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1951 - Simca 8 Sport Cabriolet
Chassis no.
See original version (French)
11
-
1951 - Simca 8 Sport Cabriolet
Chassis no.
See original version (French)
Estimate €20,000 - €30,000
Voluntary lot
Description
1951 - Simca 8 Sport Cabriolet
Chassis no. 912973
French registration
Sold without technical inspection
Remained in the same family from 1951 to 2008, preserved in its strict original condition.
At the end of the war, small popular models were needed to get France back on its feet. Competition was fierce, and to stand out from the crowd, Simca wanted to move upmarket and offer more luxurious cars. Seduced by the proposal from Stabilimenti Farina, which had built a very elegant and slender coupé on the chassis of the Fiat 1100 S (identical to that of the Simca 8), the Chairman of Simca France, Henri Théodore Pigozzi, ordered one and presented it in 1948 at the Paris Motor Show under the name Simca 8 Sport.
Wishing to produce a series of cars based on this prototype, he bought the rights from Farina. Facel Métallon, later to build the Facel Véga, was commissioned to produce the bodywork and assemble the car on a Simca 8 chassis. Production started in March 1949, and two versions, coupé and cabriolet, were available.
Pre-production examples were entered in the Monte Carlo Rally in January 1950, and were a resounding success, finishing 4th and 5th overall. Under the bonnet, the Simca 8's 1,200 cm3 engine was boosted to 50 bhp by increasing the compression ratio, adding larger inlet valves and adjusting the valve timing differently. In addition to its top speed of 135 km/h, the Simca 8 Sport stood out from the competition thanks to its elegant lines, and it was also a great success in elegance competitions. Production ended in April 1952, to be replaced by the Simca 9 Sport, which used the same engine and base as the Simca Aronde, but with a completely new body. In the end, 5,165 examples of all versions of the Simca 8 Sport were produced.
Our example was bought in 1951 by Charles Niepce, a Simca dealer in Chalon-sur-Saône. Registered in Paris and then in the Paris region from 1956, our cabriolet stayed at the Château de la Mormaire in the Yvelines. Its owner used it to drive to the village a few kilometres away. His nephew Yves Niepce inherited the car in 1984 and kept it until 2008, when he became deputy managing director of Charles Pozzi Automobiles. It was then acquired by an Alsatian enthusiast who was captivated by its moving state of preservation and as a souvenir of the Dinky Toys he had owned when he was young.
Its current owner purchased it in 2020. This car is presented today in its strict original condition, never restored, retaining its black celluloid paintwork and beige leather interior. The dashboard is complete with its specific buttons and original steering wheel. The original soft top and soft top cover are present, although the tarpaulin was damaged during the last transport. The car was rolled at the time of purchase and will need to be restarted. With its clear history, moving state of preservation and superb lines, this car deserves the attention of collectors in search of authenticity.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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