Unless Garnwerd2 has a time machine, I’m going to assume this fab shot was taken at a car show in the Netherlands, as all four are in exquisite shape. And interestingly, all except the ’63 Caddy are French. What are they?
The blue one hiding behind the Caddy is of course a Renault 5. The red sedan is a Simca 1301 or 1501, the revised version of the 1300/1500. And in the foreground is a delightful Citroen Ami 6 break (wagon). I did a CC on its quite similar successor Ami 8 Break here.
The blue Renault looks like a two-door whereas the Cadillac, Simca, and Citroen are all four doors. So the Renault is the odd-duck! 🙂
Both the Ami and the Simca are later imports, the letters of both licence numbers give this away, after a certain age classic imports like these are allowed to wear our old “royal blue ” plates instead of our mandatory horrible yellow plates. However you must formally apply for old blue plates when your classic car gets its test for roadworthyness, a rather severe technical inspection where some civil servants have their own way of adapting the rules!
I’m almost sure the Cadillac is also a later import.
Back in 1963 a Cadillac De Ville cost about fl.37.000 in The Netherlands.
For comparison: an average house in those days went for around fl.30.000. That’s one extremely expensive car! Its price as well as its huge size (very impractical on narrow Dutch roads) would have made a Cadillac a very rare appearance.
The Cadillac is the one parked the other way around, so that is my nominee for the odd-duck 🙂
I think the Cadillac’s hood is as long as the entire R5.
Put vertical tail lights on the Simca and it would resemble a BMW 1500 from the rear.
With the current taillights I think it strongly resembles a W115 Mercedes from the rear.
The best part is undoubtedly the color selection on display here. The Cadillac looks like a schoolmarm caring for her flock of brightly colored charges.
But since there is a Citroen present, by default it is the one that is so unlike the others, the rest are mere cars. Always and forevermore.
That Cadillac is the same color of the one I was given for free in 1979. All I could see then was “parts car” but now all I see is “why didn’t I try to get it started then clean it up and sell it.”
I must admit I like the plain and neat styling of the Simca with its good, all-round visibilty. Didn’t often see them in red though when they were around in the UK, they mostly seemed to be in darker metallics; blue, green or deep bronze.
Named after the French explorer Antoine DE LA Mothe Cadillac, the big American is with its ancestral cousins.
+1
I’m glad they didn’t name it the De La Mothe. Not what you’d want in your broadcloth upholstery.
Clever! But you can also discuss that Simca is the odd one, all other makes are named after people while the Simca name is an abbrevation.
But your comment gave ne this suggestion.
The Citroen is the only one there with an air-cooled engine and an umbrella-type gear selector, as well as sliding windows in place of roll-ups.
So, mi vote goes for Citroen.
My money’s on the fact that only the caddy is rear wheel drive; I hope. Not too certain about the Simca’s drivetrain though.
The Simca was definitely rear wheel drive. From what I can decypher it’s a later year model 1301. The decals on the trunk are the newer style used in the 70ies. The hubcabs are basic, so it’s probably lower end trim.
That Simca must be one of the very last sold. Production ended in 1975 and this car was first registered on March 1, 1976. It was imported into The Netherlands in 2001.
The Ami 6 is also a late model, first registered on Jan. 7, 1969 and imported into The Netherlands in 2008.
The Ami 6 Break was replaced by the Ami 8 Break in 1970.
Source: RDW.nl
Right, its registration says 1301 Spécial.
Another point of view (https://www.de-hav.nl/1993-simca-1301-special-bj-1974-eigenaar-e-van-der-velde-2/)
Some action footage of the Citroën, from azu250 on flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/citroenazu/37112772012/
Credit for impressive roll angle and still having all 4 wheels on the ground.
The finalists in the soft suspension Olympics…and a SIMCA
Cadillac, Renault and Citroen still exist. Simca is the only orphan.