The French Dinky Simca 1100 Police Car. Introduced in 1977, French Dinky manufactured the SIMCA 1100 Police car in Spain, where it was designated 1450E. The 92mm length reflected that of the SIMCA 1100 Berline (saloon) 1407, introduced in 1968. The cost of the Police car, 18 new francs, about 18/-, some 6 francs above the standard Berline, reflected its plastic glass windows, suspension, opening engine and boot, matt green engine, black and white livery badged with POLICE on either side, blue light on the roof and its concave wheel hubs with treaded tyres. The model came with one of 7 number plates, white letters and numbers on a black background at both face and rear. French Dinky allocated the plate 7316 UG 75 to the French market, while 4212 BM 93 denoted models sold in Spain. Both box and vehicle recorded the place of manufacture as, Spain, although boxes for French versions also carried an additional sticker to show that these imported models complied with French law. French Dinky deleted the model in 1978.

The model of the SIMCA 1100 Police car was based on one of France’s most popular cars, with over 100,000 produced annually. In design from 1961-67, the SIMCA 1100 was France’s first front wheel drive vehicle. The car was road tested in Normandy and launched in Sardinia and at the Paris Motor Show in 1967. At this point, Chrysler Corporation, SIMCA’s new American owners chose to replace the traditional swallow logo with the Chrysler Pen-star and the 1100 was the first SIMCA vehicle to carry the new badge. Chrysler named the vehicle after its highly successful, Poissy-built 1118cc engine. The front-wheel drive hatchback came in a 3 and 5-door version, an estate car, and as 2 and 3 door vans. In no small measure, the vehicle’s success came from its innovative engineering, reflected in the use of disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, torsion-bar suspension and the provision of radial tyres. Together, these fittings made the SIMCA 1100 a remarkably advanced small family car and it is rumoured that Volkswagen studied the car when designing the VW Golf. SIMCA produced a number of sporty variants, which drew the attention of the French Police, who used it to patrol Europe’s busiest motorway, The Paris Peripherique. Ultimately, the Talbot Horizon replaced the SIMCA 1100. The original price was 18 new fr . It was available in white & black finish. Released as French Dinky 1450 in 1977 withdrawn as French Dinky 1450 in 1978.