12’s scream. F1 cars now sound like vacuum cleaners on steroids.
That's what I miss about modern racing, they all sound the same (well, not exactly, they are pretty similar). For me, I have a thing for: Matra V12 Ferrari V12 from about '67 F1, then the later F1 flat 12s The Honda V12s from late 60s The V16 BRM from the 50s Ferrari V12 from 94-95 Honda V12 and V10 from early 90s Renault from 1991, 1992 The DFV is still cool, and I prefer the onboard noise it makes, rather than external.
In '67 or '68, I saw a white Honda F1 car, with a V-12 that sounded insane. It was at Watkins Glen. By far the best sounding car in the race. But I think it was a DNF. V-12's just sing my song.... Edit add: Needless to say, the Mazda GTP rotary gives me serious chills....LOL
All three engines do sound very very nice. Ok, the Matra is indeed the nicest 😎. There is a kind of drama in this voice, which reminds me a little bit of todays Maserati V8 engines (e.g. in the Quattroporte). And the sad thing is: We will never get back that sound in motor racing.
I own a matra and i'm so sad this brand died. A car shapped like a space dorito with 3 seat in the front and a transversal back engine and with a low price is just unique... Only this brand made those thing and now there is just void where matra stood.
The Ford DFV has the reliability but not whole lot of power so it would struggle with certain races but it one of those race proven engine where the Matra V12 shines is the noises it produce is eargasm no two ways about it but it a pity they didn't continue to make more racing engines in different configurations
I disagree. I have heard the BRM V16 in the flesh and it’s certainly impressive. But the Matra is something else. I remember at Brands in the 70s it would literally drown out every other car in the field. Standing at Westfield, you could hear where it was whichever part of the circuit it was on. TH-cam in no way creates its banshee howl. Probably, I suspect, because they are largely videos in preservation where it does not reach full revs. The engine which sounds closest to the Matra is the Le Mans winning Mazda 787B
No, the Matra sounds quite different because the tuned length exhaust only paired cylinders that fired 180 degrees apart, whereas most 12 cylinders connect the exhausts of 3 cylinders firing 120 degrees apart.
It would be great to have these Matra, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, BRM and Honda V12s racing in the Masters Historic F1 3 litre series 😊 instead of the all DFV's
Music was good in the 70's. You want a proof? Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and of course Matra V12, Cosworth DFV, Ferrari flat 12..... These engines are music to my ears
the matra got a more rounded plesent sound and not so much mechanical rattling as the ferrari that sounds more klunky rattling noice. DFV well its a V8 so its a bit of another sound by that but also got that rounded pleasant sound as the matra. not that the ferrari sounds bad at all but it just got that little bit of odd rattling that the other engines dont got.
I hope you enjoyed this video on the mighty Matra V12. What is your favorite Formula 1 Engine? Let me know down below! 😎💥
The 16-cylinder BRM. Nothing sounded like before or after. It was beautiful to hear and see!
I agree, a good engine, but NOT the best sounding - that is i.m.h.o. the BRM V16 of 1953-55. I also think it's unsurpassable.
Thanks for including just the engine working with no voice over. I remember those days, but living in the southern US, I've never had the opportunity to attend an event.
The Matra V12 was truly a growling beast of an engine...almost like some mythical monster
Hart 415T. Support another underdog!
Ferrari 312 t
My first in-person F1 race was Long Beach in 1976. Laffite finished fourth in the glorious, screaming Ligier/Matra! Those were the days!
Amen to you your a legend
Yes, those were the days.
I was there also, watching those wonderful machines.
Thanks for the memories.
I was there too! We attended the race weekend in our motorhome which was parked along Shoreline drive. So we had some of the best seats in the house! Listening to that Matra-powered Ligier accelerating out of the turn 5 hairpin and coming down Shoreline Drive all weekend long was a truly life-altering experience for a young kid like me. Even the sound it made when Laffite was shifting gears was incredible because at times the backfire made it sound like it was exploding. To this day, no engine I’ve ever heard has sounded as singularly unique as that Ligier/Matra!
