Makes › René Bonnet › Djet (tubular chassis) · Rare production · 1962 Ultra Rare
René Bonnet
Djet (tubular chassis)
Early tubular-frame Djet, first mid-engined road car series.
Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 12 Built
- Years
- 1962
- Engine
- Rear mid-engine · 1,100 cc / 1.1 LFactory: 1,100 cc
- Power
- 52.2 kW / 71 PSFactory: 70 hp · converted
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- René Bonnet and Charles Deutsch
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Djet was the first production mid-engine sports car, built first under the Rene Bonnet name and then by Matra. It predates several better-known mid-engined sports cars.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
René Bonnet Djet (tubular chassis) (Wikimedia Commons: René Bonnet Djet)
Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 2.0
René Bonnet Djet (tubular chassis) (Wikimedia Commons: René Bonnet Djet)
Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 2.0
René Bonnet Djet (tubular chassis) (Wikimedia Commons: René Bonnet Djet)
Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 2.0
René Bonnet Djet (tubular chassis) (Wikimedia Commons: René Bonnet Djet)
Photo: Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England · CC BY 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionexamples produced plus 3 prototypes | 121 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The Djet was conceived by Rene Bonnet and Charles Deutsch and sold under the Automobiles Rene Bonnet name. Matra bought the company in 1964 and kept the Djet unchanged.
The car used a tubular backbone chassis with a fibreglass body and four-wheel disc brakes. Most cars had a 70 hp 1100cc Renault inline-four driving the rear wheels, and later cars got a 90 hp 1255cc engine.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Djet (tubular chassis).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine manufacturer | Renault (1100cc inline-four)2 Independently researchedSource spells the make 'Renualt'. Values describe the Djet range in general, not only the tubular-chassis subset. |
|---|---|
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Cylinders | 42 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Displacement | 1,100 cc / 1.1 LFactory: 1,100 cc2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. A later 1255 cc, 90 hp engine is mentioned for a few cars. |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 52.2 kW / 71 PSFactory: 70 hp · converted2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Four-speed manual2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Rear wheels2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Tubular backbone chassis2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Fully independent2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Rear suspension | Fully independent2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Brakes | Four-wheel disc brakes2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Steering | Rack and pinion2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Body construction | Fibreglass body2 Independently researchedDescribes the Djet in general (introduced 1962); the article does not say which values apply to the early tubular-chassis cars. |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1962 René Bonnet Djet CGTRB5 tubulaire | Artcurial Level C
- 12 examples produced plus 3 prototypes
-
2
1965 Matra Djet for Sale Via RM Sotheby's in Portugal Level C Brian Silvestro · Road & Track
- 70-horsepower 1100cc Renualt inline-four
- first production car to feature a rear mid-engine layout
- 1100cc Renualt inline-four
- four-speed manual transmission
- sending power to the rear wheels
- tubular "backbone" chassis supporting a fiberglass body
- fully independent suspension
- four-wheel disc brakes
- rack-and-pinion steering
- supporting a fiberglass body
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