Simca

The Simca Aronde was introduced in 1951 as Simca's first completely original model, marking a major break from the company's earlier Fiat-based cars. It was also Simca's first car with a modern unibody construction, combining contemporary styling with improved rigidity and practicality. Initially launched as a four-door saloon powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, the range quickly expanded with estate, van, coupé and commercial variants. The elegant pillarless Grand Large coupé appeared in 1953, while a cabriolet prototype never reached production. The Aronde proved an immediate success, with 100,000 cars built within two years, and gained worldwide publicity by setting numerous long-distance endurance records at Montlhéry, underlining its reliability and durability.

The second-generation Simca Aronde arrived in October 1955 with refreshed styling, a larger 1.3-litre "Flash" engine and improved practicality thanks to a bigger luggage compartment. New trim levels, including the Elysée and Montlhéry, expanded the range, alongside estate, van and pickup versions. In 1957, stylish Facel-bodied Plein Ciel coupé and Océane cabriolet models joined the lineup. By then the Aronde had become an international success, with production surpassing 500,000 units and exports reaching markets including the United States.

Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1958, the Simca Aronde P60 featured a completely modernised design with subtle tailfins, a wider grille and a lower roofline, while retaining the proven mechanical layout of its predecessor. Buyers could choose from a wide range of trim levels, engines and body styles, making it one of the most diverse ranges in its class. In 1960, the new five-bearing 1.3-litre Rush engine improved refinement and performance, with outputs rising to 70 hp in the Montlhéry Spéciale and Monaco Spéciale. The P60 remained in production until 1964, bringing the long-running Aronde story to a close.