Year of manufacture 1972 Recorded mileage 33,500 Asking price £20,995 Vendor Anderson Historic, Woodchurch, Kent; 07899 796515; andersonhistoric.com WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £1154 Max power 80bhp Max torque 88lb ft 0-60mph 15 secs Top speed 99mph Mpg 28-35
Those looking for a practical yet stylish classic will naturally look to France, but this car offers something for those who feel that a Citroën or a Renault simply isn’t esoteric enough. How about a right-hand-drive Simca 1501 Break Special? It’s the only one of its kind on UK roads – in fact, it’s the only Simca 1501 Special, estate or otherwise. For British fans of Simca’s large family car line, the 1301/1501 series, and the 1300/1500 series of which it was an update, this example is surely the ultimate.
In top specification, this Special benefits from a power increase – up to a heady 80bhp – and longer gearing over lesser models. The estate bodywork only adds to the curio factor and nullifies the main advantage the 1501’s rival, the Renault 16, otherwise has over it: a hatchback. With such luggage space and typical French ride comfort, it’s a perfect classic road-tripper.
This car was originally registered in Shropshire and has a recorded mileage of just 33,000, which has helped in its preservation. The interior remains in original and unmarked condition, including the wood-panelled rear load area and the bottom-hinged tailgate, which also features a winding rear window, much like a contemporary American station wagon. The vendor has recently restored the car, after discovering that the bodywork and mechanicals were in need of attention, to the point where it received an honourable mention at the Festival of the Unexceptional (News, October). Apparently, the only thing that prevented it from winning was
