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There were a few Simcas imported into the States during the ’60s, but not many. I remember mostly boxy little compacts, but a few were smooth little coupes and convertibles. This rare Simca was purchased new in 1961 and after being driven just 44,000 miles, it was put away in 1976 in a garage in California’s dry central valley. It’s in St. Louis now and listed on eBay. It should be pretty peppy with it’s little 1.3 liter engine. The sale includes manuals and the service history. The bodywork and paint are far from perfect, but there’s no sign of rust. The top might need repair, but perhaps this little roadster could be driven and enjoyed just as it is. It will be interesting to see how high the bidding goes.
Never seen a Simca like this one before. I do recall seeing several of the more common Simca sedan (badged as Aronde) back in the late 60s, either sitting dead in people’s yards or in junkyards. Don’t think I ever saw one runing on the road
I had one in 1963 while in school at Southern Tech. Mine was battle ship gray with dark tan leather. Was fun to drive
I’ve never seen or heard of one of these. Really, really cool, but where do they come from?
I was (I believe) the high bidder last time it was on ebay a few weeks ago. The reserve wasn’t met. They have it on their site for 30K or so. That seems high to me but then what do I know?
I find it interesting that there is no rear license plate light, nor provision for one.
Cool little car. I’ve bid on it, but think it’s only good for non-highway roads. That’s Ok, maybe drop in a sbc…;-}.
Really good photos and some detailed and documented history with the car—good to see compared to so many listings we see these days, especially for an unusual convertible from Europe like this.
I don’t see it being worth the $30K that Thomas mentioned as the seller’s price, at least in No America, but send it over to a big auction in France like Artcurial / Retromobile and I’m guessing that it would make that figure. I’m no expert on Simcas but this one looks original and in very decent shape, and with documented low miles and history it will attract attention. Being in one family and in CA for much of its life no doubt helped this one to survive so well.
These cars were licensed by Fiat. The body of course is is pure French. This one has been for sale a while and on eBay at least one time before. Interesting that the car is red and the dash is white. They are far more rare here than in France. With long time California history the tin worm should not be as prevalent as in some others I have owned.
When I was a lad of about 8 years old, our neighbors had a 1959? Aronde sedan (second car to a huge Chrysler Saratoga). I recall it being a pretty neat little car with much better seats than the typical American car of the era, but I believe hearing much later that there were chronic engine issues. In any event our neighbors owned the Aronde for less than two years, followed by a succession of Corvairs. This car has a much sexier body than the Aronde sedan. rather Facel-like except for the strange ’56 Dodge-like tailights. In fact, maybe Facel manufactured the bodies.
Yes, Facel did build these bodies and compared to modern Japanese cars they really seem pretty crappy as cars but 50 – 55 years ago they were about as good and bad as anything else. Thirty grand though . . . will take a special buyer to pay that – I’d rather have a driver quality Ferrari 308 or Bentley for that money.
30k seems high.
My mom drove a ’57 Aronde, black four door, until she literally melted the engine block, my guess; lack of coolant and oil. I recall the smell of a combustion engine going nuclear to this day. She mourned the demise of her “little French car” for years; guess it had “cool factor” at the time.