The Competition:

Ford, Renault, Peugeot and Simca


	The fifth major French motor manufacturer was Simca which like its compatriots was obliged to offer pre war models in the immediate post war years. The first all new Simca was the Aronde, originally launched in 1951 and subject to almost annual facelifts and revisions until 1964 when it went out of production. Simca acquired Ford France in 1954. Below left an Aronde of mid fifties vintage and below right a late fifties version.

Higher up the range was the American styled Ariane built between 1957 and1963 - two versions shown below left and below right.

The Simca Vedette was the marque's DS competitor and was built between 1955 and 1961 above left and above right.

The Vedette Marly break of 1955 left was influential in the design of the ID Break.

The Simca 1000 left was a direct competitor for the Renault R 8 .

The Simca 1300 left was launched in 1963 and remained in production until 1966.

Simca's 1100 left was built between 1967 and 1973 and was a small, front wheel drive hatchback which in its later years was in direct competition with the Citroën GS.

The Simca 1501 above left replaced the 1300 and was built between 1967 and 1976 while the Simca 180 above right which was built between 1970 and 1976 was the closest thing that Simca came to a competitor for the D and later the CX.

The Rancho left, designed by Matra was a niche vehicle, having the appearance of a 4 x 4 but being front wheel drive. It was built between 1978 and 1984.

The Simca name was replaced by Chrysler and then when Chrysler's European operations were purchased by PSA, with the name Talbot.