1951 Simca 8

Simca or Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile as they were known in their native France was formed in 1934 to build Fiats for the French car market. They progressed to marketing cars under their own name from 1938 onwards.

The Simca 8 was based on the 1,100cc FIAT 508C Balilla, and following World War II, the Sport version of the '8' was introduced. The Simca-Sport prototype, designed by Pininfarina, was displayed a year earlier at the 1948 Paris Motor Show. Following an enthusiastic reception, the boss of Simca, Henri Pigozzi, decided to put it into production. Construction was handled by Facel Metallon, and a coupe and convertible version followed a year later.

The Simca 8 Sport adapted the Stabilimenti Farina design of the Cisitalia 202, reproportioned by Giovanni Michelotti to fit the Fiat 1100S chassis. Facel-Méttalon, under the direction of Jean Daninos, handcrafted the coachwork using steel and aluminum. Power was from a four-cylinder Simca engine tuned for 50 horsepower (an increase from the saloon's 32). When the engine in the Simca 8 saloon grew to 1,200cc for 1950, the Simca 8 Sport followed suit, gaining two additional horsepower.

Production

The Simca 8 was produced from 1937 to 1951 and offered as a coupe, cabriolet, or saloon.

Mechanical Specification

The Simca 8 had a 95.3-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 157.5 inches, a width of 58.3 inches, and stood 60.2 inches tall. Although it was called the 'Simca 8,' it did not have an eight-cylinder engine but rather a four-cylinder unit, and was officially rated as a 6CV vehicle for tax purposes. Initially, the engine displaced 1,089cc and had a Solex 30mm carburetor, an aluminum cylinder head, overhead valves (driven by rods and rocker arms) and produced approximately 32 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. By 1950, the engine displacement measured 1,221cc.

The engine was paired with a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on the top two ratios.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 898621

Simca (Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile) was formed in 1934 in order to build Fiats for the French car market. At the Paris Motor Show in 1948, Simca displayed a Pininfarina-designed prototype. The car was well received and prompted the boss of Simca, Henri Pigozzi, to commercialize it with Facel Metallon tasked with its construction. A year later, it returned in a coupe and convertible versions and wearing the Simca-Sport name.

This particular Simca 8 Sport Convertible wearing a design by Pininfarina was sold new in Portugal. It later made its way to Germany and finally to the United States. It was given a restoration several years ago but still holds well in modern times. Power is from a 1100cc 4-cylinder engine fitted with dual carburetors and mated to a four-speed transmission.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 897238

This 1951 Simca is a one-off 8 Sport Cabriolet wearing a Stabilimenti Farina design initially penned for the Cisitalia 202, reproportioned by Giovanni Michelotti to fit the Fiat 1100S chassis. The coachwork was handcrafted by Facel-Méttalon under the direction of Jean Daninos using aluminum and steel. Using an Abarth-prepared aluminum head, an Abarth exhaust, and an S.Co.T. (Societa Compressori Torino) supercharger with a twin-choke Weber carburetor, the four-cylinder Simca engine's 50 horsepower output was boosted to an estimated 90 to 100 bhp.

This Simca was built for its original owner, Roger Barlow of the United States. He was a founding member of the California Sports Car Club, owner of the International Motors dealership in Hollywood, California, and a leading writer for Road & Track, Autoweek, Motor Trend, and Car and Driver magazines, as well as the author of two books.

Farina accommodated Barlow's taste by designing custom aluminum bumpers, special stainless-steel rocker moldings, a functional hood scoop, three-piece aluminum wheel covers, and unique fender vents. The leather interior is denoted by 'Extra Lusso' badging on the coachwork, and there is a banjo steering wheel. Like all of Barlow's Simcas, there is a custom 'B' emblem on the rear bodywork.

After his passing in 1990, the car was stored by Barlow's daughter for decades. It was sold into new ownership in 2014 and given a thorough restoration by Dragone Classic Motorcars before being acquired by the current owner in 2015.

The 1,221cc overhead valve inline four-cylinder engine is paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and there are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. At the front is an independent suspension with double wishbones and coil springs. A live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs suspends the rear.

by Dan Vaughan

The Simca 8 was built from 1937 through 1951 and sold in France. It made its debut in October of 1937 at the Paris Motor Show and sales began in November. Body styles included a coupe, cabriolet, and saloon. At the time of introduction, only the 4-door 'berline' and a 2-door cabriolet were available. The car was named the '8' but was powered by four-cylinder engines. They were rated as a 6CV vehicles for tax purposes. The engine originally displaced 1,089cc and produced 32 horsepower. They had a Solex 30mm carburetor, overhead valves, and an aluminum cylinder head.

by Dan Vaughan