The Ford Vedette is a large car formerly manufactured by Ford SAF in their Poissy plant from 1948 to 1954.
59-454: Originally conceived by Edsel Ford and Ford designer Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie as a “light” Ford model, smaller than the 1942 Ford . However, Edsel Ford died in 1943, and following the war Ford corporate felt the light car project would pull sales from the full size Ford. Additionally, Henry Ford II felt that Gregorie’s planned 1949 Ford , which shared the same character lines as the Light Ford,
118-450: A two-barrel Zenith-Stromberg 32NX carburetor , it produced 75 hp (55 kW) for the first generation. Power was transferred to the rear live axle through a three-speed manual transmission with column shift . The Vedette had independent front suspension (by MacPherson struts ) and drum brakes on all four wheels. As with the Aronde, Simca marketed different trim levels of
177-666: A V8 version of the old bodied car, with the Aquillon 84 engine, and badged as the Ariane 8, joined the range, replacing the Trianon. 1959 brought a new option, the Rush-Matic automatic transmission , which featured two modes: Rush (fully automatic) and Road (manual gear selection). The same year, assembly of the Vedette started at Simca do Brasil. Also during 1959, a new top-of-the-line model joined
236-657: A change in market conditions enabled him to develop the more fashionable Model A in 1927. Edsel also founded the Mercury division and was responsible for the Lincoln-Zephyr and Lincoln Continental . He introduced important features, such as hydraulic brakes, and greatly strengthened the company's overseas production. Ford was a major art benefactor in Detroit and also financed Admiral Richard Byrd 's polar explorations. He died of stomach cancer aged 49. Henry Ford temporarily reassumed
295-414: A faded yellow), no chrome, no trimmings, and a very simple interior. As a silent protest the car was named after the place the order to create this model came from: The Palácio da Alvorada , the presidential palace in the capital Brasília . The spartan car found very few takers, in spite of its lowered price, with only 378 examples built in the two years it was available. The Simca Profissional succeeded
354-617: A new division of cars called Edsel . The Edsel division included the Citation , Corsair , Pacer , Ranger , Bermuda , Villager , and Roundup models. The Edsel division is remembered as a significant commercial failure. The cars sold moderately well in their first year, but the Edsel division was discontinued soon after the 1960 models were introduced. In September of 1928 the Ford family moved into Gaukler Point, their new home designed by Albert Kahn , on
413-490: Is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Each of Ford's children inherited sizable shares in the Ford Motor Company, and the three sons all worked in the family business. On Edsel's death, his father briefly reassumed the presidency of Ford, then Edsel's son, Henry Ford II , became president of the company on September 21, 1945. Ford was one of the most significant art benefactors in Detroit history. As president of
472-471: The Cabriolet Décapotable (a two-door convertible ). Under the direction of the new company president, François Lehideux, Ford France refreshed the car for 1950, and again in 1952, when it finally received a one-piece windscreen, new interior and bumpers, better brakes, lengthened rear overhang and trunk, and a cigarette lighter. The 1953 October Mondial de l’Automobile also saw a luxury version of
531-623: The Ford Vedette . The Vedette was manufactured in Poissy until 1961 and the Ariane until 1963. After that, production continued in Brazil until 1966, when the Vedette finally evolved into the Simca Esplanada following Simca's takeover by Chrysler . In the early 1950s, Henri Théodore Pigozzi was looking to expand the manufacturing operations of his Simca company, which was enjoying much success at
590-466: The Highland Recreation Area near White Lake Township in southeastern Michigan, is designated as both a Michigan State Historical Landmark and State Natural Preserve. Jensen's landscape elements, with the diversity of tree, plant, and animal life, combine aesthetics, history, and nature. Ford died at Gaukler Point in 1943. His wife Eleanor continued living there until her death in 1976. It
649-705: The Indian Village neighborhood of Detroit. Ford went to the Hotchkiss School , in Lakeville, Connecticut , and the Detroit University School . His family donated to both institutions. The school library at Hotchkiss is named the Edsel Ford Memorial Library. The younger Ford showed more interest than his father in flashier styling for automobiles . He indulged this proclivity in part with
