Simca-Chrysler 1307

Simca-Chrysler 1307/1308/1309 is a family of mid-size cars manufactured by the French manufacturer Simca , which was then part of the American Chrysler corporation as an independent branch of Chrysler Europe, from 1975 to 1980. In 1978, Simca became the property of the PSA Peugeot Citroën , and since 1980, the car has undergone restyling, produced under the brand name Talbot . In various markets, such designations as Simca 1307 , Talbot 1510 , Talbot Alpine , Chrysler Alpine , Chrysler 150 , Talbot 150 were found . The sedan of the same model carried the designation Talbot Solara . The car was designed as part of the Chrysler C6 platform - a front-wheel drive project to replace the SIMCA 1500 model, with an eye to competition in the Ford Taunus class.

Simca-Chrysler 1307/1308/1309
Total information
Manufacturer	Simca ( Chrysler Europe )
Years of production	1975 - 1986
Assembly	Poissy , France Ryton , UK Todd Motors ( New Zealand ) Valmet Automotive ( Finland )
Class	Average
Other designations	Talbot 1510 Talbot alpine Chrysler alpine Chrysler 150 Talbot 150 Talbot solara
Design
Body type	5-dv. hatchback (5 places)
Layout	front-wheel drive, front-wheel drive
Wheel formula	4 × 2
Engine
Type 315 1300 Mark Type 315 1300 Type of petrol Volume 1300 cm 3 Configuration inline, 4-cylinder. Cylinder four Valves eight Supply system carburetor Cooling liquid Valve mechanism OHC Cylinder block material cast iron Cylinder head material aluminum Timing (number of measures) four stroke Type 315 1500 Mark Type 315 1500 Type of petrol Volume 1500 cm 3 Configuration inline, 4-cylinder. Cylinder four Valves eight Supply system carburetor Cooling liquid Valve mechanism OHC Cylinder block material cast iron Cylinder head material aluminum Timing (number of measures) four stroke Type 315 1600 Mark Type 315 1600 Type of petrol Volume 1600 cm 3 Configuration inline, 4-cylinder. Cylinder four Valves eight Supply system carburetor Cooling liquid Valve mechanism OHC Cylinder block material cast iron Cylinder head material aluminum Timing (number of measures) four stroke
Transmission
4- speed manual transmission 5- speed manual transmission 3- speed automatic transmission
Specifications
Mass-dimensional
Length	4250 mm
Width	1680 mm
Height	1390 mm
On the market
Related	Simca Horizon / Chrysler Horizon Moskvich-2141
Similar models	Renault R20 Renault 16 Volkswagen Passat B1
Segment	D segment
Other
Designer	Roy Ax

The model was presented at the 1975 Paris Motor Show and received a generally positive reception; the audience was especially impressed by the volume and spaciousness of the cabin ^[1] . From a technical point of view, the car was an enlarged version of the platform of the 1100 model , but the design was much more modern - even, perhaps, avant-garde for its time.

The new Simca was created in the mid-seventies as a response to the growth in popularity of the so-called “family” class hatchback cars that began with the Renault 16 model - larger, more spacious and more comfortable than typical “compact cars”, but smaller and more economical compared to models medium displacement. Around the same time, Volkswagen Passat B1 and Renault 20 models built according to a similar concept were presented.

The car was distinguished by a roomy interior and a fairly progressive design - front-wheel drive with transverse engine placement, front wheel torsion bar suspension modeled on American Chrysler models and an independent rear one. It is noteworthy as one of the first cases of using volumetric integrated plastic bumpers, the appearance of which had a very significant impact on car design.

In 1976, the car was awarded the title European Car of the Year . Meanwhile, in practice, Simca 1307 and its analogues have never been especially popular with buyers. Particular complaints ^[2] caused poor build quality in general and very poor corrosion protection, as well as outdated engines, ^[3] the largest of which was a 1.6-liter, while competitors, for example Ford Taunus / Ford Cortina or Opel Rekord , in the upper trim levels equipped with engines up to 2.0 ... 2.3 liters.

The components and assemblies of the Simca 1307 model were as much as possible unified with the models of the Chrysler C2 project - Simca Horizon / Chrysler Horizon , which from the design point of view should have looked like the “little brother” of Simca 1307. Later this platform became the starting point for developing the base platform (Chrysler K platform) for front-wheel drive vehicles manufactured by Chrysler Corporation. Thus, this makes the Simca 1307 similar to most of the 1980s Chrysler passenger cars.

In the USSR, at the end of the seventies, the car body was used to accelerate the design work of the Moskvich-2141 model, and the need to attract a foreign prototype was caused by the sudden decision by the industry ministry to create a front-wheel drive car instead of the rear-wheel drive ones previously planned for production ( see. 3-5 "and" Muscovites series C " ) and was perceived by the team of designers and designers of AZLK extremely negatively ^[4] .

During the design work, the front and assembly parts were completely redesigned, and the Simca body, starting from the front roof pillar, was used only at an early stage as the “carrier of the units” and the basis of the plasticine model (as the designer Igor Zaitsev recalled, the first body model “ Moskvich ”was molded from plasticine on the surface of a Simca body without aggregates ^[4] ; later, new body panels of a modified form were designed, although the structure of the body frame remained largely untouched.

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  Back view.

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  Talbot Solara sedan. Option after restyling.