Chrysler Simca Other models
1 model in this series
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.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
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
Models
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
