Realising the big family transporter concept of the yesteryears, and presenting it to the present day audience that would have all but forgotten about it, a Bajaj Tempo Matador plays a cameo yet interesting role in the Bollywood movie Golmaal 3. Painted in a shade of red, yellow and green, the van nicely supports the comedy roles played by Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty. With the plot of the movie presenting Mithun Chakraborty as the head of the family who drives the Matador, Golmaal 3 also projects his adopted children. There’s Arshad Warsi, Kunal Khemu and Tushar Kapoor. Chakraborty has love interest in Ratna Pathak who has two adopted sons played by Shreyas Talpade and Ajay Devgan. The plot also includes Kareena Kapoor who plays a love interest of Devgan. A typical love and hate relationship evolves over time between the youngsters as Chakraborty and Pathak make many efforts to unite, and get their sons to come to live together as a family. Hiding after stealing a queen’s necklace, Johnny Lever takes shelter in Chakraborty’s house. He forgets about hiding the necklace there. When he eventually remembers, he turns up at Chakraborty’s house with his associates. A chase scene follows where Chakraborty manages to hand Lever and the necklace over to the cops with the use of the Matador.


Tracing its roots back to German Tempo Viking of 1962, Matador was introduced after the oil crisis of 1973. The Matador F307 was available in six versions (station wagon, mini bus, ambulance, delivery van, utility van and dual cabin pick up truck). Built initially under license from Vidal & Sohn by erstwhile Bajaj Tempo (new Force Motors), the Matador, over time came to be powered by an in-line four cylinder indirect injection Mercedes-Benz OM 616 diesel engine that produced 65 hp and 125.52 Nm of peak torque. Before Traveller came in the market Matador was ruling the segment for two to three decades. A front-wheel drive design except during the later phase when a rear-wheel range was made available. With the body bolted to a strong tubular frame consisting of cross members, the F307 was equipped with a ZF 4DS10/2 type four-speed gearbox. The front suspension was made up of laminated torsion bar springs and telescopic shock absorbers. The rear suspension was made up of leaf springs and telescopic shock absorbers. The full-forward control van has a 190 mm ground clearance.

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