"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark)
02/18/2014 at 15:52 • Filed to: None
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"AMC/Renauledge" (n2skylark)
02/18/2014 at 15:52 • Filed to: None | 2
| 7 |
I was trying to come up with more !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to add to the conversation when I remembered the SIMCA 1300/1500. When I first saw it, I thought it looked a lot like the contemporary Fiat 124.
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When I GIS'd it today, I realized that, while there is a passing resemblance, the SIMCA is actually much, much prettier than its Italian competitor.
The SIMCA's shoulder line is much lower. Its stance is much wider, proportionately speaking. While still upright and boxy, it almost has an M-B W114 quality to it. Yet the SIMCA bowed 5 years prior to the Benz.
Above is the extended 1501 version, with a longer tail. I think the W114 resemblance is quite clear from this angle. And look at the gentle, yet elegant wheel arches. The delicacy of the roof pillars. The softness of the curved belt line.
The way the hood drops between the fender lines, giving it a lower look. The purity and simplicity of the horizontal bar grille. The fact that you could get it as a sedan or a wagon. RWD, no less!
Eventually, the line would get a facelift that made it a little less elegant, but more distinctive.
Then SIMCA debuted sportier "Special" versions. With a rather fussy two-tiered blackout grille design that emphasized the "angry eyes" look of the hood line, even more character was added, without spoiling the delicate purity of the overall shape of the car. The 1300-1500 design ran from 1963-75.
The stretched 1501 would be replaced - eventually - by the rather ungainly-by-comparison, and slow-selling Chrysler 180/2-Litre:
The standard cars were eventually replaced by the awkward Chrysler Alpine for 1976:
Neither of those cars portended happy times for their makers, although the Alpine did win Euro COTY in 1976. So I prefer to look back at happier, more optimistic times in this tribute to compact grace, simplicity, and attainable elegance.
I prefer to rest my gaze on the SIMCA 1300/1500 instead.
Roberto G.
> AMC/Renauledge
02/18/2014 at 16:08 |
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"the SIMCA is actually much, much prettier than its Italian competitor"
Maybe. But not as valid, otherwise all Eastern Europe would be full of clones of the Simca 1500... but as far as I know it didn't happen, and everything the Simca 1500 has left to posterity, are some buckets of rust in some few, selected French scrapyards.
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AMC/Renauledge
> Roberto G.
02/18/2014 at 16:17 |
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I'm not quite sure what your point is. Yes, the 124 was more prolific. More countries and companies produced it. Many more were sold, in more variants, by far.
The SIMCA, though, is a far softer, more elegant, better-proportioned car from a stylistic standpoint. And SIMCA was a much smaller company than FIAT.
Let's be honest. Most of those Fiat 124s are in scrap yards, too. What's been produced by others since the last 124 sedan left the line in 1974 is a long line of durable shitboxes.
Jonee
> AMC/Renauledge
02/18/2014 at 16:56 |
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I've always thought it was Simca's version of the 404.
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AMC/Renauledge
> Jonee
02/18/2014 at 17:02 |
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I see some similarities. But the SIMCA is much slimmer, lower, and with thinner pillars.
Jobjoris
> AMC/Renauledge
02/19/2014 at 11:58 |
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Lovely as you may found the 1300-1500 series, these cars were not built to last, you will not find many left. My father once owned a later 1308. It was horrible, bought new and corrosion within a year. Got a new one under warranty (corrosion not being the only issue) but that one didn't last any longer within our family. My grandfather's Simca 1000 was a lot better. Fond memories to that one!
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AMC/Renauledge
> Jobjoris
02/19/2014 at 12:29 |
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Was it just corrosion problems, or were there others? Most British and Italian cars had those problems, too, back in the day.
While I accept that the 1300/1500 might not have been the best car in the world, I do think it's very elegant and attractive.
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Jobjoris
> AMC/Renauledge
02/20/2014 at 03:03 |
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It's a car I don't dare mention a lot around my father, it wasn't just corrosion, also electrical/mechanical failures.
But the 1300/1500 sure look great compared to the Fiat 124. But that could be caused by the fact there has been so many 124's over here (including the Lada-versions) in Europe.