The Simca 1307 and 1308 were the French-market versions of a large family hatchback designed by Chrysler Europe, engineered by Simca at Poissy and built from 1975 to 1986. A modern front-wheel-drive five-door, it won the European Car of the Year award in 1976 and replaced the rear-wheel-drive Simca 1301/1501.
Simca 1307/1308 at a glance
| Project code | C6 |
|---|---|
| Designed | Roy Axe and his team at Whitley, England |
| Engineered | Simca, Poissy, France |
| Production | 1975–1986 |
| Bodies | five-door hatchback; four-door saloon from 1980 |
| Engines | 1,294 cc and 1,442 cc Poissy fours |
| Transmission | four-speed manual; five-speed and automatic from 1980 |
| Trim at launch | GL, S and GT; GLS added later |
| Award | European Car of the Year 1976 |
| Daily output | 400 at launch, 1,100 by late 1976 |
| Other names | Chrysler Alpine, Chrysler 150, Talbot 1510, Talbot Alpine |
| Replaced in practice by | Citroën BX and Peugeot 405 |
History of the Simca 1307/1308
A Chrysler Europe project
The C6 project began in 1972 as a replacement for the Simca 1501. The British arm of Chrysler Europe wanted an enlarged rear-wheel-drive Hillman Avenger as an answer to the Ford Cortina and Morris Marina, while Simca favoured a modern five-door with front-wheel drive in the mould of the Renault 12 and Volkswagen Passat. Building both was dropped on cost grounds, and the work was split: Simca engineered the car in France while the body was designed in Britain. Development was finished in the summer of 1975, the car appeared at the Paris Salon in October 1975 and went on sale in Britain in January 1976.
Design
The 1307 was a five-door hatchback with a large tailgate, thin pillars and a triangular quarter window in the C-pillar — a shape that led the German press to call it a double of the Volkswagen Passat. Bumpers were fully covered in plastic, painted light grey or black rather than body colour, and contemporary testers found them clumsy. The boot held 306 litres, rising to 1,255 litres when the rear seat was folded forward, and the fuel tank took 60 litres.
Engines and trim
The 1307 took the 1,294 cc version of the Poissy engine, the 1308 the 1,442 cc unit; both had electronic ignition and a four-speed gearbox. From launch there were three trim levels, GL, S and GT, and a later GLS added central locking and electric windows. In continental markets the sporting 1307 S had twin Weber carburettors, while British cars kept a single Solex. The larger-engined cars were sold as 1308 and 1309, the latter known as 1609 in a few markets, and the Italian importer offered a 1308 GLS Superstrada with alloy wheels, black side stripes and blacked-out chrome.
Facelift and the Solara
For 1980, by then under the Talbot brand, the car was heavily facelifted and became the Talbot 1510, sold in Britain as the Talbot Alpine. It received new front and rear lights, and the top SX version came with alloy wheels, cruise control, headlamp wash/wipe, power steering and a trip computer. Automatic transmission and a five-speed gearbox became available. A four-door saloon, the Talbot Solara, joined the range with 1.3 or 1.6 engines. French production of the 1510, Alpine and Solara ended in 1986; Ryton in England had stopped in the autumn of 1985 to make way for the Peugeot 309, and the last British cars were badged Minx or Rapier.
Design and features
- Early European hatchback: one of the first large family cars with front-wheel drive and a fifth door, alongside the Renault 20/30 and Volkswagen Passat.
- Car of the Year 1976: the award helped output rise from 400 cars a day to 1,100 within a year.
- Well equipped: central locking and electric windows arrived in the GLS at a time when such fittings belonged to larger cars.
- One body, many names: Chrysler Alpine, Chrysler 150, Dodge Alpine and later Talbot 1510 and Talbot Alpine.
Simca 1307/1308 versions
- 1307 (1975–1980): 1,294 cc, the 7 CV car in the French tax class.
- 1308 and 1309: larger engines; the 1309 was sold as the 1609 in some markets.
- 1307 S: twin carburettors in continental Europe, a single Solex in Britain.
- 1308 GLS Superstrada: an Italian-market edition with alloy wheels and black trim.
- Talbot 1510 and Alpine (1980–1986): the facelifted range with the SX at the top.
- Talbot Solara: the four-door saloon added in 1980.
The 1307 replaced the Simca 1301/1501 and was joined in the range by the smaller Simca Horizon. More French cars are in the Simca collection.
Sources
- Chrysler Alpine, English Wikipedia: development, engines, trim, facelift
- Chrysler C6, German Wikipedia: project history, design, dimensions
