Simca enthusiasts, father and son, will open a museum dedicated to the legendary brand
Through Carine Robinault
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At the Lhuissiers, the Simca, it’s a family affair. And soon, a museum dedicated to the car brand, which is planned to open in 2023 Dome Table (Sarthe).
Florian, 31, Jonathan, 29, and Baptiste, 23, were all bitten by the virus, transmitted by their father, Thierry, 57. He himself contaminated by his ancestor. “My father had a Simca. I kept it the smell, the sound, the acceleration Simkas. He didn’t like long journeys, but he drove,” he recalls.
“The stroller didn’t fit” in the Simca
His first Simca? It was a 1307 S. “My grandfather advanced me the money because I didn’t have a car to drive to work. Thierry is 20 years old. And struts proudly in his Adriatic green metallic racing carwith black velvet interior…
But the passion of his youth drives him to buy a Golf GTI… Before his love for Simca catches up with him. “I bought my father-in-law’s old car, a Simca 1308 GT. “A real pleasure. Which he will do without when he becomes a father… “The stroller wouldn’t fit,” he laughs.
His accompanied driving in a Simca
One thing leads to another, with his wife Nadine they find the Simca Thierry waits until 2005 to get a 1967 1501 automatic. Then a 1301 from the same year. The man puts the milestones of his future collection there… And incidentally infects his descendants.
Florian still remembers his accompanied driving in the 1100 Special from 1973: “4000 km. We have done tourist rallies, with mom as co-pilot. Ever since we were kids with my brothers, we’ve had that in our hearts. Not driving, that would be presumptuous, but driving.”
“Like their father, the three brothers are interested in vehicles in general. But especially the old ones. And especially in the Simca,” the eldest of the siblings continues.
Like any collector, it does not become a virus, but a disease. We see one, we crack, then the other… We deprive ourselves of the leisure to devote ourselves to these vehicles, but also to posters, decorations, plaques.
They create the friendly “Simca Passion”
In the cupboards, in the attic of the house, objects related to the brand are everywhere. Even stack. Thierry alone owns 28 vehicles, just as many for Florian and a dozen for Jonathan. Baptiste doesn’t have one, but the truck mechanic student is a great support for his father in getting the various models in the family up and running again.
Thus, in the courtyard of the family home in Lombron (Sarthe), the idea of creating an amicale was born. It is the birth of Simca passion “.
A friendship that drives the quartet to shift into higher gears by opening their own museum the legendary brand created by Fiat in 1934taken over by Chrysler then Peugeot.
A museum that will be housed in a former food warehouse in Bonnétable and will be completely renovated ahead of its intended opening in 2023. “We bought the building in 2020 and have furnished it since then. »
Retro campsites, garages, miniatures…
In total, about sixty models exhibited: a Tagora, a Simca Cargo “Lot 7”, i.e. a military tow truck from 1957, a pony tractor whose engine is signed Simca, among other things.
Vehicles, but not only. That lots of thumbnails of the family takes place in showcases. Not to mention a historic garage space with mechanics in full action.
Daughters-in-law also infected
We find a little further a desk of the professionalso vintage, resp a retro campsite where the Formica camping table, matching floral armchairs and other accessories are.
We also have many posters, some of which were given to us by a former mechanic, that hung in his garage.
A real universe dedicated entirely to it second French manufacturer of the 60s in short, the Lhuissier family hopes to open from April to October during the open house weekends or European Heritage Days.
She can count on Léa and Morgane, Baptiste and Morgane’s spouses, who are also involved in the adventure.
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