Simca 1200S
| Simca Coupé 1000 Simca 1200S |
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|---|---|
Simca 1200 S
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Simca and Bertone |
| Production | 1962-1971 |
| Assembly | Poissy, France and Turin, Italy |
| Designer | Giorgetto Giugiaro while with Studio Bertone |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact Coupé |
| Body style | 2-door Coupé |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Related | Simca 1000 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 944 cc Type 315 ohv I4 1204 cc Type 315 ohv I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual all-synchromesh |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,220 mm (87 in) |
| Length | 3,925 mm (154.5 in) 3,990 mm (157 in) |
| Width | 1,525 mm (60.0 in) 1,530 mm (60 in) |
| Height | 1,255 mm (49.4 in) 1,270 mm (50 in) |
| Curb weight | 795 kg (1000 Coupé) 890 kg (1200 S) |
The Simca Coupé 1000 and its successor, the Simca 1200S are small, rear-engined two-door coupés (described by one well informed commentator as “Pseudo-sportives”) which were produced by Simca between 1962 and 1971. Simca also provided the engine and the mechanical underpinnings while the small elegant bodies were built in Turin by Bertone before being transferred for final assembly to Simca’s Poissy on specially configured trains.
The change of name in 1967 marked a major upgrade that included the installation of a more powerful engine and styling adjustments enforced by moving the radiator from the rear to the front of the car. This improved weight distribution, but the engine itself remained at the back.
The Simca 1000 saloon was launched in France in October 1961 and was an instant success with French buyers, but the response in export markets was much more muted. The new management at Simca were keen to raise the profile of their new car internationally. Mindful of the precedent set by Renault with their (initially Frua bodied) Renault Floride, Simca turned initially to Facel to discuss a joint project with Facel produicing the bodies, but in the judgement of Henri Pigozzi, Simca’s aging but still unusually “hands on” boss, Facel’s proposal lacked the necessary style and was considered unrealistic: there were also concerns that Facel’s parlous financial position might impact the project adversely. Simca then turned to Bertone and commissioned a coupe version of their new car. Bertone gave the job to a recently recruited young designer called Giorgetto Giugiaro and the car, having already been heavily trailed, was formally launched at the Geneva Motor Show early in 1962, though official French homologation for production only took place in November 1962: customer deliveries began in 1963. The style of the car was widely admired, but the cost of the Bertone built body made it difficult for the car to compete on price alone, while use of the standard 944 cc engine block from the Simca 1000 meant that performance was unlikely to live up to its racey styling. From the start Simca presented the Coupé 1000 as a separate model.
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