This car has been in Madeira for many years.
It was owned by a well-known person, who was always by the roadside, on a curve in Gaula, on the old road connecting Funchal and Santa Cruz, acting as a ‘signalman’.
It was passed on to a scrap dealer who then convinced João Correia to buy the car. After some time, he bought the Simca. Approximately 30 years ago. But, contrary to what he thought, it was in need of considerable repair, which led the new owner to undertake a restoration works on the car.
As stated by him, he searched for parts on the mainland, from Ponta de Sagres to Valença do Minho, but ended up finding them in Madeira.
After being restored, he competed in Madeira, managing to win a trophy.
The Simca 6 is an urban car produced and sold in France by Simca, between 1947 and 1950. The brand was established as a French subsidiary of Fiat. It was developed from the Simca 5, which in turn was a version of the Fiat Topolino renamed and manufactured in France as a Simca.
With the launching of the Simca 6, at the 1947 Paris Motor Show, the company's development office in Nanterre showed an unprecedented level of independent thinking for a Simca production model.
The Simca was distanced from its Fiat origins by a modified, Americanized front end, with an enlarged and lowered front grille, flanked by raised headlights integrated into the wing panels, similar to the recently launched Peugeot 203 and Renault 4CV.
The rear overhang was extended with the addition of a small luggage rack, accessible only from inside the car and almost completely filled by the spare wheel. In addition to the 2-door, 2-seater coupe-style small body, a small van capable of transporting up to 250 kg was created.
The power of the 569cc engine was increased from 12 to 16.5 bhp, achieved at 4,400 rpm. The light 6 inherited its predecessor's excellent fuel economy, propelling it over a distance of 108 km with 5 litres of fuel. The advertised top speed of 90 or 95 km/h also reflected the car's light construction, which was considered excellent for a car of this size and price.
In most respects, the main mechanical elements followed conventional practice. The 4-speed gearbox featured synchronization in the top two gears. Braking power came from drum brakes on all 4 wheels.
Despite its first public appearance at the 1947 Motor Show, the car had a slow start, with only 11 cars produced in the last month of 1947 and 191 during 1948: over these years, the older Simca 5 continued to be the smaller model of the company. However, in 1949, the Simca 6 fulfilled its manufacturer's plans and replaced its predecessor.
More than 16,000 Simca 6s were produced during its production run, which ended in 1950.
After that, loyal Simca customers would need to upgrade to the larger (and much more commercially successful) Simca 8.
Unlike its predecessor, the 6 was not seen as a commercial success, and it was not until 1961 that Simca returned to the small car sector (in French terms), with its Simca 1000.
When production of the Simca 6 ended, the Italian Fiat Topolino, on which it was based, was also upgraded: the Topolino C arrived two years after the Simca 6, featuring the updated mechanical components first seen on the Simca, as well as a modern square front grille; but the Fiat came without the Simca's American-style chrome, and the Fiat's headlamps were positioned at a lower level.
Notably, Italians tend to see the Simca 6 as a French version of the updated Fiat Topolino, while the French emphasize the independent development of the Simca.
Datasheet
Year: 1950
Brand: Simca
Model: 6
Country: France
License plate: 55-80-MD
Engine: ...
Gearbox: 3