@@michaeltyler4034That's great! I was a junior in high school. Bought a camping permit, drove my dad's VW Westphalia camper out from Colorado. Pit row grandstand seats for us, directly above the Ferrari pits. I had a distant relative who worked for the City of Long Beach, so we got a tour of all the innards of the Queen Mary and then some kind of government passes that allowed us to roam the race course.
Man I wish I was around back then, best era of F1 for sure
I love that, when the engines started to sing, the auto translate shifted between "music", "foreign" and "applause".. Indeed auto-translate. Indeed.
I was at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montréal in 1981 when Jacques Lafitte won there. I was sitting in the grand stands in front of the garages. To hear the Matra engine revving up and down in the pits was an enthralling experience. For me no other F1 engine ever produced such an exciting sound.
Cosworth.
@lameduck3630 Definitely a Talbot badged Matra V12 in 81 and 82.
I remember hearing the Matra V12 at the defunct Ontario Speedway during the Questor Grand Prix. The sound was phenomenal, reminding me of the Air Force fighters stationed nearby.
Hearing one of these engines in person is a bucket list activity. That must’ve been an amazing experience.
I drive by where the track was almost ever day when I go to work in Rancho Cucamonga
The Ford/Cosworth DFV was anything but boring. On the contrary. He vibrated, screamed, the sound was terrifying - and he was strong, light and reliable. Unfortunately, there were A and B engines. Only the top A-motors got the A-motors...
It's a shame that TH-cam sound compression can never do a sound like that justice.
I love everything about this video. The history, the aesthetic, the sounds; all perfect. Immediate sub.
Thanks so much for watching, glad you enjoyed the work put into it 😄
yes, very good video
I still remember attending the first day of practice for the 1972 British GP at Brands Hatch and hearing the Matra V12 driven by Chris Amon howling it's way around the entire circuit. An absolutely magical sound
I still remember its glorious sound at Monza 1000 Km 💫
I was a marshal at the 1968 Silverstone GP when Jackie Stewart’s Matra pulled off at my post. I was standing 4 feet behind it when Jackie fired it up to rejoin. Oh my God ! Sheer music to the ears !!
I live near Watkins Glen. Went to the 6 hours races in the 70s. I had to the Matra for 6 HOURS! I’ll never forget that sound! Thanks for the video!
Around that time, I went to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. There was everything from V-8s to H-16s, but the standout was the Honda V-12. It shrieked.
I had the pleasure of the Matra symphony echoing off the hills of Mosport all though the 70s... Amazing as was this video, thank you!
I was sitting in the main grandstand on the main straight of old kyalami during practice for the f1 South African Grand Prix. By the way the longest straight in grand prix at that time. Vividly remember the ford dfv v8. Wonderful. The higher pitch but drone sound of the Ferrari flat12 and the mind splitting, deafening high pitch howl of the Matra v12. The one with the enormous air scoop that was banned later in the season. Had to block me ears. They were in top gear flat out at that point. Just unbelievable. By the aay Lauda in the t2 Ferrari won that year. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the story. Love hearing about these moments. Thanks for watching!
What year are you talking about? I'd have thought the Mistral straight at Paul Ricard was longer than the run to Crowthorne? Dottinger Hohe at the Nurburgring is much longer without question.
@marks7197, you may be correct. 1976
@@peterfisher9286 Wonderful circuit though in any case. Sad to lose Revson and Pryce there and the modern circuit was never in the same class.
I heard as well as saw the Matra's at Watkins Glen twice in the early 70s. Once in the F1 race and once at the Glen 5 Star Weekend which included a 6 hour endurance race. 50+ years later I still can hear the scream of the Matra's in my mind. An amazing sound, one you can't forget
Despite knowing everything about Matra's V12 and that era of formula 1, the first minute had me HOOKED. Great editing, music choice, clip choice, everything really.
As a child I was lucky enough to visit the British GP a number of times in the 70s (and 80s) at Brands Hatch and Silverstone and the Ligier Matra V12 going from Paddock to Druids at Brands Hatch is a memory that still makes the hairs on my neck stand up.... Awesome.
The Ferrari flat 12 was also awesome but different...
