Talbot Samba
| Talbot Samba | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | PSA Group |
| Production | 1981–1986 |
| Assembly | France |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini (B) |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback 2-door cabrio |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related |
Citroën LN/LNA Citroën Visa Peugeot 104 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.0 L XV I4 1.1 L XW I4 1.2 L XZ I4 1.4 L XY I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,340 mm (92 in) |
| Length | 3,506 mm (138.0 in) |
| Width | 1,528 mm (60.2 in) |
| Height | 1,362 mm (53.6 in) |
| Curb weight | 740 kg (1,630 lb)-850 kg (1,873.9 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Talbot Sunbeam |
| Successor | Peugeot 205 |
The Talbot Samba is a supermini car manufactured by the PSA Group in the former Simca factory in Poissy, France, and marketed under the short-lived modern-day Talbot brand from 1981 to 1986. Based on the Peugeot 104, it was the only Talbot not inherited from Chrysler Europe, engineered by PSA alone. It was also the last new Talbot to be launched, and the last in production. Its demise in 1986 was effectively the end of the Talbot brand for passenger cars. Launched initially as a three-door hatchback, it was also for some time the only supermini available in a factory-ordered cabrio body style, and the most economical car in Europe.
The PSA Group, formed in 1976 when Peugeot bought out its competitor, Citroën, took over the former Chrysler Europe in 1979; one of its first decisions was to rebrand all of the models manufactured in the French and British factories to Talbot. Among the models inherited from Chrysler was the Scottish-built rear-wheel drive Talbot Sunbeam, the only supermini in the lineup.
The Sunbeam was originally conceived by Chrysler as a stopgap model, developed to keep the Linwood works running—it was based on the running gear of the earlier Avenger made there—while helping the company to maintain a foothold in the growing supermini market. Aware that a more modern design was needed to compete with upcoming front-wheel drive rivals, Chrysler undertook some development work on a shortened version of the Chrysler Horizon (which had the development code C2), dubbed C2-short, but it was cut short by the company's financial problems and plans to divest Chrysler Europe.
...
Wikipedia