Simca 1307
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The Simca 1307 was a mid-sized hatchback car, introduced in 1975 and initially sold under the brands Simca in France and Chrysler elsewhere in Europe. When Chrysler sold Simca to Peugeot in 1978, both brands were later dropped and replaced by a historical brand Talbot.
More upmarket models were designated 1308 (1508 in some markets) and 1309. It was voted European Car of the Year in 1975. In the United Kingdom, the car was known as the Chrysler Alpine. Styled by Roy Axe,, Simca 1307 was one of the first full-size family hatchbacks in Europe together with Volkswagen Passat of the same era. In 1970's the most popular mid-size cars in Europe were still traditional sedans like Ford Taunus (Ford Cortina), Opel Ascona (Vauxhall Cavalier) and Peugeot 305. The car was originally manufactured in Poissy in France and in Ryton in the United Kingdom. Between 1979 and 1985 the car was built also in the production lines of Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki factory in Finland.
In 1980 the car, which was now sold under the Talbot-brand, receiced a facelift. The new model was known as the Talbot 1510 (the Talbot Alpine name was retained in the UK). A sedan version, called the Solara, was released that year, and produced alongside the hatchback version.
In New Zealand, both Alpine and 1510 badges were used on the car during its lifetime, though it was officially in price lists as an Alpine, following the UK convention. In 1982 the car was renamed SX on the New Zealand market.
The manufacturing of 1510, Alpine and Solara, along with the smaller Horizon, ended at the beginning of 1985. In the United Kingdom they were rebadged as the Rapier and Minx (names sourced from the days of the Rootes Group), which were badged depending on trim level rather than bodystyle. Production of these models was limited and by the end of 1986 the range stopped production completely, as Peugeot scrapped the Talbot marque on passenger cars.
The Russian Moskvitch Aleko (1989-2002) was visually identical to the Alpine, although it was mechanically sourced from the Audi 80.