My favourite F1 engine sound is a tie between the Ferrari 3.5L V12 (‘89-‘94) and the V10’s from the early 00’s. Another one of my favourite engine sounds that isn’t from F1 is the CART/Champ Car 2.65L turbo V8.
Great sounding engine but Stewart wasn't a fan and Tyrrell chose to split with Simca Matra to keep the Ford DFV in the back.
Interestingly, Tyrrell kept using French racing blue after the split.
They said of the Matra that the power came out the exhaust.
@@patrickporter6536, Stewart also mentioned when they first put the DFV in the chassis, after a session they would have to retighten all the bolts as the DFV vibrated so much more than the Matra V12.
The Matra was unique. It screamed, it howled, especially when it echoed of the Hockenheim grandstands.
Was mecanic for lotus at historic GP Monaco. 2 matra v12 were there. As it was covid empty stages Monaco filled with matra sounds, best ever
To be fair I don't think you played comparable clips of the engine sounds. Seemed like in the Ford and Ferrari clips the drivers weren't revving the engines nearly as much as in the Mantra clips.
The very first F1 cars i heard in the flesh were two Matra MS120'S blasting up through Abbey curve at Silverstone in May 1971, Amon and Beltoise. i was 17 and went with a mate called Graham Hill(no relation). that sound has stayed with me ever since.
todays cars just don't do anything for me, it's not just the sound, it's everything about them.
the size, the sound, the wieght, f1 going in the wrong direction as far as i am concerned.
i'll leave the latest iteration of F1 to the young generation, though i doubt they will be able to look back in 50 years time with the same excitement that i remember.
Fabulous video! Loved F1 all my life, but missed this one!! It sounds absolutely stunning!! Re watched this with headphones on! 😲 I agree...possibly the best sounding engine ever!! Thanks for sharing.
Love the straight pipes out the back and that sound is amazing!
The Matra V12 was the best sounding F1 engine in its days and for sure had one of the most exciting sounds ever in competition motoring history.I still have full recollection of it's sharp howling sound down the Monza straight lines both during the F1 GP and the 1000 Km Sport Prototypes.This said,it proved itself to be a winner in the long term races of the Sport Prototypes Championship while,in full fairness,it was most often outperformed by the"boring"Ford Cosworth in F1 competitions.Let apart its less than decent reliability the french engine was constantly suffering high fuel consumption and consequently this meant quite an extra weight on the car.
I remember Mario Andretti talking about the Matra's and how loud and powerful they were.
They had less power than the DFV.
Im so glad I found this channel! The editing, sound design, and content is awesome. Cant wait to see it grow 😁
Glad you enjoyed. Many more stories to come :)
For anyone interested, the Matra V12 powered Matra Simca 670 won Le Mans 24 in 1972-1974, taking 1st and 2nd, 1st and 3rd, 1st and 3rd respectively. 1972 was Graham Hill and Henri Pescarolo. Graham Hill hadn’t competed at Le Mans since 1966. He’d never won Le Mans, until 1972, when he did it with Pescarolo. Pescarolo raced Le Mans 33 times, won overall 4x, class winner 6x. Raced Le Mans in 4 decades. Far and away the most experienced Le Mans driver of all time. Next closest still active is Emmanuel Collard at 24 races and Jan Magnussen at 23. They’d each have to race into their 60’s to catch Pescarolo.
That sound is the best thing the French ever made
Those really echoed the whole boot at Watkins Glen.
Matra v12 one of the most beautiful exhausts in history. great video. subscribed! If you could add Spanish subtitles to your videos it would be great.
I will definitely look into adding Spanish subtitles for future videos. Glad you enjoyed the video 😁
How Could it make this sound ? What was the particular design which could sound like this versus other V12?
Great video mate! liked and subscribed 🤘
Fantastic sound and brilliant engineering. Thanks for posting the video and the great history lesson. If only the F! Cars sounded like this today. Magnificent
This and the BRM V16
My parents had a Simca hatchback, my mother rolled it down a hill so my panel beater father rebuilt the front end, made his own wings and front, used lights from a bus, was an interesting car, very Volvo like in it's new shape
I didn't realise until now how different these engines sound. I prefer the matra. To put into words the why, the dfv had a harsh deep sound in part of the gear change and the flat 12 had a higher harsh sound in the same manner. The matra sound was a whole more uniform sound throughout the gears.
