Simca Returns (Pending German Patent Troll)

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Renault has had quite a bit of success in recent years with its budget-brand Dacia, prompting Peugeot-Citroen to reach back into its bag of abandoned brands for a name to put behind its own low-cost car offerings. Having briefly considered the Talbot name, it seems that PSA has settled on something a little more modern and relevant to low-cost offerings: Simca. Which makes quite a bit of sense, if you think about it. Rather than naming a budget brand after the makers of hugely expensive pre-WWII luxury cars (a trick Chrysler tried once already with the Horizon), PSA can reference one of the most influential (if forgotten) small-car brands. At least, it can if it deals with that most modern of problems, the patent troll. AutoBild reports

Joachim W. “Simca” signed in September 2007 at the German Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark for the class “cars”. Then a cancellation request was made ​​- probably by Peugeot. The French made at least one attempt to register Simca on 2 June 2008, whereupon Joachim W. submitted an application for cancellation.

It’s not clear what claim Mr Simca might have on the name, as SIMCA stands for Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Mechimike Mechimike on Mar 23, 2011

    They need to go back to making great cars like the SIMCA Chambord, preferably powered by a flathead Ford V8 making about 60HP. We need more sorta-American-looking-European small cars.

  • Oldowl Oldowl on Mar 23, 2011

    I actually owned a 1962 Simca. The only good thing about it was the paint job.

  • Brandloyalty Brandloyalty on Mar 27, 2011

    Our family had a 1958 Simca Vedette Beaulieu during an Air Force posting in France. Just like this: http://quazen.com/recreation/autos/fascinating-french-classic-cars-the-simca-vedette-series/ It had a tiny little V8, sourced from Ford, I believe. We covered 140,000 miles in Europe in 4 years with it, and I don't recall any major repairs. With relatives visiting from Canada, we once did a month-long camping trip around Europe with 4 adults and 3 kids in it. My dad had it shipped back to Ontario, where rust quickly devoured it. There was a US-spec version, so some must have been sold here. The US-spec version had three separate round tail light lenses where the European version had a large divided red/amber lens.

  • Brandloyalty Brandloyalty on Mar 27, 2011

    Our family had a 1958 Simca Vedette Beaulieu during an Air Force posting in France. Just like this: http://quazen.com/recreation/autos/fascinating-french-classic-cars-the-simca-vedette-series/ It had a tiny little V8, sourced from Ford, I believe. We covered 140,000 miles in Europe in 4 years with it, and I don't recall any major repairs. With relatives visiting from Canada, we once did a month-long camping trip around Europe with 4 adults and 3 kids in it. After his posting, my dad had it shipped back to Ontario, where rust quickly devoured it. There was a US-spec version, so some must have been sold here. The US-spec version had three separate round tail light lenses where the European version had a large divided red/amber lens.

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