Among the various French manufacturers of the time, Simca has always had a special place. Its Latin origins and American influences through various acquisitions have given an exotic touch to the models offered. These different influences have allowed for a rather wide range at times, but also quite incoherent with models that are diametrically opposed. A rich and fascinating history that arouses the interest of collectors in Europe. At the initiative of Simca Club of France, these lovers of the brand with the swallow gathered at the charming Lake Magdeleine in Gujan-Mestras, during the Ascension weekend. ALEPOC traveled there to discover the more than 300 vehicles on display, tracing the entire history of Simca. This gathering has become an unmissable annual event for enthusiasts of the brand. Each edition highlights a specific model or celebrates a significant event in the history of the Simca in order to preserve the brand's legacy and keep alive the memory of the cars that marked their era. This year, the star was the Simca 1300/1500 celebrating its 60th anniversary. To celebrate this event, nearly sixty copies made the trip.

A classic and sleek design

At the dawn of the 1960s, the range Simca was beginning to age, with an archaic Vedette that was discontinued in 1961, an Aronde P60 with an outdated design, and an outdated Ariane positioned in the high-end market. With the economic boom and the emergence of the middle class, it was urgent to develop a new sedan. The fresh money brought in by the increase in Chrysler's capital allows "Monsieur Simca", Pigozzi, to release an unprecedented entry-level project: the Simca 1000.  In the same vein, The 1300/1500 was launched in 1963. to bring a breath of fresh air to the upper range. This new sedan was actually Pigozzi's last project before being dismissed by Chrysler that same year. The names were replaced with numbers for a less extravagant nomenclature.

Behind these figures, the Designer Mario Revelli de Beaumont succeeded in a stylistic exercise with a car featuring sleek and balanced lines, bringing a lot of brightness into the cabin. Its classic design was well-rooted in its era and concealed proven technical solutions on the SIMCA Aronde. The SIMCA 1300 maintained the propulsion architecture with a rigid axle. It was also equipped with four drum brakes and the "Rush" engine, a four cylinders overhead valve engine, whose displacement had been increased to 1290 cc to develop 54 hp. The suspensions had been revised with MacPherson struts at the front and coil springs at the rear. This classic car was not known for its performance, but its conservative approach was appealing.

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In 1964, a more powerful version appeared with the SIMCA 1500, equipped with a 1475 cc engine developing 69 hp. This engine, type 342, was specifically developed for the 1500. It was distinguished by more enveloping bumpers and disc brakes at the front. It also offered the option of an automatic transmission and was available in four trims (L, LS, GL, and GLS), just like the 1300.

That same year, The break 1300/1500 was introduced. At the time, it was still a rare body style that was beginning to appeal to families and businesses (read station wagon). Peugeot). This break Simca proposed a system for opening the tailgate downward, allowing for better loading. The tailgate window could be lowered with a crank to facilitate the loading of long objects. This was a first in France, inspired by American "Station Wagons." This station wagon was even adopted by the National Police.

Our spare parts for Simca 1500

 

The evolution of the range

Before the appearance of the Simca 1100 In 1967, many examples of which were present in Gujan-Mestras, the range Simca had to be revised to avoid any internal competition. Thus, in 1966, the 1300/1500 was replaced by the SIMCA 1301/1501, which was nothing more than a significant facelift. The central structure remained the same, but the designers have redesigned the front and rear faces with new headlights, hoods, and a unique grille. These modifications extended the car by 21 cm. Inside, the dashboard evolved with horizontal instrumentation. Under the hood, the same engines were retained with a slight power increase. The range was offered in three trims (LS, GL, and GLS) with two engines. The 1301 was equipped with a 1290 cc engine producing 57 hp, reaching a top speed of 138 km/h, while the 1501 used a 1475 cc engine producing 73 hp, allowing for a cruising speed of 151 km/h. Watch out, it's moving fast !

See our available parts for Simca 1301

In March 1967, a Utility version of the station wagon called 1301U was introduced to the market, but it was quickly withdrawn in the fall of 1968 due to insufficient demand.

For thrill-seekers, the manufacturer unveiled in 1969 a sportier version called Special. The SIMCA 1501 SpecialIt was the high-end model, with its 81 hp (engine type 342S). It was equipped with power-assisted brakes, a floor-mounted gear lever, a sports steering wheel, and long-range headlights. The 1501 was also slightly updated with a new grille incorporating fog lights. In the same year, the dashboard evolved with the introduction of small round gauges, two for the 1301 and four for the 1501.

At the beginning of 1970, the 1301 dropped the "Rush" engine in favor of the same engine as the 1501, but in a reduced 1290 cc version (type 345) developing 60 hp. It also offered a Special version with a power of 70 hp.

The Competition of Chrysler Simca

At the turn of the 1970s, Simca, integrated into Chrysler Europe, was entrusted with the development of a new high-end sedan that was presented in 1970 under the name of Chrysler Simca 160, 180 or 2 liters depending on the engine type. It adopted an outdated American style with European dimensions, but it did not leave a lasting impression. It is rare to come across one, and we were fortunate to see one at the gathering. This new sedan will mark the beginning of the end for the 1301/1501. To prevent it from encroaching on the territory of the new SIMCA Chrysler, , The 1501 was discontinued starting with the 1972 model year. leaving only the 1301 in the catalog, but only for a moment because the 1501 is reintroduced for the 1974 model year due to the lack of interest in the new sedan. Both versions adopt depolluted engines reducing their performance (73 hp for the 1501 and 67 hp for the 1301).

The saga of the 1300/1500 ended in 1976 after selling 1,343,000 copies. Its remarkable habitability and classic design with Italian accents have won the hearts of the middle classes. The latest Simca The Pigozzi era is a madeleine de Proust for some, who recall their childhoods sharing long family trips. It even played the lead role in Jacques Tati's film Playtime. Although it is discreet in collections, it remains a good way to access vintage cars with the charm of a 1960s vehicle. Attention to enthusiasts ;)