V12s were great sounding but ineffective in F1 with a single title for a V12 car in 1991 for Ayrton Senna in the McLaren MP4/6 Honda V12, though Ferrari won 3 drivers titles with the flat 12 in the 70s.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but besides those three WDCs, Ferrari won four constructors championships in the 1970s with a V12 engine (and it was a V12 and not a flat 12 - just a V12 with a 180 degree angle; the reasoning behind this designation was a bit beyond my understanding, but had something to do with how the crankshaft was configured.)
@@Argent_99the Ferrari flat 12 was still a flat 12, just not a "boxer", so yes, in essence it's a horizontally opposed V12, a great design for the pre-ground effect era but once skirts and venturi tunnels became de rigueur packaging this configuration became very problematic, the fact that they won the '79 title was mainly down to reliability and the fact that the opposition were getting their ground effect cars together during the season and encountering problems, Ferrari with their resources and private test track were simply better prepared for 1979 and Lotus, all conquering in 1978 dropped the ball in terms of further developing their ground effect car
I've experienced 3 in real life and they are borderline terrifying.
Excellent work!
Incredible! That sound touches my soul. Long live the Matre V12!
Great video man, awesome quality, love the vocabulary. Thank you for making this!
Thanks for watching!
I'm a Cosworth fan, but that Matra is one of the best engines from F1 .
In those times , was something to hear on a track that engines sound . Not in our days ,unfortunately.
I saw BRM testing at Kyalami with the same exhaust systen as Matra on their own v12. It sounded exactly the same as the Matra.
My first Grand Prix was at Silverstone in 71, I was 17. We got there late, just before the start and ended up at Abbey, a poor place to see the cars. It didn't matter in the end, hearing those two Matras go by at full chat through Abbey (in those days just a slight left) was glorious. It still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I think about it. The funny thing was the Lotus 56 turbine car took part in that race, and it would whisper past, what a contrast.
Love the story, thanks for sharing
Does anyone know what the song is in the background for the segment of the 1977 race?
I heard the screeching MATRA at Watkins Glen Grand Prix 1972. Its exhaust music could be identified from my pit roof spectating position- all around the course . It was The Best F1 symphony of all time.
Great video! Have subscribed 🙂
Thanks 🙏
I first heard the Matra in the non points 1971 Argentina GP, one of the few races Chris Amon won. I was 11 then and it was etched in my mind ever since. I could tell it was coming long before it came into sight.
That sounds amazing, i wish i added the Argentinian non championship Grand Prix in this video
My favourite noise from an F1 is a 12 cyl. I was in London '71-'76 and saw F1 races at Brands hatch and Silverstone. I had some privilege in the pit area and will never forget being in the pit area during practice for British GP. Lauda was driving for Ferrari then and he brought the beast in for something, I was allowed close to the works area and squatted 1mtr behind the exhaust where I was able to look thru the roll bar and watch the tacho rev to 13,000rpm - my hearing is still suffering, BUT WHAT MUSIC, so I do understand the quality mentioned here.
very very nice video, thanks
My brother and I went to the Questor GP. It was about a half mile walk to the track. We heard the Chevy V-8's, Cosworth and Ferrari while going to the stands. then this shriek came out of nowhere. My brother and I looked at each other and at the same time said MATRA!
I watched the 12 cyl Matras in Watkins Glen in the early 70s. What a terrific sound they made.
Was standing at the esses when the Shadow went by with the Matra making it's sound all the way down the straight. The sound just hung there!
I have never heard it in person, maybe one day at a vintage race. My favorite in person is the DFV, but only in mid 70’s tune, as the earlier are too mellow and later are too harsh sounding. 75-77 DFV’s are the sweet spot, at Waltkins Glen stand at the last corner looking down the front straight, as a DFV accelerates away the scream will change as it gets farther away and a secondary resonance hum forms, no other engines do it there.
