DO YOU REMEMBER – THE SIMCA 1501?
By Andrew Roberts |
12th November, 2020
A Simca 1501 was not exactly a rarity during the 1970s, yet it always seemed faintly exotic in comparison with its near contemporary, the Hillman Hunter. The styling, although clearly dating from the previous decade, was an intriguing blend of French and Detroit while the interior had the chintzy decor of a suburban living room. Besides, a fine example of the Simca had pride of place in the 1972 edition of Motor Cars; A Ladybird “Recognition” Book.
The roots of the 1501 date back to 1963 when the new 1300/1500 had the formidable challenge of replacing the long-established Aronde. At that time, Simca was a well-established marque in the UK, as Chrysler, the company’s owner, distributed their cars via their Kew operations. The 1.3-version debuted in May with the 1.5-litre version following seven months later.
On 31st July 1964, Autocar regarded the 1500 as providing ‘a standard of comfort which is an object lesson in itself’. The cost was £918 15s, with a quite stunningly naff wooden dashboard an additional £10. The Simca was also to enjoy a memorable supporting role in the Jacques Tati film Playtime.
The facelifted 1301/1501 followed in 1966, and in France, the Simca was regarded as a slightly more flamboyant alternative to the Peugeot 404. The British price of the top of the range GLS was an even more steep £1,019 15s 6d, but it did give a Riley 4/72 or a Humber Sceptre driver the cachet of owning a “Continental Car”. ‘No tinsel, no glitter. Just refined modern good looks’ claimed one brochure – i.e. the Simca was far too sophisticated for suburban wide-boys.
In 1967 Bill Boddy of Motor Sport complained the flagship 1501 ‘has a horrid gear-change, like most Simcas I have driven’. Furthermore, while it was a ‘nice-looking, economical car’ the GLS ‘cannot claim to be outstanding, being by now out-dated’. Many owners were too concerned with wearing Jean-Luc Goddard-style sunglasses to care.
1968 marked the introduction of the 1501 Special, with its twin carburettors, quartz-iodine auxiliary lamps plus an over-the-top wooden-rimmed “sports” steering wheel. Motor of 2nd August 1969 regarded the trim and engine as representing ‘a useful set of changes’ although at £1,154 8s 10d the Simca was more expensive than the Ford Corsair 2000E, let alone the Cortina 1600E.
By the end of that year, the 1501 gained new frontal treatment with integral fog lamps – a look that anticipated the Morris Marina Series 2 by six years. Simca planned to introduce the “1800” as the range’s successor in 1971, but Chrysler decided instead on the 180.
And so the 1301/1501 continued until 1975, when they were replaced by the 1307, aka the Chrysler Alpine. To say that the Simca is now an unusual sight would be an understatement – there are apparently only 11 left on the road in the UK - https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?q=simca+1501. The days when a car manufacturer could market a family saloon as boasting “Aeralon” upholstery now seems incredibly remote...
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