So, another Spring means another round of trips down to Quality Coaches, no? Well, that was my idea of thinking, and it didn't hurt. While it's still relatively early for "summer", I figure QC would be busy, and as luck would have it, I was right! Nestled among the drab, mundane vehicles in the parking lot sat this gem. Honestly, I think this is the first Simca I've seen in real life. I realize this is not a pristine example, and I'm sort of glad it isn't. I like cars with character and this Simca is no exception.
Introduced in late 1955, this was the second generation Aronde. Other than a slight restyling of the front and rear fascias, the exterior remained largely the same as its predecessor. News was under the hood, where the previous 1.2L was slightly enlarged to 1.3L and renamed the "Flash". Sadly, that was not a synonym for fast. 0 to 60 took a staggering 24 seconds when new, and this example likely takes even longer. But performance was not the cue here.
Whereas classic American cars were all about styling touches, this little Simca is no different; to the untrained eye, it looks like a miniature version of the Toyopet, which itself is reminiscent of a 1955 Chevy. Definitely no bad thing for sure. On this example, the chrome has its share of surface rust, but the body itself doesn't appear to have any real damage to it. The paint, too, looks almost original. The only thing I'd change here is the Geek Squad decals. They are coming off in time for this car to be shown at the German car fest in the "others" section. I do realize this is a French car, but I've seen a few oddball Renaults at the show, too. One can only hope once its restored, this little guy doesn't get beat down again.
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