Simca Car Production By Model : 1980-87

I don't know what Peugeot had in mind when taking over Chrysler Europe. There were benefits to doing so seeing as it got the company without cost and the assets of the company were worth something. If it planned to kick start what had now become the Talbot brand back into life, that idea was soon put to bed. Instead production quickly reduced and ended by 1987.

In reality, trying to resurrect the company was not likely. Putting Talbot logos on PSA cars was the obvious way to go but didn't happen. What was once the Simca car brand was simply absorbed into PSA.

Year	Horizon	1307	Samba	Rancho	1100	Tagora	CKD	Total
		Solara
1980	158,800	116,500	-	9,800	41,700	500	50,000	377,300
1981	100,400	60,100	18,500	13,800	19,900	15,700	94,179	322,579
1982	71,300	42,400	104,300	8,600	12,800	2,600	27,216	269,216
1983	59,100	29,000	81,800	6,000	14,600	1,300	85,296	277,096
1984	64,138	22,178	44,926	77	-	-	76,144	207,463
1985	24,352	17,426	18,946	-	-	-	50,776	111,500
1986	5,800	3,100	6,700	-	-	-	13,440	29,040
1987	1,000	-	-	-	-	-	2,600	3,600

Data source: Freyssenet.com

Solara: In 1980, a saloon version of the 1307/Alpine hatchback was released. Nearly 70,000 were made in 1980, but production fell away after that.

Samba: This mini car came as a 3-door hatchback or 2-door cabriolet and was based on the Peugeot 104. It was the only Simca engineered by PSA. Production slumped as the company was wound down.

Tagora: It was an executive car to replace the 180 series and was an even bigger flop, if that was possible.

Summary: The once successful Simca car make came to an undignified end. What started out in the 1930's by Fiat ended up being assimilated by the PSA Group. With so many brands making mainstream cars, it's hard to see how things could have worked out any other way for Simca.

For others in the series, simply click on the dates: 1947-59, 1960-69, and 1970-79.