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Incomparable in the extremes - Simca 1300 in the (historical) test

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Created in 1963

Text:

Clauspeter Becker

Photos:

Archiv

25

Archiv

25

Simca 1300 (1963) - General Director M. H. T. Pigozzi with the new Simca 1300

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - modern sedan

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - "Grand Luxe" version of the mid-size sedan with staggered lines

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Simca 1300 (1963) - Simca General Director M. H. T. Pigozzi with the maquette of the new Simca

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Simca 1300 (1963) - On a test drive

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Simca 1300 (1963) - Here the chassis is tested for vibrations and soundproofing using stroboscopic irradiation

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Simca 1300 (1963) - Cars are tested day and night on the Simca test track in Mortefontaine

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Simca 1300 (1963) - Simple dashboard and steering wheel

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Simca 1300 (1963) - a single central round instrument

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Simca 1300 (1963) - The trunk

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - comfortable four-door model

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Simca 1300 (1963) - view through the 1300 (view-through drawing)

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Simca 1300 (1963) - An illustration of the engine

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Simca 1300 (1963) - Rear axle

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Simca 1300 (1963) - almost optimal all-round visibility

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Simca 1300 (1963) - The passenger compartment of a Simca 1300

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Simca 1300 (1963) - The engine of a 1300

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Simca 1300 (1963) - A 1300 at the Geneva Motor Show in 1963

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Simca 1300 (1963) - View of the fittings

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - On display at the Geneva Motor Show 1963

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - Simple front with two large headlights

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - The more upmarket GL variant at the Geneva Motor Show 1963

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Simca 1300 GL (1963) - The rear is also dominated by two large lights

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Simca 1300 (1963) - A 1300 in bright color at the Geneva Motor Show

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Simca 1300 (1963) - On a test drive

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Summary

The Simca 1300 was incomparable - in both a good and a bad sense. It offered the buyer a lot of car for little money, but also less good processing quality than some of its competitors. Nevertheless, it was a formidable piece of French automotive engineering, as the Automobil-Illustrierte magazine found in its 1963 test. This article reproduces the original wording and shows the Simca in historical photographs.

This article contains the following chapters

Visually convincing, not solid enough
Big car, small engine
Little power, lots of speed
No more long fourth gears
Good chassis - but shy of bumps
Free from guile
Drum brakes that still grip well
Simple elegance
Sits well
Incomparable
Technical and test data

Estimated reading time: 18min

Preview (beginning of the article)

After an IAA with more and more super versions, you almost want to ask yourself: Is this Simca 1300 still up to date? Because it is a completely normal car that neither wants to appear nor be anything more. Perhaps it is the normal version of the 1963 power car par excellence. It is modern enough, both externally and technically, to be in keeping with its time, and yet it has enough of a conservative touch not to worry its audience. Even its external forms underline this character: the car is pretty all round and balanced in its lines. Nevertheless, it remains almost inconspicuous, it does not impose itself and looks anything but ravishing.

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