1978 Matra-Simca Rancho

[hezekiel]

Hi all,

My collection of peculiar old cars seems to be expanding at an alarming rate This particular example is one of 6 such cars originally imported to Finland. I doubt if any other of them is still on the road... It has spent most of it's life in a city near me, had only 2 owners until 2010.


As you might know, the car is based on the Simca 1100, but with a complete rework from the windshield towards the back. The outer skin is fibreglass and the construction paved the way for a later Matra development, the Renault Espace.


The drivetrain is the standard Simca type 315 engine which carried on in some Peugeot models until the 90's. The interior feels very spacious, but the trim quality easily tells that this was a car which was meant to be produced in small quantities only.


This very car was situated only a couple blocks from my home while I was a little kid. I remember admiring its unusual style and maybe those memories play a part in me getting it now while there was a chance.


The car has had a respray a couple of years ago and there has also been some welding going on in the past. Not to the highest standard, but should do its job nicely. The most recent PO didn't know too much about cars so I guess a proper service and tune-up is in ored as soon as I can spare the time. Looking at this picture, I just discovered that the mudflaps read both SIMCA and TALBOT... It was marketed under both brands but this example being a 1978 model still puts it under the pentastar Simca brand. Thanks for looking!

[PHUQ]

These things are brilliant! That one looks particuarly excellent.

[technics1974]

Very cool!

Any interior pics please?

[Granadaman72]

Great stuff, always loved the look of these since i was a kid, super rare in the uk now

[jimspolicev8sd1]

I loved these as a kid and bought loads of the toy models of them.

[hezekiel]

Thanks everybody! Since you asked for interior pics:






The interior is very roomy even for a guy my size (205cm/6'9") and the rear compartment is incredibly big. That tan vinyl is not the comfiest of upholstery materials during hot days in a car with no A/C but we'll try to put up with it here past the 62^nd latitude

There are some rips and scuffs in the interior and headliner which will have to be addressed if I ever wish to get the car a Historical Vehicle status (road tax exemption, MOT only every two years, insurance £25/year). Trim parts for this vehicle are unobtainium around here so I need to look overseas, should anything be required. It's fun to drive around even in the state it is now, so it might be that I can't be bothered

[Scooterist]

This is really fabulous car you got!
I didnt realise that these were imported to Finland at all...

And i can see from your tag, you are a fellow Citroen D enthusiast allso

[DarrenW]

Fantastic! In so many ways a Rancho is the absolute perfect car for me and my lifestyle, but there's no way I could actually have one ;D

Please keep the pictures coming - in a strange way this thread will help me live out a long-time daydream ;D

How much room is there in the back with the seats folded down? Enough space to sleep?

[zoompod]

Wanted one of these from the first time i saw one. Years later i worked in an ex Peugeot Talbot garage and one came in regularly for work but dissapeared and no-one saw it again, havn't seen one locally since. If i remember rightly, it was orange but your colour combination is really modern and works a treat. Really nice car you've got there.

[sonus]

I've aleays had a strange hang for these
There was one for sale in Norway a month ago, but not even close to the quality of yours.

[macca]

Jun 15, 2012 17:15:59 GMT jimspolicev8sd1 said:

I loved these as a kid and bought loads of the toy models of them.

Yep me too, I think I had a green Corgi one.

[sheffieldcortinacentre]

i've some service type spares for these wheel cyls etc

[grifterkid]

Now that is very, VERY, nice indeed... Such a rarity!

[darrenh]

ahead of its time perhaps ? echos of the original LR discovery

[65mustang]

I know two of them wich drove here in my childhood. Always liked them look like life size tonka's !

Really rare now !

[mjd]

Jun 15, 2012 17:15:59 GMT jimspolicev8sd1 said:

I loved these as a kid and bought loads of the toy models of them.

Snap. Think I had about 15 of them.

[skoda_norman]

I love these! I think this is the best condition one I've seen (online - not ever seen one in the metal... )

[Tom Jones]

Very cool, I had a red toy Rancho as a child.

[hezekiel]

I was able to do some work on the car today. The passenger door couldn't usually be opened from either handle, so I removed the door card and took out the lock mechanism. As most of you know, it's a very fiddly job since it's in the confines of the door and there are little levers and rods going everywhere... But it was sorted by cleaning 30 odd years worth of dust, grease and cavity wax and giving it a spray of chain lube.


It was raining yesterday and I noticed there was some water running inside the A-pillar and a small pool on the dash parcel shelf. A condition like that does the car no good at all, so I took out the windshield to install it again with some sealant added. There were some rust spots under the weatherseal which I sanded down, treated with rust converting primer and a dab of paint. It's not the correct colour but it will be hidden under the seal.

Also changed the engine oil (all 2,7 litres of it) and adjusted the carb and ignition a bit to get the engine run smoother. While under the car, I tried adjusting the front ride height just for the heck of it. There are set screws in the back end of the longitudinal torsion arms, the front now sits maybe 15mm lower than it did.

[ironmighty07]

Have always loved these since seeing them as a young boy with their chunky styling - if only you could combine the looks onto a Subaru Outback/Forester floor plan and running gear.....

Back to reality - looks fantastic!