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10 Strange French Sports Cars

Vukasin Herbez June 7, 2025

France has long been a breeding ground for automotive creativity, producing sports cars that veer wildly from convention. From tiny twin-cylinder phantoms to radical canopy designs, these French machines often balance audacious style with unorthodox engineering choices. This article explores ten of the strangest French sports cars ever produced, each unfolding in roughly one hundred words.

Some embraced minimalism and extreme weight reduction, while others flaunted futuristic dashboards or mid-engine layouts in unexpected segments. Whether propelled by two cylinders or turbocharged V6s, these vehicles reveal how French designers and engineers repeatedly challenged norms. Prepare to discover the delightful oddities that make these ten true outliers.

1. DB

E4f6d3fd4d1f9b45aec1cb37f4a14a9ff51a3b6f — Photo Credit: Classics

Founded by Charles Deutsch and René Bonnet in 1953, DB crafted lightweight sports cars built around diminutive Panhard flat-twin engines. Rather than chase big displacement, DB’s engineers used tubular steel frames and fiberglass bodies to keep weight under 600 kilograms, pairing slender two-cylinder powerplants to deliver nimble performance.

1959 Deutsch Bonnet Hbr5 Rvl (4637752284) — Photo Credit: Wiki

Models like the HBR boasted pontoon-styled fenders and aerodynamic nose cones rarely seen on small-displacement cars. Despite producing barely sixty horsepower, these machines could reach around 160 km/h, thanks to exceptional weight distribution and minimal mass. DB’s quirky embrace of economy-car engines in bespoke sports bodies exemplified French ingenuity, creating a unique driving experience defined by agility over brute force.

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2. Alpine A110 (New)

Revived in 2017, the modern Alpine A110 channels its 1960s predecessor through a striking blend of retro-inspired aesthetics and contemporary engineering. Under its sinuous aluminum skin lies a lightweight bonded chassis weighing just over one metric ton. A mid-mounted 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder borrowed from Renault’s Megane RS delivers 252 horsepower, but the A110’s true magic comes from its near-perfect weight balance and razor-sharp suspension tuning.

Its circular LED headlights and pronounced rear hips pay homage to the original rally legend. The minimalist cockpit emphasizes driver engagement, featuring a simple digital gauge cluster and lightweight seats. The new A110 feels like a walking tightrope, delivering uncanny agility wrapped in nostalgic design language.

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3. Bugatti Tank (Type 32)

01 Bugatti Tye 32 Tank — Photo Credit: Bugatti

In 1923, Ettore Bugatti unveiled the Type 32, nicknamed the “Tank” for its radical, slab-sided bodywork. Designed for aerodynamics, the Type 32 featured a nearly flat, enclosed shell that resembled armored plating more than a racing car. Beneath the steel exterior resided a 2.0-liter straight-eight engine generating about 90 horsepower, enabling top speeds near 185 km/h—impressive for the era.

Bugatti Type 32 Tank 100890294 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

However, the narrow track and full enclosure resulted in handling nightmares; crosswinds induced unpredictable behavior at speed, earning it a reputation as unnerving to drive. Only three were built, with brief racing careers. Despite its shortcomings, the Tank remains a captivating experiment in early aerodynamic exploration, defining French audacity in design.

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4. Matra DJet 1965

Matra M 530 Baujahr 1967 96487 — Photo Credit: Mecum

Launched in 1965, the Matra DJet (sometimes styled “D’Jet”) fused mid-engine performance with futuristic styling that stunned onlookers. Developed by Matra’s aviation-inspired engineers, the DJet housed a transverse 1.1-liter Renault engine mounted behind the cabin. Its backbone chassis supported dual independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes—advanced for its time.

The body featured dramatic scoops, pop-up headlights, and a slender tapering tail, evoking the silhouette of a light jet. Inside, a minimalist layout placed most gauges directly above the driver’s knee. Despite modest power producing around 70 horsepower, the DJet’s lightweight construction delivered remarkable agility. Although produced in small numbers, its aviation DNA and sleek lines secured cult status among enthusiasts.

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5. Venturi 400 GT

When Venturi debuted the 400 GT in 1994, it arrived wearing the aggressiveness of a track car. Under its sharply creased fiberglass body sat a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 derived from the PRV alliance—tuned to deliver about 400 horsepower. Its sculpted profile featured massive NACA ducts on the hood, pronounced side intakes, and a towering rear wing that screamed performance.

