Simca Profissional

Simca Profissional
Overview
Manufacturer Simca do Brasil
Production 1965–1966
Body and chassis
Class Large car
Body style 4-door saloon
Layout FR layout
Related Ford Vedette
Simca Vedette
Simca Chambord
Powertrain
Engine 2.4 L Aquillon V8
Transmission 3-speed manual[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,690 mm (105.9 in)[1]
Length 4,520 mm (178.0 in)[1]
Width 1,750 mm (68.9 in)[1]
Height 1,480 mm (58.3 in)[1]
Curb weight 1,150 kg (2,535 lb)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor Simca Chambord, Simca Alvorada

The Simca Profissional was a successor to the Simca Alvorada, which was itself a stripped version of the entry level Simca Chambord. Simca do Brasil had responded reluctantly to the demand by the Brazilian government of president Juscelino Kubitscheck that every car manufacturer must offer an affordable basic version within their range. The idea was to give as many Brazilians as possible the opportunity to own a car.

New incentive, new version

In 1965, the Brazilian government created a new public financing tool through its publicly owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal that would allow Brazilians to finance their vehicle over four years with a monthly interest rate of 1%. This obviously was to attract a new range of clients and Simca do Brasil looked into how to make the Alvorada even cheaper in order to make it attractive for, for example for taxicab drivers.

Plastic replaces leather

The Simca Profissional appeared in 1965 with three colour options (yellow, green and cream white), no chrome (even the bumpers were painted in dark gray, no trimmings), the already very simple interior of the Alvorada was downscaled further with plastic seat covers and the door covers were dark and naked cardboard screwed onto the metal. But the Profissional was 30% cheaper than its far posher brother, the all chrome and leather Simca Chambord. The production numbers of this version apparently were never documented and, unlike the Simca Alvorada, the Simca Profissional had no distinct range of chassis numbers so that this version is mixed in with the production figures cited for the Simca Chambord.

Production figures

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bellu, René. Toutes les Simca. Le Conquet: Studio Gernot. (published and distributed privately, no ISBN)
  • "Automóveis Brasileiros" by author Enio Brandenburg, FBVA, Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
  • "The Automobile in South America - The Origins (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay)" by author Álvaro Casal Tatlock, FBVA, Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
  • "Automóveis de São Paulo" by author Malcom Forest, FBVA, Rio de Janeiro – Brasil
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/29/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.