Simca 9 Aronde. 1951–5 (prod. 100,000 to March 1953). 4-door saloon, 3-door estate, 2-door coupé, 2-door hardtop coupé, 2-door convertible. F/R, 1221 cm³ (I4 OHV). Simca’s first unibody car, related to contemporary Fiats. Carryover Fiat engine (now with 45 PS), coils at front, uncomfortable live axle with leaf springs at rear, drum brakes. Precise, light steering, and good brakes, but not as good to drive as the Fiat 1100. Vague gearbox and no synchromesh on first. Four-door berline at first, then commerciale estate (later Châtelaine). Stripped-down Quotidienne from 1953, commercial van (not covered here) the same year. Facel-bodied 9 Sport coupé de ville initially, then replaced by Simca-bodied Grand Large hardtop coupé in 1953. Facel-developed Week-end cabriolet shown 1954 but never productionized, but for publicity, the one car was gifted to Brigitte Bardot. Half-oval grille from 1954.

Manufacturing location: Nanterre, Île-de-France, France

Marque: Simca | Model: Simca Aronde | Predecessor: Simca 8 | Successor: Simca 90A Aronde