Ultimate pub forecourt spot! (Simca Contents)

[trigger]

As i briefly mentioned in the gin thread this morning i notices a large old car appear on my local pubs forecourt, I wasn't sure what it was though, It looked like a Simca from the front but as it was large i guess i might be a Fiat.

 

I was wrong, It was a Simca, a 1973 1501 Special in fact!, I've never even heard of these let alone seen one before, This ones been of the road since 1983 according to the DVLA but it was still in pretty good nick really and the interior was very clean, even down to the original radio, Sadly most of the cars still here outside for ages, The green Austin Princess has now gone but the Rancho still sits there.

 

1973 Simca 1501 Special in Ipswich by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1973 Simca 1501 Special in Ipswich by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1973 Simca 1501 Special in Ipswich by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1980 Talbot Matra Rancho in Ipswich by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

1980 Talbot Matra Rancho in Ipswich by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[michiel]

Gin thread?

 

Great spot!

[trigger]

Gin thread?, If you mean the last photo, I bought a hood for my DSLR camera yesterday and i can't work out how it's mean't to fit! The two larger edges are getting in the photos.

[michiel]

Sorry - I should have quoted your post, I guess you mistyped 'grin thread'...

 

Although I think for a lot of people gin=grin

 

Good quality shots, and I hadn't noticed the edges actually!

[seth]

As i briefly mentioned in the gin thread this morning

 

 

Great spot! Looks exceptionally good for a car thats been off the road for nearly 30 years. He must be a Simca man to have the Ran-cheerio and now this. Hope its going to get recommissioned.

[Mr Lobster]

That looks pretty nice although a little crusty round the back.

 

Whats the deal here then? Landlord has a liking for obscure stuff, buys it then leaves it outside never to move again?

[Angrydicky]

OMG, get him on here!

[trigger]

Whoops I hadn't even noticed the gin thread comment!.

 

I'm not sure LOBZ, I must go in there one day and ask him, He was driving around in a SD1 Vanden Plas for a while, The MGB's been there for ages as well as the blue Sierra, even the old Austin Ten's tax ran out September 09.

 

I think he's a Simca and BL Perv, that MG ZT in the touring car spec pops up every now and then as well.

[Vin]

Good Spot Triggs

 

I'm sure that was on the Bay a few weeks back - may even be somewhere in the bay thread. It was for sale in - I think, Leeds. The seller had originally planned to take the engine out and 'customise' it.......

 

 

EDIT- Searched Simca in the Bay thread. I was wrong, it was in Rugby. It sold for £185.

 

Ebay description is -

 

Hi & welcome to the auction of our classic simca.

 

This was bought by me & mate couple years ago with a plan to hotrod it, but due to other projects us both getting wifes ect ect it is still waiting to be done.

 

We bought it with the original engine removed but we do have it and all bits to put back together.

 

With a bit of hard work and TLC it could be put back to its former beauty.

 

Lack of engine will explain why it is up on it's front springs in your pics, Trig.

[Louise2cv]

COR.

 

The End by Louise Bastock.

[garethj]

Fantastic. We could never hold an Autoshite meet outside his pub, you wouldn't get the jizz stains off the pavement

 

That Rancho is brilliant. FACT

[Angrydicky]

I reckon Boobydoo hasn't posted in this thread yet because he fainted with excitement at the sight of those Simcas

[trigger]

I've just found the website for the place, They have a nice old Hillman Minx outside in the photos.

 

http://www.ipswichcrown.co.uk/

[Angrydicky]

I've just found the website for the place, They have a nice old Singer Gazelle outside in the photos.

 

http://www.ipswichcrown.co.uk/

 

EFA

[Station]

And the SD1. I remember those Simcas featured heavily in a French language book we used in school from the 70's.

You should pop an autoshite thing under the wiper.

[seth]

http://www.ipswichcrown.co.uk/

 

Parking is available for approx 15 cars on our forecourt when I've not filled it with old chod I bid for on Ebay after a lock-in

[trigger]

HA! I'd like to see them get 15 cars on the forecourt!, I'm amazed by how nice the pub looks, I always had it down for being a bit of a shite hole but it seems really nice now, I might treat the current Mrs Trigger to a meal there just so i can talk to the owner.

 

Thanks to Vin and mattblack, the ebay link. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SIMCA-1501-GREEN- ... 3f0375b7f4

[nigel bickle]

I was the under-bidder on that. For the second time.

 

Hope he sorts it-or bungs it back on t'bay

[timmyteapot]

My next door neighbour had one of them Simca 1500s back in the late 70s/early 80s (a purple one I think).

 

I work in the trade myself and have not long delieverd a new Golf to the owner of "Kays of Derby"s widow, she scrapped in (scrappage scheme) a 97 Audi A4 2.8 with leather etc but it was a bit battered (shes an old dear and parks by brail) and had a suspected stuffed h/g. Mahoosive house though!

 

someones GOTTA save that simca, how rare is that!!!!!

[flat4alfa]

Love those

 

Cheap buy I missed there. I'm sure it was on before

[kevin 900]

Magnificent!

I too need to go in there one day. (Not with Mrs Trigger)

[overheadvalve]

Love that 1501, my dad had a Simca 1300 OPC903D. Later when i was married ( and even more skint than i am now) i had a Simca 1000 in the same colour as the one above, supplied by the same dealer Kays. They are about 7 or 8 miles from my house now, alas not selling cars though Fiat commercials!

Great pics and great memories for me.......

Thanks

[binhoker668]

Isn't that the same model as the rustheap challenge one someone posted last year?

Always loved Ranchos. Also love how they and the old simcas still held the same 'facial characteristics'.

I'd love to think a load of us could just rock up there sometime for a wee meet, and just sit inside drinking nonchalantly. Reckon he'd have a coronary...

[trigger]

Well there is a transport museum around the corner of the place....

[Simon M]

I've just moved to Ipswich, I must check this place out!

 

Seems to be a lot of quality shite round here - I saw a v. rare Rover P6 estate drive past in Barham a couple of weeks back.

[kinkersaab]

Love that Rancho! It looks to me that it might even be rarer than a normal Rancho if that is possible. Anyone spot why?

[trigger]

Would it be the auto box? The disability conversion or the side exit rear exhaust?!

 

Welcome to the area Simon, are you in the town itself? theres lots of crud around here, and I know the P6 estate you mean, dark blue wasn't it? oh and keep your eyes peeled for my bright orange L reg Opel Kadett whilst on your travels as well!

[kinkersaab]

I guess the side exit exhaust if due to the wheelchair conversion. there cant be many of those left on the road at all now.

[Spottedlaurel]

That's great! I remember some people we knew in the mid-late '70s had an estate, which I'm pretty sure I would have got a lift in at some point, then they chopped it in for a Wolseley Landcrab.

 

I'd be up for a meet there. With rubbish weather and not much light now, sometime in the Spring perhaps?

[binhoker668]

Yup - Spring sounds good - got a friend lives down in Ipswich so could make a weekend of it....