Chrysler Simca HORIZON 1.3 GL
Built: 1979 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1979
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Simca/Chrysler Horizon 1.3 GL – French compact and 1979 European Car of the Year: 1.3-litre engine, 1,390kg gross weight
Simca was a French car brand that belonged to the Chrysler group from the 1960s; the Horizon was the compact model developed jointly with Chrysler's other European brands and was named European Car of the Year in 1979.
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The 1.3 GL version recorded here carries its 1.3-litre displacement in the name itself. With a gross vehicle weight of 1,390kg and an unladen weight of 960kg, a payload of 430kg remains. Wheelbase and width are 2,520mm and 1,680mm respectively, figures matching the compact class of the period.
The Horizon was built with front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted engine, a layout that was only just gaining ground in the compact class in the late 1970s and, compared with the rear-wheel drive of older models, gave more cabin space for the same overall length. Among French manufacturers of the period, the GL suffix commonly denoted the upper trim level, "Grand Luxe".
When buying a used compact model of this age, checking for rust at the wheel arches, sills and floor pan matters most, since vehicles of this generation were built without full galvanising. Also worth checking are the clutch condition on this front-wheel-drive car, the function of the carburettor system and, given how rare such vehicles are, the actual availability of spare parts through clubs and specialists in French classics.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Chrysler Simca Horizon 1.3 GL
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,680 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,520 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 960 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,390 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Chrysler Simca HORIZON 1.3 GL weigh?
The unladen weight is 960 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Chrysler Simca HORIZON 1.3 GL?
1,390 kg.
What engine does the Chrysler Simca HORIZON 1.3 GL have?
4 cylinders.
When was the Chrysler Simca HORIZON 1.3 GL built?
Production years: 1979.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 8 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
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