Matt's Simca Vedette and Ariane Page 1955

Matt's Simca Vedette and Ariane Page 1955 - 1963

SIMCA VEDETTE & ARIANE

1955 to 1963

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In November, 1954, and retroactive to January, 1954, SIMCA acquired by merger Ford SAF (Societe des Automobiles Ford) in an unprecedented move, and SIMCA took over the production facility of Ford France in Poissy. Ford of France had just introduced the entirely new Versailles in late 1954 (new, except for the engine). The two models of cars previously produced had more-or-less American characteristics: the Vendome and the Comete, both being driven by a V8 motor; with cubic capacities of 2.2 and 3.3 litres. Pigozzi continued to produce only the Vendome (the prize of the purchase) which, from 1955 to 1961, carried the SIMCA Vedette name and successive names of Trianon, Versailles, Marly, Beaulieu, Chambord and Présidence. With the purchase of Ford France in 1954, SIMCA added an ultra-modern plant at Poissy to its Nanterre plant and had the benefit of the technical assistance of the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, until May, 1956. As a result of the merger, SIMCA included two former Ford SAF directors on the SIMCA Board of Directors. The combined production of all passenger cars made SIMCA the second largest in France, with 25% of total volume (behind Renault, but ahead of Citroen). The production of the Vedette, although having notably increased compared to the values recorded under Ford management, was always relatively modest.

The maximum was reached in 1956 with 44 836 units, after which there was a constant fall until the abandonment of the model in 1961. The Vedette, in the versions Chambord and Présidence, however continued to be built under license for six more year, until 1967, for the Brazilian market (but with greater horsepower engines). With the body of the original Vedette and the engine of the Aronde. SIMCA also introduced, for the domestic French market the Ariane hybrid which had its own success story. Like the Aronde, the 1956 Ariane had a cubic capacity of 1,290 cc (48 hp) and, at the same time, it was offered in a Montlhéry version. (57 hp). Because the Vedette was designed strong enough to carry the Aquilon V8 engine, the large, yet frugal 4 cylinder Ariane became very popular with taxi drivers.

By 1957, SIMCA had taken over its own United States distribution at 445 Park Avenue. The Ariane was introduced in 1957 and produced until 1963. It was developed to fill the gap between the Vedette and the Aronde. It was pictured as a car for the upper middle class. The design tried to appeal to the late '50's American oriented fashion taste. To make the car look more stylish, the sleek line of the design was exaggerated in the advertisement drawings. The interior was available in Super Confort and Super Luxe levels of finish. The later Araines were equipped with the Rush Super engine, a 62hp derivation of the Flash and Rush engines. Buyers could also specify the Araine 8, which came with the 84hp Aquilon V8 engine from the Vedette. The 1957 Vedette (Versailles) was sold in the U.S. for $2,495, vs about $3,100 in France. The urge to establish a favorable exchange in dollars, plus the shift in sales competition in the U.S. had caused the factory to drop the figure to the low-price level. Also offered was a super deluxe Monte Carlo model.

SIMCA’s remarkable ascension did not escape the notice of the 3rd largest automobile group in the world, and with regard to the management and the vicissitudes of the company, in August 1958, Chrysler acquired between 15% and 25% of the actions and capital of SIMCA. By December, all North American sales were handled through the Chrysler Corporation and parts were distributed through MOPAR. The dramatically restyled Vedette was introduced. The major styling change included an all-new body and interior and the motors output increased from 79 to 84 horsepower. The Vedette was a top-of-the-line, high-class car. It was actually meant to be a step up from the Citroen DS19 and the Renault Fregate. The Presidence was a stretched version used by Charles DeGaulle and was usually escorted by black Chambord sedans. The Marly station wagon, which had been introduced in 1955, continued to be produced through 1960, also benefiting from the crisp new styling. Chrysler Australia also assembled the Vedette Beaulieu in South Australia from 1958 to 1962 using a combination of imported and locally sourced parts.

The first SIMCA Vedette cars manufactured in South America came off of the assembly line in Brazil (at the Belo Horizonte plant) early in 1959. Of all the cars sold in France with over 2-liter engines, the Vedette accounted for a majority of landslide proportions. The SIMCA was the only V8 engined economy car imported into the United States. Chryslers design influence was apparent, especially in the made-for-the U.S.-only taillights that could have come from a contemporary Dodge. The Vedette was a Detroit (Ford) derived compact car built in France that combined the best qualities of American cars with the sensible size and handling ease of the imports. It also combined excellent performance with excellent economy. The Araine V8 sold in the U.S. for $2,098. By some accounts, the Vedette sold in the U.S. for $2,422. By other accounts, the Vedette Beaulieu sold in the U.S. for $2,298. Zero to 60 was reached in 17.2 seconds. Top speed was 90mph and speeds in 1st and 2nd gears reached 31mph and 55mph respectively. Trunk space was 18 cubic feet.

In 1960, a Rush Super powered Ariane was run for 125,000 miles (200,000 km) continuously at the Miramas test track at an average speed over 62.5 mph (100 km/h). No mean feat when you take into account the 73 mph (120 km/h) top speed of the car. The test was controlled and confirmed by the FIA, the International Autosport Federation.

By 1961, SIMCA was the largest privately owned automobile manufacturer in France, producing cars, trucks and agricultural equipment. More than 75,000 SIMCA's were now in the United States. On 9 Feb 61, the last Vedette was produced at Poissy, and the renovations for 1000 production were begun.

The last of the Ariane's were sold in 1963 and the 1,290cc Rush Super engine was used for several years on the new 1300.

IN 1935, FORD OF DEARBORN DESIGNED A NEW, SMALL V8 ENGINE FOR THE ENGLISH MARKET. IT WAS RATED AT 22 TAXABLE HORSEPOWER, TO REPLACE THE PREVIOUS 30 (ACTUALLY 85) HORSEPOWER MOTOR. THE CAR WAS INTRODUCED IN 1935 AND WAS BUILT ONLY IN ENGLAND. IN 1937, THE SAME POWERPLANT, WITH MINOR CHANGES, WAS PRODUCED IN AMERICA AND KNOWN AS THE FORD V8-60. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FRENCH FORD DIVISION TOOLED UP FOR A SIMILAR ENGINE AND THE CAR WAS KNOWN IN FRANCE AS THE VEDETTE. FORD OF DEARBORN ABANDONED THE MODEL LATE IN 1940 AND FORD OF DAGENHAM FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTER THE WAR. BY 1949, THE VEDETTE, WHICH HAD BEEN CONTINUED IN FRANCE WAS TOTALLY REDESIGNED, TAKING ON THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF THE 1949 MERCURY. THE ENGINE, THOUGH BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE V8-60 WAS MODIFIED CONSIDERABLY AND FURTHER EVOLUTION RESULTED IN THE SIMCA VEDETTE ENGINE:

1937 FORD V8-60 1957 SIMCA V8-85

BORE & STROKE 2.60 X 3.20 2.60 X 3.75

CUBIC INCHES 136 143.4

CUBIC CENTIMETERS 2230 2351

BHP @ RPM 60 @ 4,200 79 @ 4,600 TO 84 @ 4,800

TORQUE @ RPM 94 @ 2,500 106 @ 2,600 TO 112 @ 2,750

COMPRESSION RATIO 6.6:1 7.2:1

SIMCA MANAGED AN AMAZING 40% INCREASE IN POWER WITH ONLY A 9% INCREASE IN DISPLACEMENT. SIMCA'S "AQUILON" V8 WAS BORN.