Following Peugeot's acquisition of Chrysler's subsidiaries in Britain and France, the car was rebadged as a Talbot in 1980 and given a facelift. The new model was known as the Talbot 1510 (the Talbot Alpine name was retained in the UK). A sedan version, called the Solara, was released that year, and produced alongside the Alpine at the former Rootes factory in Ryton, Coventry.
In New Zealand, both Alpine and 1510 badges were used on the car during its lifetime, though it was officially in price lists as an Alpine, following the UK convention.
The Alpine and Solara, along with the smaller Horizon, were dropped in 1985, following Peugeot's decision to discontinue the Talbot marque. Limited editions known as the Rapier and Minx were sold in the UK, resurrecting old Hillman and Talbot names. Production ceased in the summer of 1986 and the Talbot marque was scrapped for passenger vehicles. The former Rootes Ryton plant was turned over for production of the Peugeot 309 and subsequently, the 405.
The Russian-built Moskvitch Aleko, loosely based on the Chrysler/Talbot Alpine, was in production from 1989 until 2002.
External links
Simca Automobile Club Netherlands (in English and Dutch) (http://www.simcaclub.com/)
Simca was originally affiliated with Fiat, but later, after a period of independence, became increasingly controlled by the Chrysler Group, in 1970 becoming a part of Chrysler Europe and a brand rather than independent company.
The Simca 1100 was for some time the best-selling car in France, while the Simca1307 and Simca Horizon won the coveted European Car of the Year titles in 1976 and 1978, respectively.
During the late 1970s Chrysler era, Simca produced the new 160/180 saloon, 1307 range (Chrysler Alpine in the UK) and later the Horizon (Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon in the USA), both of which were European Car of the Year on their launch.
Feeds |
Contact