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Simca 8 from 1950 - it's all been there before

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Created on May 9, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

47

Archiv

32

Bruno von Rotz

47

Archiv

32

Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - Doors opening in opposite directions without a center post - not a matter of course back then

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - was very popular at the time, because the Simca 8 combined sportiness with economy

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the models from 1949 onwards were given higher-quality details and more stable bumpers

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - won the "Concours de Bidon cinque liters" several years in a row

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - higher than wide

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - was also widely used in racing and rallies

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the models from 1949 onwards had large chrome wheel covers

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - convenient access to all seats thanks to counter-opening doors

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - there was room for four people in the Simca, but thanks to the steering wheel gearshift it could also be 6 at times

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - good all-round visibility in the small Simca

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - glossy lacquered dashboard

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - simply designed dashboard

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the later models had a high-quality interior in fabric and leather

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - chrome in the interior too

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the second round clock provides information about the health of the engine

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the speedometer is nicely designed

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - some document study is required if you want to start and drive the Simca

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the gas pedal pedals

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the door can be opened with the strap without having to contort yourself

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - Crank windows and pins for closing as they were still common many years later

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the spare wheel sits in the back of the trunk

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the spare wheel can be folded out with an intelligent device

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - no, this bike is not for driving

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - intelligently designed lifting device for the spare wheel

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the spare wheel is folded out for loading

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - relatively spacious trunk

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - futuristic motif on the hood

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - yellow headlights, as usual in France

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - symbolizes speed, the car was over 110 km/h fast

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.2 liters produced 40 hp

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the steering column is clearly visible through the engine compartment

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the small engine was exemplarily economical even back then

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - 40 hp at 4,000 rpm - that had to be enough

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the two door openers are right next to each other

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - indicator for the direction indicator - the cover is missing here

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the streamlined sculpture on the hood

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - beautifully designed air outlet openings

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - the rear lights on both sides are probably not quite original

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - Rear light in the center

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - chrome strips and position lights

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - Position lights in the C-pillars

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - magnificent chrome details

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - beautifully designed bumper horns

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - Simca sign also on the cardan tunnel

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - beautifully designed hubcaps

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Simca "8" 1200 (1950) - still impresses today with a certain elegance

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Fiat 508 C / 1100 Balilla (1937) - side view in a sales brochure

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Fiat 508 C / 1100 Balilla (1937) - see-through drawing reveals the technical details of the Fiat design

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Fiat 508 C / 1100 Balilla (1937) - beautiful illustration of the chassis

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Fiat 508 C / 1100 Balilla (1937) - Interior and dashboard of the pre-war Fiat

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Fiat 508 C / 1100 Balilla (1937) - Transparent drawing shows the interior of the four-cylinder engine

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Fiat 1100 Balilla (1937) - as a convertible with four doors

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Fiat 1100 Balilla (1938) - 32 hp from 1,089 cm3, 9 liters per 100 km, 19,500 lire expensive

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Simca 8 (1947) - the saloon with the external spare wheel

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Simca 8 (1948) - as Berline Décapotable with mounted spare wheel

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Simca 8 (1948) - here still with flat rear without attached trunk lid

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Simca 8 (1948) - visually close to the Fiat

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Simca 8 (1948) - wonderful brochure illustration

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Simca 8 (1949) - Berline Décapotable at the 1949 Paris Motor Show

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Simca 8 (1947) - the narrow-bodied coupé

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Simca 8 (1951) - exhibited as a 1.2-liter at the 1951 Geneva Motor Show, priced at 6,950 francs

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Simca 8 (1949) - from 1949 with attached trunk lid

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Simca 8 (1949) - from 1949 with larger 1.2-liter engine

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Simca 8 (1950) - the see-through drawing illustrates the technology of the 1.2-liter version

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Simca 8 (1947) - independent chassis

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Simca 8 (1951) - longitudinal and cross-sectional view of the 1.2-liter engine

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Simca 8 (1951) - on the front page of the sales brochure

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Simca 8 (1949) - a pretty vehicle is admired

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Simca 8 (1950) - as a fully opening convertible Décapotable

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Simca 8 (1951) - visiting the lake

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Simca 8 (1951) - a charming factory photo

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Simca 8 (1947) - faster than 110 km/h and less than 9 liters per 100 km - that's how the Simca was sold

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Simca 8 (1949) - American design influences are also clearly visible in the 1.2-liter version

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - exceptionally pretty sports car

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - the lines are very reminiscent of the Cisitalia

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Simca Aronde (1952) - the successor to the Simca 8

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Simca Aronde Grand Large (1955) - with all the advantages of the new series, especially lots of glass for the cabin

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Simca Aronde P 60 Montlhéry (1960) - this saloon donated its technical genes to the coupé and convertible versions

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Summary

The Simca 8, which was produced in over 110,000 units between 1937 and 1951, was a licensed version of the Fiat 508C 1100 Balilla, but moved away from it towards the end of production before being replaced by the Simca Aronde. With counter-rotating doors without a B-pillar, independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes, it had a modern look and was very popular with fans of sporty saloons. This vehicle report traces the history of this successful model and shows it in over 50 current and historical illustrations. The many sales/press documents, which even cover the Fiat 508 C, are a real treat!

This article contains the following chapters

It began in 1935
Reliability as a sales advantage
With the appetite of a bird
Modern construction
Careful model updating
The elegant sports version
Replacement by the Schwalbe
Simca 8 in self-experiment
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Doors that open in opposite directions without a center pillar (B-pillar) or an immobilizer? Things that are celebrated as great achievements of modern times were already present in the Simca 8 over 60 years ago. However, this small car was not invented by the French, but by the Italians, as the Simca 8 was a licensed version of the Fiat 508 C Balilla, which had already been presented in the mid-1930s. Simca stands for "Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carosserie Automobile" and a certain Henri Théodore Pigozzi founded this company in Paris-Nanterre back in 1935 to build variants of the Fiat 500 and 1100 models under license. To this end, Pigozzi set up modern production facilities equipped with machine tools of American origin.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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