Simca 1000 (1969 – 1978) Review

Simca 1000 (1969 – 1978) At A Glance

4/5

+Cute, small car with four doors, rear engined layout equals handling fun, Rallye versions are a hoot to drive

-Rust is an ever-present issue, even on a restored example

The Simca 1000 (or 'Mille' as they called it in France) was more than a baby car for a generation of young French families; it was a way of life. The rear-engined saloon boasted four doors, reasonable cabin space, as well as a large front luggage compartment. It was affordable, offered in a bewildering number of variations, and most importantly, came with a cool go-faster version called the Rallye.

However, handling was ‘interesting’ due to its rearward weight bias. Later GLS and Special models had additional equipment and were powered by 1.1- and 1.3-litre engines. The improved performance made them easier to live with as a result, and they were well capable of staying with much larger cars on typical A-roads. These cars suffer from widespread rust but are bulletproof in the engine and dearbox department.