Simca Ariane

Production period:	1957 to 1963
Class:	motor car
Body versions:	Saloon
Engines:	Gasoline: 1.3-2.4 litres
Length:	177.95 in, 4520 mm
Width:	69.09 in, 1755 mm
Height:	56.46 in, 1434 mm
Wheelbase:	105.98 in, 2692 mm
Curb weight:	2425 1b, 1100 kg

 The Simca Ariane motor car was built from 1957 to 1963 By Simca.

History

The Simca Ariane was a motor car with 4 door, coachwork, 6 passenger saloon, with spacious luggage boot. Both four-cylinder and V-8 power were available in the Ariane series, which was promoted as having its own body but actually was a less-trimmed version of the Vedette's, on the same 106-inch wheelbase. with the Flash engine (or Rush engine) of the smaller Simca Aronde to bridge the gap between these two models. Continued to be manufactured by Simca, the Vedette are top-of-the-range models with a very American design, but "Frenchified". Designed by the Italian designer Rapi, these bodies still delight collectors.

It was in 1954 that Simca bought from Ford SAF, the French subsidiary of Ford, the Poissy factory which had produced several thousand vehicles equipped with the V8 engine, including the Ford Vedette inspired by an American model. But, in a rationed France which is barely recovering from the war, these too opulent cars are selling badly and Ford is looking for a buyer for this factory which is preparing to manufacture a new Vedette. A four-speed gearbox was installed, instead of the three-speed on the Vedette. Both the Ariane and Vedette had parking lights incorporated into the grille, visored headlamps, a wraparound windshield, slender roof pillars, and curved rear windows. Tail lamps, backup lights and directional signals were grouped in sweptback fins, placed high for visibility and security. Non-deformable all-steel one-piece frame with integrated chassis. The front suspension was independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, and Double-action telescopic dampers at the rear rigid axle type with semi-elliptic leaf-springs and telescopic dampers.

Inside full-width seats with contoured backrests.Interiors upholstered in elasticized fabrics and leather grained vinyls. Rear seatback can be folded down, providing extended luggage space to over 6 feet.Armrests on all 4 doors, Heater-defroster-climatizer and Ashtrays.two sun visors, vanity mirror on rear of passener visor. Windscreen washers; headlamp dip controls.

The Suez crisis in 1956 disrupted this strategy. Simca, having until then only manufactured Fiats under license, had just released, five years earlier, its first vehicle entirely designed in France by the firm's design offices, the very successful and very popular Aronde. Simca then reacted very quickly to the crisis of rising fuel prices by combining the 47 hp SAE "Flash" engine of the Aronde with the bodywork of the Trianon and thus created the Ariane.  The Suez crisis simply built on the economic case for a small engine version of the car, and Simca was therefore responded to the changed circumstances created by the crisis, fitting a 1290cc "Flash" series engine. This is available in several versions. But a problem arises, the body of the Ariane derived from the Simca Vedettes is too heavy with this engine, in spite of a new staggering of the gear ratios of the gearbox.

PERFORMANCE: 1.3L

• Engine capacity: 78.90 cu in, 1290 cu cm
• Fuel consumption: 29.7 m imp gal, 24.7 m US gal, 9.5 1 x 100 km;
• Max speed: 80.8 mph, 130 km h
• Max power (SAE): 62 hp at 5200 rpm
• Max torque (SAE):74 1b ft, 10.2 kgm at 2600 rpm
• Max number of engine rpm: 5400
• Specific power:48.1 hp/l
• Power-weight ratio: 39 ib/hp,17.7 kg/hp

For the 1958 models, the Trianon was replaced by an Ariane with an 84 hp SAE V8 engine: the Ariane 8. This was abolished in 1961. For 1959, the Ariane Super Luxe had an improved finish: chrome side trim, chrome windscreen and rear window surrounds, windscreen washer, vanity mirror and rear ashtray. Like all Arianes, it features new rear lights with integrated reflectors.

By the 1960s, for 1961, the Ariane Miramas Super Comfort benefits from the interior of the Beaulieu. Like the other Arianes, it is called Miramas and adopts the “Rush Super” five stage 62 hp SAE engine.

The Ariane was produced until April 1963. Very common at the end of the 1960s. In 1965 and 1967, in Argentina, the company Metalmecánica SAIC manufactured the Ariane Miramas, in "standard" and "luxury" versions; some of them are used as a taxi. 507 units will be manufactured.

In April 1957, the first model was presented. Already in October of the same year came a version with a more powerful engine: the Simca Ariane 8, which now had the same 2.4-liter Aquillon motor as the Vedette. The Ariane 8 thus replaced the base model Simca Vedette Trianon.

The Ariane was produced until 1963 with 166,363 vehicles produced.

Ariane Miramas Argentina 1965-1967 

From 1965 to the end of 1967, the Ariane was produced in Argentina by Metalmecánica as Miramas in a standard and a deluxe version as well as a taxi.