It's October 1961, at the Paris Motor Show. In this temple of automotive innovation, all eyes are on a particular stand. No fewer than six identical small sedans sit proudly under the spotlights. They look like nothing else available at the time. Cubic, functional, with their four distinctive doors. And yet, they will revolutionize the French popular car market.

This car is the Simca 1000. And the man orchestrating this spectacular presentation is Henri Théodore Pigozzi, nicknamed "Monsieur Simca." He knows it, he holds in his hands the future queen of popular sedans. But what he doesn't yet know is that this little marvel will become the last creation of his life .

{slides}

Today, I'm telling you the story of a car that influenced an entire generation. A sedan that democratized the automobile in France, a dream come true for middle managers and apprentice drivers alike. The story of the Simca 1000, that little Italian disguised as a French car that sold nearly 2 million units in its 17-year career.

The man behind the legend: Henri Pigozzi

To understand the Simca 1000, you must first understand its spiritual father. Henri Théodore Pigozzi , born Enrico Teodoro in 1898 in Turin. You see, even the boss of Simca has Italian origins. He is a man who Frenchified his name out of love for France, but who never forgot his transalpine roots.

Pigozzi is a visionary. Since 1935, he has run Simca with an iron fist. The man has nerve, ambition, and above all an obsession: to democratize the automobile . He wants to put France on four wheels, and he knows that for that, he needs an affordable, reliable, and above all modern car.

At the end of the 1950s, Pigozzi looked at what was being done on the market. The Renault 4CV was aging, the Dauphine had its flaws, and he sensed there was a niche to be filled. A four-door sedan, more practical than a 2CV, more modern than a 4CV. But for that, he needed help. And that help he sought from his Italian friends at Fiat.

The secret Franco-Italian project

And this is where it gets interesting. The Simca 1000 was born from a secret . Officially, at the 1961 Paris Motor Show, Pigozzi loudly proclaimed Simca's independence. "This car is pure French genius!" Except... that's not entirely true.

In reality, the 1000 is based on Fiat's "Project 122." Let me explain: Fiat is looking to replace its little 600, and in their design office, they have six clay models. Six small, cubic four-door sedans. Pigozzi arrives, looks at the models, and bam! He chooses one. "I want that one for France."

The irony is that Pigozzi carefully conceals this Franco-Italian collaboration. During the presentation, not a word about Fiat. And yet, without this cooperation, the Simca 1000 would never have seen the light of day. It's an Italian disguised as French , and it works brilliantly.

Mario Revelli de Beaumont, the stylist with two hats

To design this little marvel, Pigozzi called upon Mario Revelli de Beaumont . A name to be reckoned with, but what talent! This count of Piedmontese nobility, born in Rome in 1907, has been the head of the Simca style center since 1955.

But wait, it gets even crazier. Revelli de Beaumont doesn't just work for Simca. No, no, he divides his time between Fiat's Industrial Design Center in Turin and Simca's Styling Center in Poissy. The guy literally works for both sides ! Imagine that today, it would be a scandal. Back then, it went down like a letter in the post.

And the result? A cubic, functional, no-frills design. The Simca 1000 doesn't do things by halves. It's square, assertive, and practical. Four well-defined doors, a spacious interior for the time, and a look that says "I'm serious, but approachable."

A technical revolution at the service of the people

Okay, let's talk technical details. Because the Simca 1000 isn't just a pretty body. No, this little beast hides some innovations that will get people talking.

First, the choice of the rear engine . In 1961, it was still in the air. The Volkswagen Beetle was a hit with this principle, the Renault Dauphine too. Except that other manufacturers were already starting to look at front-wheel drive. But Simca, they persisted and signed: all at the rear!

The engine is a small 944 cc water-cooled "Poissy" 4-cylinder. At launch, it develops 36 horsepower. Not enough to break three legs of a duck, but more than enough for the time. And then, there is this famous 4-speed synchronized gearbox . Do you know where this technology comes from? From Porsche! I swear, it's not a joke.

