Simon Cars - Simca Aronde

Simca 9 Aronde and 90A

'Aronde' was an old French word for Swallow, and was given to the Simca 9 because the Simca badge contained a Swallow. The Aronde first flew in Spring 1951 but was officially launched at the 1951 Paris Salon. Pigozzi had started up Simca with Fiat backing and it may not be simply coincidence that the Aronde had many similarities with the 1950 Fiat 1400 albeit that was a larger car. The 1,221cc 4-cylinder engine from the Simca 8 powered the Aronde, and the 4-door berline was supplemented by a 3-door estate and van and two different sports coupes one produced by Facel. Production reached 100,000 in just two years, and Arondes achieved records at 50,000km and at 100,000km to prove the reliability of the car. In 1955 the Simca 90A Aronde replaced the Simca 9 version, and this was given modest restyling with wings at the rear and a new grille. Behind the grille a 1,290 'Flash' engine. In 1958 the Aronde P60 was launched replacing the Aronde 9 and 90A after around 700,000 had been produced

aa Simca 9 Aronde 1954 badge

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 - badge on bonnet

aa Simca 90A Aronde 1957 Sedan badge

Simca 90A Aronde 1957 Sedan. The second version of the Aronde, the 90A, was launched in October 1955 with an upgraded 1,290cc 'Flash' engine

ac Simca 9 Aronde 1954 head

Simca 9 Aronde 1954. The 1951 Aronde had a grille with a stepped top bar, but this curving grille was given in 1954

ac Simca 90A Aronde 1958 head

Simca 90A Aronde Sedan 1958. The second version of the Aronde, the 90A, was launched in October 1955 with a full width grille incorporating the side lights

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 front

Simca 9 Aronde 1954. Launched at the 1951 Salon de Paris, the Simca 9 Aronde used the mechanics of the Simca 8, including the 1,221cc in line four.

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere front

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere, the goods version of the Aronde, there was also a 'commerciale semi-vitree' which was a part glazed Van and estate combined

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere rear

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere. The estate car and van versions of the Aronde had split tailgates with lift-up window and drop-down lid

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 rear

Simca 9 Aronde 1954. In 1954 the rear lamps were changed to show more of the coloured plastic for better visibility

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 wheel

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 - wheel

Simca 90A Aronde 1957 Sedan front

Simca 90A Aronde 1957 Sedan. The second version of the Aronde, the 90A, was launched in October 1955 with an upgraded 1,290cc 'Flash' engine

Simca 90A Aronde 1958 front

Simca 90A Aronde Sedan 1958. The second version of the Aronde, the 90A, was launched in October 1955 with an upgraded 1,290cc 'Flash' engine

s Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere side

Simca 9 Aronde 1954 Messagere. Simca offered the Aronde as an estate car (Break or 'Chatelaine'), and also as a Commerciale or a Messagere (half seats half luggage)

Simca Aronde 90A Sport Oceane front

Simca Aronde 90A Sport Oceane. The Oceane was a sporting version of the Aronde 90A sold as a cabriolet somewhat resembling a Ford Thunderbird. It was also sold as the 'Plein Ciel' which was a fixed head coupe. Both were built by Facel-Metallon for Simca.

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