A tubular steel subframe supported fully independent suspension, while Brembo brakes reined in its furious pace. Acceleration to 100 km/h occurred in under 4.5 seconds, rivalling contemporary supercars. Venturi’s devotion to extreme aerodynamics and feral power made the 400 GT an exotic oddity—a distinctly French interpretation of supercar vitriol with flamboyant panache.

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6. Renault Spider

Renaultsport Spider Flickr The Car Spy (cropped) — Photo Credit: Wiki

Unveiled in 1995, the Renault Spider shed every superfluous element: no doors, roof, or windshield, only a tiny “fly screen” to block some airflow. Developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, its tubular steel frame and composite body weighed a mere 725 kilograms. A mid-mounted 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine revved freely to 7,500 rpm, producing 147 horsepower—enough to rocket the Spider to 100 km/h in under six seconds.

Renault Sport Spider — Photo Credit: Pinterest

Drivers sat in racing bucket seats, entirely exposed to the elements, with steering, braking, and acceleration offering raw, unfiltered feedback. The Spider felt closer to a track car than a street vehicle, its brutal simplicity and visceral demeanor cementing its status as one of France’s most daring sports machines.

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7. Citroën SM

Launched in 1970, the Citroën SM married flamboyant styling with high-tech innovation, powered by a Maserati 2.7-liter V6 placed under a long, curved hood. Citroën’s hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension delivered a “magic carpet” ride, while the speed-sensitive DIRAVI power steering automatically self-centered. Swiveling headlights pivoted with steering inputs, dramatically improving nighttime visibility.

The teardrop-shaped body featured covered headlamps and a gently sloping roofline, creating a cohesive aerodynamic form. Beneath the luxury veneer, the complex hydraulic system powered steering, suspension, and brakes, rendering maintenance challenging. Despite mechanical reliability woes, the SM’s audacious blend of French hydraulic mastery and Italian V6 charm cemented its place as an extraordinary GT tourer.

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8. Matra Bagheera

Simca Matra Bagheera 1974 Pictures 1 — Photo Credit: Auto Wp

Introduced in 1973, the Matra Bagheera disrupted sports-car conventions by seating three occupants in a single row under a two-door coupe body. Its fiberglass-reinforced polyester shell perched on a steel backbone chassis, covering a front-mounted 1.3-liter Simca engine producing roughly 84 horsepower. At around 900 kilograms, the Bagheera could reach 100 km/h in about 10.5 seconds—impressive for a three-across setup.

Matra Bagheera Arrives At Schaffen Diest Matra+bagheera — Photo Credit: Auto Wp

Its wedge-shaped profile, pop-up headlights, and wraparound rear glass evoked futuristic design. The unconventional “three-under-two” seating meant the center passenger perched awkwardly ahead of the transmission tunnel, squeezing space. Yet, its blend of affordability, avant-garde styling, and unusual ergonomics made it an icon of French eccentricity.

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9. Panhard 24 CT

1964 Panhard 24ct, Front Right — Photo Credit: Wiki

Built from 1964 to 1967, the Panhard 24 CT married efficient engineering with strikingly futuristic styling. Panhard’s air-cooled 848 cc flat-twin engine produced about 50 horsepower, yet the car’s lightweight aluminum body (weighing under 800 kilograms) allowed sprightly performance. Its steeply raked wraparound windshield, subtle tail fins, and wraparound rear window created a jet-age aesthetic unmatched by contemporary rivals.

Front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes offered handling agility that belied the tiny powerplant. Cruising at highway speeds required high revs, but the Panhard’s minimalist simplicity and aerodynamic form made it feel like a concept car of the future. Today, the 24 CT’s quirky combination of design and efficiency defines French innovation.

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10. Peugeot 205 Turbo 16

Db2e1a91911aff247036cc99d7426e35e72e79a1 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

Conceived for Group B rally domination, the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 reshaped the hot-hatch blueprint with its mid-engine, four-wheel-drive layout. Under a widened hatchback shell with flared arches and an enormous rear wing lay a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine pushing around 200 horsepower in road trim and even more in competition spec. Its rally-tuned suspension geometry, pioneering electronic engine management, and lightweight construction yielded extraordinary agility on gravel, snow, and tarmac.

B3249cdb35da0a4ab52863cd1f99be91dcee38c3 — Photo Credit: Pinterest

The road-going version looked peculiar prowling city streets—its jutting wheel arches and low stance shouting rally readiness rather than commuter comfort. Yet its championship pedigree and radical design cemented the Turbo 16 as one of France’s most extraordinary performance hatchbacks.

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