Road Cars - Simca - 1930/1939

Simca was a French automobile manufacturer that produced a variety of vehicles, ranging from small economy cars to more luxurious models, between 1934 and 1978. The brand is particularly known for making affordable cars that were popular in France and several European countries during the mid-20th century. While the company is no longer in existence today, Simca's legacy in the automotive world lives on through the cars it produced and its influence on the French automotive industry.

Founded Simca was founded in 1934 by Henri Théodore Pigozzi, an Italian-born French industrialist, under the name Société Industrielle de Mécanique et de Carrosserie Automobile (SIMCA). The company initially started as a manufacturer of Italian Fiat models in France under license.

Pigozzi’s connection to Fiat and his goal to build affordable, mass-produced cars for the French market set the stage for the brand’s success. In the early years, Simca produced Fiat-based models, notably the Simca 5, which was an adaptation of the Fiat 500. The Simca 5 was a small, affordable car that became quite popular in France and helped establish Simca as an accessible brand.

After Chrysler acquired Simca, the brand’s models began to bear more resemblance to American Chrysler products. This move led to the dilution of the unique identity of Simca as a distinct French brand.

In 1978, Chrysler sold off Simca to Peugeot, marking the end of the Simca brand. Peugeot rebranded the cars, and many of Simca's models were integrated into the Peugeot and Citroën lineups.