Simca Vedette
The Simca Vedette is an executive car, manufactured from 1954 to 1961 by French automaker Simca, at their factory in Poissy, France. The Vedette competed in France's large car market at a time when the economy was finally returning to growth and enjoyed moderate success with its American style finished off by the Italian designer Rapi. It was marketed with different model names according to trim and equipment levels. The Vedette was Simca's largest model at that time, and it went on to spawn a more economical version, the Simca Ariane.
| Simca Vedette | |
|---|---|
A 1956 Simca Versailles V8 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Simca |
| Also called | Ford Vedette |
| Production |
|
| Assembly | Poissy, France São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil Adelaide, Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate 2-door convertible 4-door convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Ford Vedette Simca Ariane Simca Esplanada |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.4 L Aquillon V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual Rush-Matic automatic |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Vedette |
| Successor | Chrysler 160, 180, and 2 Litre |
Simca acquired the Poissy factory from Ford France (Ford Société Anonyme Française, the French subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company), along with the model line, in 1954. The Vedette was therefore initially still marketed as the Ford Vedette.
The Vedette was manufactured in Poissy until 1961 and the Ariane until 1963. After that, production continued in Brazil until 1966, when the Vedette finally evolved into the Simca Esplanada following Simca's takeover by Chrysler.