Imagine this: it's 1961, you buy your little popular car in Poissy, and under the hood, you have Porsche technology. It's a load of nonsense, but it's brilliant ! This unexpected collaboration with the German manufacturer gives the little French car a transmission worthy of the sports cars of the time.

Immediate success: 2 million copies

The success was immediate. In 1962, the first full year of production, Simca sold more than 160,000 units . This was huge for the time! The small sedan appealed to everyone: middle managers who wanted four real doors, women who appreciated the ease of driving, and young people who found it modern.

But what fascinates me most is the diversity of customers. The police adopted it, driving schools fought over it, Parisian taxis tested it . In November 1961, Simca even made a stroke of marketing genius: they replaced 50 taxis from their own company G7 - which used Simca Arianes - with 50 small Simca 1000s.

Imagine the scene: these little red and black cars crisscrossing Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe. It's free advertising in all the newspapers ! Well, after a few months, they removed these taxis for more conventional models, but the damage was done: all of Paris was talking about the little Simca.

The Simca 1000 was much more than just a people's car—it was a symbol of freedom and independence for an entire generation of French people. When it was launched in 1961, no one imagined it would become one of France's most iconic sedans.

And you know what? This 1000 reminds me why I love miniature cars. Because holding a little 1/43 scale Simca 1000 in your hands is a bit like experiencing that whole era all at once. The time when buying your first car was a big deal .

That's why I opened my shop BernardMiniatures.fr. I have more than 1500 miniatures in stock, mostly 1/43 scale, with a nice selection of French cars from the 50s to the 90s. Well, I'm not a big site, so I often only have one or two pieces of each model, but that's also what makes it charming. I have Simca of course, but also Renault, Citroën, Peugeot... a bit of everything.

Delivery is free from 75€ in France, and I make sure to wrap everything well with bubble wrap because these little cars break easily.

Go take a look at bernardminiatures.fr if you're interested - and you'll see, I have some Simca 1000 miniatures that are really worth a look.

Now, let's talk a little more about the story of this little revolutionary...

The peak and the sporting transformation

February 25, 1970, a historic event: the millionth Simca 1000 rolled off the production line . One million! For a car launched in 1961, it was a phenomenal success. But what makes this date even more symbolic is what happened a few months later.

On July 1, 1970, the Simca name officially disappeared. Welcome to Chrysler France ! The American giant, which was already a minority shareholder, finally took the helm. For Henri Pigozzi, it was the final blow. He, who had created Simca, who had made it a source of French pride, saw his empire slip away from him.

And here, the story becomes tragic. In 1963, when Chrysler becomes the majority shareholder, Pigozzi steps aside for Georges Héreil. But that's only the beginning. Pigozzi will be ousted immediately ! It's as if his life was Simca. The proof? He will die of a heart attack shortly after, on November 18, 1964. The man was only 66 years old.

The Simca 1000 was thus the founder's last creation. His final work, his automotive testament . It gives me a pang in my heart when I think about it.

The birth of a sporting legend

But hey, the 1000 wasn't going to stop there. On the contrary, it was going to experience a second youth thanks to motorsport. In 1970, Simca... sorry, Chrysler France launched the Rallye version . And there, another story begins.

The Simca 1000 Rallye is fire! Rear engine, fiery temperament, and a striking look. It evolved quickly: Rallye 1, Rallye 2, Rallye 3. The Rallye 2 even developed 82 horsepower, which for the time and for a car of this size, was enormous.

And the craziest thing is that it became the benchmark for rear-engined sports cars when Renault abandoned its 8 Gordini. Young French people discovered the joys of "mass transfer with surprising speed," as the purists say. Basically, they learned that when things go into a tailspin with the engine in the rear, they're unforgiving!

A little-known European innovation

In March 1976, Simca... well, Chrysler France launched something revolutionary: the Simca 1000 Extra . Do you know what it was? The very first limited-edition car offered in Europe! Yes, you heard right. Even before Citroën's famous 2CV Spot.

