The Chrysler SIMCA was one of the US' first encounters with the European-style "smart" car. The acronym "SIMCA" stands for the French auto maker Societe Industrielle de Mecanique et Carrosserie Automobile which (according to Wiki) translates to "Mechanical and Automotive Body Manufacturing Company". Makes you wonder what happened to the engine, transmission, interior, and everything else that's required to make a working car, doesn't it?
SIMCA was founded by Fiat in November of 1934 which it remained affiliated until it eventually became largely controlled by Chrysler. SIMCA once was the largest automotive manufacturer in France, producing the popular SIMCA 1100. During Chrysler's management, SIMCAs were manufactured in Brazil, Spain, Chile, Colombia, and the Netherlands. Eventually, though, Chrysler divested itself of its European holdings, possibly a sign of the slow, soufflé-like collapse that nearly killed the company, and in 1978 SIMCA was swallowed up by PSA Peugeot Citroen which renamed the brand Talbot.
This is a rare US ad for the SIMCA which ran in the August 17, 1959 issue of Life Magazine. Doubtless aimed at Vespa-riding beats who secretly craved a trunk in which to transport their Ginsberg and acoustic guitars from cafe to cafe. No word on whether the tiny SIMCA managed a following, but the lack of evidence probably is the answer.
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