24s and 534 Simca 8 Sport (1952-1960)

I bought my first 24s Simca 8 Sport back in the late 1950's, from H. Hudson Dobson, in the bluish-white color. Over the years, it has accumulated some light wear, so when the opportunity came to acquire a new example, I went for it. Like my original purchase, this is the second version, with the thickened windscreen. I really like this grey color, with the red interior, and this arrived in excellent condition. I have always considered this a cousin to the English Austin Atlantic, and the French Dinky factory did a nice job with their casting. Terry

Nice item Terry. When I will know how to put photos on the forum, I will create a new thread on this little Simca. Friendly yours Richard

Is there anyone who knows something about the existence of grey colored hubs of a 1st version grey 24s Simca 8 Sport? The inside of the hubs are exactly the same and in my opinion completely original.I have such a model, but I can not find anything about it in my documentation. Ramsay mentions only: 1952-1954 First type unpainted convex hubs, white tires, Grey body, red seats. 1954-56 Grey body, red seats, chrome hubs, white tires.I can not say that my hubs look like chrome hubs, but in my opinion they look like grey colored hubs.27 december 2018 Jan Oldenhuis

Hello Jan, There is no such thing as chrome plated spun hubs. There are two different types of ridged hubs : the diecast zamac ones and the spun steel ones which can rust hence they are not chromed. Some of the diecast hubs have not been painted and look grey, this is what you have on a 1952 - 1954 early issue

Jacques. Thank you very much for your highly valued and instructive answer. Jan O.

Jan-I have a very early 24v Buick Roadmaster that also has plain zamac wheels, that are dull & kind of grey color, while later ones are shiny. I believe that is what you have.Best regards, Terry

Thank you Terry. I found it a strange phenomenon that I could not explain from my documentation compared to the other one I have, the second version Simca 8 Sport in black. The difference of the hubs has now become clear to me. Thanks Best regards, Jan O.

As a final add to this topic, I am showing the front wheels of two of my 24v Buick Roadmasters......one with the dull grey wheels, the other with the shiny, polished ones. Seeing these side by side makes it very easy to see the difference. Best regards, Terry

Hello dear members. To complete this topic I join 2 photos of my Simca 8 variations. You will see : 3 black and red models : a)one with a broken thin windscreen and zamac hubs b)one with thin windscreen and steel hubs c)one with thick windscreen and steel hubs 2 grey and red models : Both have thin windscreens but with both kind of hubs The two last models are white and red and water-green and red.* Kind regards Richard

You may like me to add some photos here, recently having acquired a Simca 8 sport for the first time. Its an example of the first generation with its thin windscreen frame and very shiny spun steel hubs. In fact the no. 140a/106 British Austin Atlantic Convertible and this Simca are very similar, both in looks and technical manufacture. They are contemporaries, the latter introduced only one year later than the Austin Atlantic. The similar way the interiors were created is striking, and so is the uncommon smooth looks of both in those days. Although the French were the first to introduce recessed contour lines on their models, in the mid-1950s, this one still has the raised lines, whereas the related Austin Atlantic, as an exception, has very early British recessed lines, which generally appeared in Liverpool as late as the early 1960s. Available in France in 1952, it was also available in that year on some export markets, like the Dutch. In the USA it was available since 1954, as the single leaf little flyer demonstrates. The last appearance in the French catalogues was in 1959, showing the new number 534 only once. This is also an opportunity to show some pictures which I took back in 2006 in France, showing the mock-up for the Simca, in those days proudly owned by Jacques, and now like so many other prototypes kept in the LAuto Jaune collection in Paris. Kind regards, Jan

Jan So glad to see that you were finally able to get a very nice example of this well done model. I got my first example new in 1958-1959, and immediately took a liking to it. The French Meccano factory did a quite nice job of replicating this, as it is a nice model....and I rather like the grey color. And it does pair so nicely with its English cousin, the Austin Atlantic.....two classic open touring cars from the early 1950's! Best regards, Terry

a nice code 3 Simca 8 Sport coupe