1968 | SIMCA 1200 S

This is an extraordinary, magnificently preserved and maintained unit of the 1968 Simca 1200 S Coupé Bertone. This car is extremely rare, with barely 14,000 units produced between 1967 and 1971, of which no more than 200 ‘living’ examples are registered.

The Simca 1200 S is a classic 2+2 coupé designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone. Its bodies were also assembled there and shipped from Turin to the Simca factory in Poissy, France. The car had a powerful 1204cc longitudinal rear-mounted engine with rear-wheel drive and two Solex C35 two-body carburettors that produced 85 hp at 6,000 rpm, allowing it to reach 175 km/h, within the reach of very few cars of the time, such as the Lancia Fulvia 1300S, Alpine A110-1300 or Alfa Romeo GT Junior.

The car's interior, designed by Paolo Martin (Pininfarina), is very sporty and elegant, with a dashboard featuring three large Jaeger clocks made of wood, even in the first units like this one with the steering wheel in solid wood and aluminium. The car is also equipped with a Becker Europa car radio and stunning CD26 model Cromodora magnesium wheels designed for this car.

The car was originally registered in Zurich by a Spaniard who had emigrated to Switzerland and brought it to Spain in 1977. It has had two owners since then, and I have owned it since 2016. The car is completely original; it has only been repainted (in its original colour). The engine and gearbox are original (‘matching numbers’), and the upholstery is also original.

The wood on the dashboard and steering wheel has been restored (with the same type of wood as the original) by hand by a cabinet maker, the magnesium rims have been decontaminated and sealed, the engine (cylinder head, valves, seats) adapted for unleaded petrol, equipped with electronic ignition, OMP manifold, rewired electrical system, in addition to the multiple exhaustive maintenance jobs on a 57-year-old car, of which I keep records for the last 31 years, with tens of thousands of euros invested.

Everything in the car works perfectly. It can be used for trips without any problems, and in fact, it has often been used in recent years in classic car regularity tests. It is a very striking car because of its beautiful design, rarity, condition, and spectacular sound. It is an absolutely exclusive classic in magnificent condition.