Simca Aronde 1300 (90A)

Simca Aronde at the 2016 American Legend in Lormaye.

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Simca, France.  Aronde means swallow in French hence the pretty emblem on this car.  This car pictured has a P60 badge on the side (see right) but looks more like the second generation Simca 1300 90A. The second generation Aronde was introduced in 1955 and was produced until 1958 and had a 1300cc engine.   The following P60 had a more modern looking body and full width conventional front grille.  The 1300 P90A had a top speed of over 80 mph but took over 20 seconds to reach 60mph.  In 1957 Simca made a wonderful; publicity stunt by taking a production model Aronde to Montlhery Autodrome and driving it for 38 days and 37 nights to cover 100,000 kilometres at an average speed of 113kph.  The Arondes also took part in and won some rallies.

1963 Abarth-Simca 1300 GT

The Teisserenc's Abarth-Simca 1300 GT, Tour Auto 2016

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Abarth, Turin, Italy. The Abarth-Simca 1300 GT was produced from 1962 to 1965.  It was based on a Simca 1000 after Simca went to Abarth to get a faster version of their basic car.  With the new Abarth aerodynamic aluminium body, based on the Bialberobore,  it is difficult to see any resemblance to the original Simca.  The engine was a new straight four1300cc dry sump twin cam unit designed by Abarth..  Disc brakes were standard.  It was of course rear engine rear wheel drive.  It was capable of over 140mph and could do 0-60 in about 6 seconds!   A very desirable small sports coupé in terms both of looks and performance.  Not surprisingly they were very successful on the race circuit, apparently scoring 90 victories in 1963 alone. They race with their boots open to help cool the engine.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint

Dominique Geoffray and Agnès Bonnet, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, Tour Auto 2016.

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Alfa Romeo, Milan, Italy.  The Giulietta was produced from 1954 to 1965 and normally had a twin cam straight four 1,300cc engine.  The sprint model was a two door Coupé instead of the 4 door saloon or convertible Spyder version.  Like all Alfas these were raced and rallied successfully including in the last Mille Miglia.

Note:  On the Tour Auto entry list this is described as a 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300GT but surely it is a Giulietta Sprint.  Comments please.

Marcadier Barzoi

Didier Thorin, Marcadier Barzoi, Course de Cotes de Sancerre 2014.

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Marcadier, Lyon, France.  These cars built from 1967 to 1976 are very pretty little French sports cars.  They were made by André Marcedier who was inspired by Colin Chapman of Lotus fame.  He built a series of kit cars including this Barzoi coupé with gullwing doors.  I believe the original car had a 1,300cc Renault R8 engine but of course some have been re-engined over the years.  In 1968 one took a good eighth place in  the GP de Paris at Montlhery in a race won by Johnny-Servoz Gavin in a Matra.

Renault 8 Gordini 1300

Bernard Boilaive, Renault 8 Gordini, Course de Cote de Mont Dore, 2014

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Renault, Flins, France.  The Renault R8 was a small rear engine rear wheel drive car produced in the sixties and early seventies.  The more powerful Gordini version was produced from 1964 and the Gordini 1300 from 1966.  It was much used as a rally car and scored a hat trick of wins in the Tour de Corse between 1964 and 1966.  in the late sixties there was a one make series of Renault 8 Gordini races in which drivers like Jean-Pierre Jarier competed.  It had a top speed of about 175kph and a 0-100kph time of 11.5 seconds.  A very popular classic car in France nowadays and deservedly so with its nationalistic blue and white stripe colour scheme and reputation as an affordable sporting saloon car.