I have been a lover of F1 since I was a small boy. In addition to those engines mentioned, which were all incredible, I would add the BRM V16. Quite simply, for me personally, the most exciting F1 engine ever. It was overly complicated, unreliable, and notoriously difficult to work on. But, that sound- going up through the rev range and gears, it still sends shivers down my spine. On full chat, it would frighten the Devil himself.
The longest exhaust pipes ever.
I personally favour the DFV, probably because it's the sound I heard most when I attended motor races,when I was young.
At Watkins Glen I heard this, the Ferrari flat-12 and the Alfa 12 in the same race.
I have to say, the video title made it sound like you'd explain why it changed F1 sound forever and I think that would have been really interesting.
Yeah I agree, making the next video a bit longer to run through the lasting effects / changes on the sport as a whole. Next one is on the last v12 the ferrari 412t2.
1976年の富士でのF1日本グランプリでマトラV12のエンジン音を聞きました。
素晴らしいサウンドでしたよ。
Second to only the Mazda 3 rotor for making a hangover worse
Great video. What a roar. Still l8ve that flat 12
Thanks for watching
on 2:31 I'm glad to learn ipads where already a thing at the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix !
I remember the sound of this remarkable engine echoing through the hills at Mosport. I also remember its association with the unluckiest driver ever in F1, Chris Amon. Such a talented driver.
And when he passed several years ago there was not a Single mention of his death at the following F1 race. Hobbo piffe 8:46 d me off with his no mention...hell, he raced against him ims.
The Camaro at Lemans this year is what sounded Awesome
One Word: GLORIOUS!!
i miss the days when f1 was unique. when you had v8s and v12s on the same track in the same race. so much more exciting
Loved this. Very interesting. The DFV was hardly boring, though! The thought!
Definitely agree, was more so saying in comparison to the matra it was the voting choice. Ask things considered the DFV was the right choice to make
So let's do a beauty competition, marks out of 6: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 4; C. Overrun feedback: 3; D. Harmonics: 4; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. For comparison, the BRM V16: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 5; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Mazda quadruple-rotary: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 4; C. Overrun feedback: 4; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Porsche 917 flat-12: A. Feedback sound under load: 6; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 5; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 5. Subaru WRC Boxer: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 4; D. Harmonics: 4; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. Audi S1: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 6; C. Overrun feedback: 6; D. Harmonics: 6; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 6. Ford BDA-4: A. Feedback sound under load: 5; B. Liftoff sound: 5; C. Overrun feedback: 6; D. Harmonics: 5; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 4. Mercedes-Benz W123 4-cyl: A. Feedback sound under load: 3; B. Liftoff sound: 2; C. Overrun feedback: 1; D. Harmonics: 1; E. Sound transfiguration (or "fear of God factor"): 0. Voilà.
Yes the Matra V12 is a great sounding engine, i don,t believe they were as reliable as the Cosi, but certainly makes the hair on back of the neck stand up. I remember the 76 season very well, I went to most of the F1 races that year at Brands, and saw Hunt, lauda, Andretti et al battling it out !! I remember it must have been the British GP of that year, in the Brands Paddock you could have your picture taken inJaques laffites ligier Matra that had won a GP a few weeks earlier !, I remember as a 12 year old boy how thrilling it was to sit in this fantastic F1 car, I've still got the picture somewhere, great memories the best days of F1 in my opinion. Best sounding engine for me it would have to be the Ferrari Flat 12, thanks everyone !
I don’t really remember who was world champion. I remember the legends. The sights and SOUNDS! Spine tingling stuff!
🏎💨😗👌🏻
There's MAYBE only one F1 car that sounds better than the Matra V12 and that's the BRM V16.
Went to the ‘73, ‘74, and ‘75 Watkins Glen GP. Back then fences were about 20 feet from the track guardrail and you could almost FEEL the shriek of the Matra. And the venerable Ford DFV that howled and the Ferrari flat 12’s scream. F1 cars now sound like vacuum cleaners on steroids.
That's what I miss about modern racing, they all sound the same (well, not exactly, they are pretty similar).
