The Simca Ariane was a large saloon launched in April 1957 and built at Poissy until 1963. It combined the body of the first-generation Simca Vedette with the small 1,290 cc engine of the Simca Aronde, offering space and economy rather than performance.
Simca Ariane at a glance
| Production | April 1957–1963 |
|---|---|
| Built at | Poissy, France |
| Body | four-door saloon, first-generation Vedette shell |
| Engine | 1,290 cc Flash four, 7 CV |
| Ariane 8 | from October 1957, 2,351 cc V8, 13 CV |
| Built | 166,363 |
| 1959 addition | Ariane Super Luxe with extra chrome and a windscreen washer |
| 1961 additions | new interior trim; seats folding flat into a bed |
| Last name | Simca Miramas for the final two years |
| Argentine production | 507 cars as the Ariane Miramas until 1967 |
| Replaced by | Simca 1300/1500 |
History of the Simca Ariane
Why a small engine in a big car
The Poissy plant had been built by Ford France and made the V8 Ford Vedette, but heavy French taxes on large engines held sales back. Simca bought the plant and the model line from Ford in 1954, and the car became the Simca Vedette, sold under different names according to equipment. The Suez Crisis of October 1956, with its fuel shortages and price rises, undermined the V8 cars, while the Citroën DS was taking over the market for large French cars. The idea of a big car with a small engine had existed at Simca for several years before Suez, and its urgency grew in the summer of 1956 when the head of Simca learned of a plan to add an annual tax on cars with larger engines. Simca therefore fitted the 1,290 cc Flash engine of the Aronde into the most basic Vedette, the Trianon.
The car
Presented in April 1957, the Ariane filled the gap between the Aronde and the Vedette. Fitting the body of the former first-generation Vedette with the 1,290 cc four gave a car that focused on economy rather than acceleration. In October of the same year the Ariane 8 appeared with the 2,351 cc Aquillon V8 of the Vedette, effectively replacing the Trianon as the Vedette range moved upmarket; the V8 Ariane was dropped along with the company’s other V8 models in 1961. For 1959 Simca added an Ariane Super Luxe with more chrome outside, vanity mirrors inside and a windscreen washer, and all Arianes received restyled tail light clusters resembling those of the Vedette.
Later years
Further interior upgrades came for 1961, including bench seats that could be folded flat to form a bed of sorts. For its final two years the car was branded Simca Miramas. Production ran until 1963 and 166,363 were built, but the end was abrupt: 33,733 Arianes were made in 1961 and only 14,284 in 1962, as attention at Poissy turned to the new Simca 1000. The most direct replacement was the Simca 1300/1500 of 1963.
Argentina
The Ariane Miramas was also made in Argentina by Metalmecánica, where 507 were reported built until 1967 in Standard and Lujo versions, and as a taxi.
Design and features
- Big car, small engine: Vedette space with the 1,290 cc Aronde four, aimed at economy.
- Wide choice: several versions plus the V8 Ariane 8 from October 1957.
- Equipment: the 1959 Super Luxe added chrome trim, vanity mirrors and a windscreen washer.
- Folding seats: from 1961 the bench seats could be folded flat to make a bed.
Simca Ariane versions
- Ariane (1957–1963): 1,290 cc Flash engine, 7 CV.
- Ariane 8 (1957–1961): 2,351 cc V8, 13 CV, replacing the Vedette Trianon.
- Ariane Super Luxe (1959): extra chrome, vanity mirrors and a windscreen washer.
- Miramas (1961–1963): the final name for the French car.
- Ariane Miramas (Argentina): 507 cars built until 1967.
The Ariane used the body of the Simca Vedette and the engine of the Simca Aronde, and was replaced by the Simca 1300/1500. More cars are in the Simca collection.
Sources
- Simca Ariane, English Wikipedia: origins, launch, versions, production, Argentina
- Simca Ariane, German Wikipedia: engines, tax classes, production total
