1965 – Simca 1000 Coupé 

French vintage vehicle registration certificate

Correction: Please note that the vehicle has been referred back for a re-inspection due to a critical fault: ‘service brake performance: front axle imbalance.’

A French car with a flawless history, designed by Giorgietto Giugiaro for Bertone.

Unveiled at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show, the Simca 1000 coupé embodies Simca’s desire to offer a more elegant and dynamic version of its popular 1000 saloon. Designed by Giorgietto Giugiaro for Bertone, it stands out for its refined styling with Italian influences, characterised by harmonious proportions and a particularly well-balanced silhouette.

The bodies were built by Bertone in Turin and then assembled at Simca’s Poissy plant on a dedicated production line. The coupé retained the 944 cm³ engine mounted at the rear. It had been upgraded to deliver 52 ch (7 more than the saloon), enabling it to reach a top speed of 140 km/h.

With its four disc brakes and a dashboard as lavishly equipped as a Ferrari’s, this coupé was decidedly modern for its time. Produced from 1963 to 1967, only 10,124 units were manufactured, mainly for the French market. It was replaced by the 1200 S, which featured significant aesthetic and mechanical upgrades.

Purchased on 31 May 1965 by Mr Pavy, a driving instructor in Saint-Calais in the Sarthe department, our Simca remained in his possession until 1981. It went through three further owners before leaving the department to move to the South-West in 2007. Acquired in 2013 by the current owner, it now boasts a lovely patina.

Repainted many years ago, the bodywork was polished in 2025. There are a few slight signs of corrosion. The interior, meanwhile, has been preserved in its original condition and is in good order. Extensive work was carried out last year at a cost of nearly €4,000. This included replacing all four tyres, restoring the braking system and servicing the engine.

Produced in a small series, the Simca 1000 Sport now occupies a special place in the brand’s history. Rarer than the saloon from which it is derived, it appeals to collectors for its elegance, its Bertone-designed styling and its typically French character tinged with Italian influences. A true representative of the golden age of small European coupés in the 1960s, it remains a charming and sought-after car.