For me, I have a thing for:
Matra V12
Ferrari V12 from about '67 F1, then the later F1 flat 12s
The Honda V12s from late 60s
The V16 BRM from the 50s
Ferrari V12 from 94-95
Honda V12 and V10 from early 90s
Renault from 1991, 1992
The DFV is still cool, and I prefer the onboard noise it makes, rather than external.
Chris Amon won the 1971 non championship Argentinian grand prix in a Matra ms120 v12.
Yes he did, rarely gets a mention. it was a sort of a test event to see if Argentina could host a championship GP, They did of course for years.
Great vid... Laffite was an underrated driver and had he gone with a competitive team, who knows. Too bad his F1 career was cut short.
Definitely underrated.
In '67 or '68, I saw a white Honda F1 car, with a V-12 that sounded insane. It was at Watkins Glen. By far the best sounding car in the race. But I think it was a DNF. V-12's just sing my song....
Edit add: Needless to say, the Mazda GTP rotary gives me serious chills....LOL
All three engines do sound very very nice. Ok, the Matra is indeed the nicest 😎. There is a kind of drama in this voice, which reminds me a little bit of todays Maserati V8 engines (e.g. in the Quattroporte). And the sad thing is: We will never get back that sound in motor racing.
Matra really set the stage for power you could truly hear and feel
Thank you, Aubrey Woods, BRM
I own a matra and i'm so sad this brand died. A car shapped like a space dorito with 3 seat in the front and a transversal back engine and with a low price is just unique... Only this brand made those thing and now there is just void where matra stood.
ONE OF THE BEST SOUNDS EVER ..THANKS !!!!!!!
Thanks for watching
The Matra MS670 driven by French legend Henri Pescarolo in Le Mans 1972 remain the best sounding V12 race car of all time. Period.
Funny that the nowadays Cosworth V12 for the GMA T50 sounds like the Matra !
I agree, the t50 is a beautiful car
The t50 sounds really close to the Matra v12 . Same firing order.
It was music, art, passion. Not anymore, ever, never.
The Matra is not in my time but here it sounds really good. My time was with the Ferrari V12.
The Fe-wah-wah sounds like the microscopically perfect engine it is. The Matra sounds brash. New. Loud! In-your-face.
The Ford DFV has the reliability but not whole lot of power so it would struggle with certain races but it one of those race proven engine where the Matra V12 shines is the noises it produce is eargasm no two ways about it but it a pity they didn't continue to make more racing engines in different configurations
Sure Matra-12 is amazing with fantastic sound. But saying its the most unique etc is over the top. No one is like the BRM 16.
I disagree. I have heard the BRM V16 in the flesh and it’s certainly impressive. But the Matra is something else. I remember at Brands in the 70s it would literally drown out every other car in the field. Standing at Westfield, you could hear where it was whichever part of the circuit it was on. TH-cam in no way creates its banshee howl. Probably, I suspect, because they are largely videos in preservation where it does not reach full revs. The engine which sounds closest to the Matra is the Le Mans winning Mazda 787B
Nothing is just changed any more, it's changed "forever." Forever is a long time.
All 12s sound almost alike,it’s a personal preference.
No, the Matra sounds quite different because the tuned length exhaust only paired cylinders that fired 180 degrees apart, whereas most 12 cylinders connect the exhausts of 3 cylinders firing 120 degrees apart.
It would be great to have these Matra, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, BRM and Honda V12s racing in the Masters Historic F1 3 litre series 😊 instead of the all DFV's
Most gorgeous sounding race engine ever...in the words of Mario Andretti, "that engine just sounded like power"
This is the perfect age of F1 V12s. They growled, where newer ones shriek.
I love this era, thanks for watching !
I miss the sounds and the ‘smell’ of racing in the days of my youth.
The Matra v12 sounds good, but ever heard the Honda RA272? :)
Music was good in the 70's.
You want a proof? Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and of course Matra V12, Cosworth DFV, Ferrari flat 12.....
These engines are music to my ears
the matra got a more rounded plesent sound and not so much mechanical rattling as the ferrari that sounds more klunky rattling noice.
DFV well its a V8 so its a bit of another sound by that but also got that rounded pleasant sound as the matra.
not that the ferrari sounds bad at all but it just got that little bit of odd rattling that the other engines dont got.