Fascinating French Classic Cars: Simca Aronde P60

The « Ligne Océane », last remodelling of the successful Simca Aronde created in 1951, hardly was three years old when the boss of the Simca company, Henri Théodore Pigozzi, decided to renew the body of the car in 1958.

Simca Aronde P60, 1961 model

The name Simca Aronde means swallow in old French, it corresponds to the Firm’s logo and confirms its slogan « Un appétit d’oiseau », designating an economic car « eating like a bird ». The Aronde was Simca’s first unibody car and was produced from 1951 to 1958 (models 9 and 90A). The P60 is launched in 1958 and will continue until 1963. A total of 1,3 million units were built. With the Aronde, Simca became the second French automaker of the time.

The new Aronde P60 presents a large grille with vertical bars and a flatter ribbed roof with a vast rear window. These modifications were amplified by the elegant combination of two tone paints that could be matched according to the client’s tastes. No other French manufacturer ever proposed this before. The purchaser then really had the impression of a personalized car, hence the name P for personalized and 60 for 1960 to show it was ahead of its time. Another version says that P stands for Pigozzi and that when the model was launched Pigozzi was 60. The new range comprised the Elysée (48 hp), the Montlhéry (60 hp), the Grand-Large and Monaco coupés. A De Luxe version existed also with the old body at a very attractive price. The Etoile, an economic model appears in 1960 and is a real competitor for the Renault Dauphine and Peugeot 203. In 1960 also, the new 1.3 l « Rush » engine with a five-bearing crankshaft equipped the Aronde and in 1961 a 70 hp version, the « Rush Super », is proposed on the sedan Montlhéry Spéciale and on the coupé Monaco Spéciale. A well-equipped station wagon (Ranch), a simplified version (Châtelaine), a van called (Messagère) and a pick-up (Intendante) were created and built.

All the Simca P60 had a large chequered gold fillet on the Montlhéry and Monaco and a silver fillet on the Elysée and Grand Large. This décor disappeared with the 1961 model.

In 1959, 184,000 units were constructed, a score that could not be envisaged six years earlier. Thanks to the miracle of credit and an intelligent policy of trade-in allowance for cars, Simca opened new horizons to a clientèle that so far only hoped to drive a second-hand car.

Simca Aronde P60, 1961

Dashboard of the Simca Aronde P60, 1961

Simca Aronde 90A, 1955. The model preceding the P60