1960 Simca Oceane Cabriolet by Facel

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This is an incredibly rare and stylish 2 seater cabriolet called a Simca Oceane Cabriolet. It was built by Simca and bodied by Facel. famous for Facel Vega cars at the same time. This is a 1960 car suitable for restoration which comes with American title and EU taxes paid forms. I have never seen one of these cars on the UK streets. and I have been searching a while!

The Simca Sport was a two seater sports car. It originated as a coupé version of the Simca 8. but with the arrival of the Aronde the Simca Sport acquired a new grill in October 1951. and six months later it gained an extra 20 mm (0. 8 in) of wheelbase. from 1952 sharing its 2. 40 mm (96. 1 in) wheelbase with the Aronde as well as its (at this stage) 1221cc (7CV) engine. The Simca Sport would continue to share its engine and other technical components. as well as its wheelbase. with the Aronde until its withdrawal in 1962.

The open topped version was badged as the Simca Sport Océane.
It became increasingly expensive and correspondingly rare. Although its origins predated those of the Simca Aronde. the Simca Sport is now usually presented as a low volume stylishly rebodied version of the Aronde. The arrival of the 2. 40 mm (96. 1 in) wheelbase in 1952 coincided with the loss of a separate chassis. and from now on the Sport used an elegant monocoque body. The new monocoque bodied car was offered only as a two seater hardtop coupé. there being for the time being no replacement for the former Simca Sport cabriolet. In October 1952 a cabriolet version of the now chassisless Simca Sport was exhibited. but the cabriolet version only entered production more than two years later in the Spring of 1955. presumably reflecting the challenges involved achieving sufficient structural rigidity in a slim and shapely cabriolet body. without incurring an excessive weight penalty.

A new generation of the Simca Sport was launched at the 1956 Paris Motor Show. There was. as before. a choice between a two seater sports cabriolet and a two seater sports hardtop. The bodies came from Frua in Lombardy. Pietro Frua. like Simca's own Italian born boss. was part of a network of powerful Italian industrialists centred around northern Italy and. more specifically. on Fiat. which would remain Simca's dominant shareholder until 1963. The cost of organising and producing a coachbuilt body was reflected in the price of the Sport. which at the 1957 Motor show was listed as 1. 79. 0 francs for the fixed roof "Plein Ciel" version: this compared with a starting price of 595. 00 Francs for the Simca Aronde with which the Sport shared its engine and other mechanical elements. Mechanically and visually the new cars were not so different from those they replaced. but they were readily differentiated by their fashionable wrap-around "panoramic" windscreens.

The two versions of the Simca Sport now received extra names. which was in keeping with the manufacturer's marketing strategy at the time. The Cabriolet version. from which on a sunny day the driver could enjoy an unimpeded view of the sky. was now branded as the Simca Sport Océane while. bizarrely. the fixed roof version was branded as the Simca Sport Plein Ciel (Simca Sport Open Sky). Although precluded by their prices from becoming big sellers. the eye catching sports models served the company well. adding glamour to Simca show rooms and exhibition stands.

This is a very rare opportunity to buy and restore one of these beautiful cars. you will not see another for a very long time.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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