The 1000 Extra was just a few weeks ahead of the 2CV. It was Simca that invented the concept of limited editions in Europe ! Who would have thought it? This marketing innovation is also due to the small sedan from Poissy.

A success that defies all logic

What fascinates me about the Simca 1000 is its longevity. 17 years in the catalog , from 1961 to 1978. For a car that, let's be honest, was already technically outdated by the mid-1970s.

Think about it: in 1975, everyone was switching to front-wheel drive. Renault with the R5, Peugeot with the 104, even Volkswagen was gradually abandoning the Beetle for the Golf. And the Simca 1000? It continued quietly on its way with its engine at the rear, its cubic shape unchanged since 1961.

But it works! The French continue to buy it. Nearly 2 million units in total , that's just crazy. And when it bows out in May 1978, it has an unenviable but symbolic title: it is the last French rear-wheel drive car.

The cultural heritage of a popular sedan

The Simca 1000 left its mark on a whole generation. Not just for its qualities or its flaws, but for what it represented. It was the car for learning , for driving schools, for first driving licenses.

How many French people learned to drive in a 1000? How many discovered the subtleties of the rear engine while taking their first tight bend? This car has educated entire generations of motorists.

And then, it inspired artists. Renaud immortalized it in "Gérard Lambert", the Chevaliers du Fiel spoke about it in their shows. The Simca 1000 has become a cultural symbol , just like the 2CV or the Dauphine.

The dark sides of success

But let's be honest. The Simca 1000 wasn't perfect on four wheels either. Its rear engine, while fun to drive, could also prove tricky for inexperienced drivers. Weight transfer is unforgiving when you don't control it.

And then, towards the end of its career, it was clearly showing its age. Compared to a Renault 5 or a Peugeot 104, it looked old-fashioned with its 1960s styling. But paradoxically, that's perhaps what made it so charming right up to the end: it completely embraced what it was .

A gentle end to the reign

When production ended in May 1978, it was the end of an era. The last Simca 1000 rolled off the assembly line in Poissy, marking the end of the Pigozzi era, even though the man had long since died.

But you know what? This car succeeded in its gamble . It democratized the automobile in France, it gave millions of French people a taste for driving, it proved that you could make something good out of something simple.

Today, when I see a Simca 1000 at a Concours d'Elegance or on the road at a vintage car rally, I always feel a pang in my heart. This small, cubic sedan reminds me of a time when cars were still accessible, when you could repair your car in your garage, when every purchase was carefully considered.

The legacy of a people's sedan

In the end, the Simca 1000 is much more than just a popular saloon car from the 1960s. It is the symbol of a France that is becoming motorized , of a generation that is discovering freedom of movement, of an era where innovation could come from simplicity.

Henri Pigozzi was right: he needed a car for everyone, accessible, reliable, and practical. His little Italian car disguised as a French car fulfilled its mission perfectly. Nearly 2 million units sold, a 17-year career, technical and marketing innovations... The bet was won .

And then there's the human dimension that particularly touches me. This car has been the partner in millions of personal stories. First dates, family vacations, commuting, learning to drive... The Simca 1000 was the car for everyday life .

So yes, she had her flaws. Yes, she was technically outdated by the end. But she had a soul, a character, a personality. She was unlike any other, and no other was like her.

That's the magic of vintage cars. Each car tells a story, carries within it the spirit of its era. The Simca 1000 tells the story of a modernizing France, discovering the joys and freedoms of the individual automobile.

And when I see identical cars rolling off the assembly line today, I tell myself that the little saloon from Poissy had at least one merit: it had character . For better or for worse, but it left no one indifferent.

This is the story of the Simca 1000. A popular sedan that marked its era, that democratized the automobile in France, and that continues to inspire enthusiasts today. An Italian with a French heart that wrote its legend on the roads of France .