1403 Matra M 530 coupé (1967-72)

Hello all,I have heard an interesting story about this model but I would like to obtain some evidence that the story is true and as I do not have this model any more, I have a question.When the headlights are up, can one open the bonnet without hiting the corner of the headlights were the green mark is ? Thank you for your help.

I checked this with my orange sample -- not the white one, as that paint chips if you even breathe on it! -- and yes, it is true that when the headlights are up, the bonnet will strike them at the area of the green mark. Due to the shape of the headlight covers, I do not see how this problem could have been avoided. It is probably also an issue on the full-size Matra M 530 too. The car was later modified into the Matra M 530SX, which replaced the pop-up headlights with fixed round units. Meantime the simple answer is, 'switch off your lights before opening your bonnet.'

Thank you Johnny, This proves that the DINKY TOYS were very accurate, that the tool makers were excellent and that the story that I have been told is true. So let me tell you the story.Meccano tooled the Matra M530 at the same time as Matra was building the first prototype. When the guys at Bobigny assembled the dozen or so pre-production sample they found that when the headlights were up the bonnet hit them when it was open. The draughts men checked all their measurements and scale calculations but nothing was wrong there. So they called the Matra developpement shop in Plaisir and asked if the same problem applied to the actual car also. The answer was I have not heard about something like this but please wait I shall go and check in the workshop. A few minutes later the Matra enginer said, yes we have the same problem, we had not tested this before but we will make the necessary changes.This also proves that the DINKY TOYS Matra M530 is a model of the first car assembled by hand and not a model of the production cars. It also explains the little notice provided with the model which reads : 'close the headlights before opening the bonnet'. 659 472

I wonder if this also pertains to the Atlas copy, or if the Norev toolmakers changed it?

I should think that the chinese one is the same because it is made from a 3D scan of the original and any way the atlas people were so loosy that they would not have cared.Could you please make a close up with both bonnet and headlights up, this would be an evidence of the flaw.

Here is a closeup ... I was not about to provoke the clash further because the paint is pretty fragile. I have both the white and orange versions of this model which came in the usual crystal boxes. I do not recall either having a copy of the notice you reproduced. Either this had been lost, or perhaps it was not included all the time.

Hi JohnnyThank you for the picture.

The Atlas model has the same little leaflet enclosed.