1960 Simca Aronde Oceane

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Simca Aronde Océane was one of the most stylish European convertibles of the late 1950s. Facel-Métallon (later Facel Vega) built the Océane’s bodywork for Simca, mounted on the proven Aronde unibody platform. The sleek body featured sweeping fenders, generous chrome trim, and a distinctive wraparound windshield that emphasized its continental character.

Power came from Simca’s Flash Special overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine rated at 57 hp, delivering lively performance and efficient operation for touring France’s back roads. A four-speed manual transmission with column-mounted gear lever helped the lightweight convertible make excellent use of its available power. The rear-wheel-drive layout, hydraulic drum brakes, and well-balanced chassis contributed to confident handling.

The Océane offered American-inspired styling cues blended with French design sophistication. Because these cars were assembled by Facel-Métallon, their complex and labor-intensive construction made them cost more than twice as much as the sedan models that shared the same chassis and engine. As a result, relatively few were built,

This 1960 Océane was resprayed in its current silver under previous ownership. The carburetor is said to have been replaced and the cylinder head repaired to address a crack

This 1960 Simca Aronde Océane is now offered at no reserve with a clean California title in the seller’s name.

Highlights

• Uncommon two-door cabriolet by Facel-Métallon

• 1,290cc Flash Special OHV inline-four engine

• Four-speed manual transmission with column shift

• Manual folding convertible soft top

Factory Equipment

• Wraparound windshield

• Hydraulic four-wheel drum brakes

• Full wheel covers

• Chrome front and rear bumpers

• Color-keyed dashboard

• Dual sun visors

• Heater and defroster

Servicing

• Cylinder head has a welded repaired crack

• Replacement carburetor with manual choke

Known Imperfections

• Choke cable not installed

• Fuel gauge inoperable

• Oil leak from rear main seal

• Some wear on various interior and exterior surfaces

Ownership History

The seller has owned this 1960 Simca Aronde Océane since 2022.