1960 Simca Aronde Oceane

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,