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#1732854858426708-584: The National Register of Historic Places . Simca Vedette The Simca Vedette is an executive car , manufactured from 1954 to 1961 by French automaker Simca , at their factory in Poissy , France . The Vedette competed in France's large car market at a time when the economy was finally returning to growth and enjoyed moderate success with its American style finished off by the Italian designer Rapi . It
767-655: The Présidence as the top-end model, Chambord as the mainstream model and the Alvorada , later renamed Profissional , as a base model, mainly marketed towards taxi drivers. There was also the Jangada station wagon, based on the Marly. The cars were eventually replaced by a version with new sheetmetal, called the Simca Esplanada . The Simca Chambord and its derivatives were built by Simca's Brazilian subsidiary, Simca do Brasil . Based on
826-732: The Simca Alvorada , the Simca Profissional had no distinct range of chassis numbers. Production figures are thus mixed in with those of the Simca Chambord . The Profissional was discontinued in 1966, as the Chambord range was replaced by the new Esplanada. Total: 50,833 Following an announcement in July 1959 that it would assemble and market Simca models in Australia , Chrysler Australia produced
885-612: The Simca Ariane . While this was welcome news for Volkswagen , for example, Simca do Brasil was not exactly pleased with the idea as the brand had established itself comfortably in the luxury car sector, in a way that Simca back in Europe never managed. Having had no plans to launch a cheap car, with no other options available, Simca do Brasil reluctantly created an entry-level version of their successful Simca Chambord. The Simca Alvorada appeared in 1963 with just two colours as option (grey and
944-517: The Simca Vedette Marly joined the line-up and the whole range was revised. A new license plate holder was added to the front bumper and the rear license plate now concealed the fuel tank filler. A peculiar addition was a pedal-operated windscreen washer , while other more ordinary changes included a second odometer , also known as a 'trip meter', for measuring partial distances. The Versailles and Régence were made even more comfortable with
1003-644: The Underwood Typewriter Company . Ford developed metastatic stomach cancer and undulant fever . Surgery for the cancer was unsuccessful due to the metastasis, and he died in 1943 at Gaukler Point, in his lakeside home in Grosse Pointe Shores , at the age of 49 from stomach cancer. All of his nonvoting stock was donated through a codicil in his will to the Ford Foundation , which he had founded with his father seven years earlier. He
1062-482: The 1960s, Simca do Brasil gradually introduced parts produced by local OEM parts suppliers. In 1961, the Chambord received an improved engine with 90 hp (67 kW) and 15% more torque, a slightly shorter differential. 98% of the parts were of Brazilian production. A special version, called the Tufão (whirlwind) featured some additional luxury items in its interior. 42,910 units of the Chambord were built up to 1966, and
1121-527: The Detroit Arts Commission, he commissioned the famous Diego Rivera Detroit Industry Murals in the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). He was an early collector of African art and his contributions became part of the core of the original DIA African art collection. After his death, his family continued to make significant contributions. He helped finance exploratory expeditions, including
1180-462: The Ford company should develop airplanes, over the initial objections of his father, who could not envision commercial applications for planes. After having huge success as the US Post Office's airmail carrier, Edsel's foresight was rewarded. Because of his vision in this area, the company was able to respond to the critical need for airplanes during WW2. The Ford Motor Company played a key role in
1239-559: The October 1951 Motor Show as a "farmer's car" (voiture agricole) and launched more formally as the "Ford Abeille" in June 1952, was a "no frills" development of the Vedette with which it shared its wheel base and engine, but the rear overhang and therefore the overall length were shorter by 220 mm (8.7 in) The interior surfaces of the Abeille were almost without exception of painted metal, and
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#17328548584261298-740: The Simca Alvorada in 1965. That year, the Brazilian government created a new public financing tool through its publicly owned bank Caixa Econômica Federal that would allow Brazilians to finance their vehicle over four years with a monthly interest rate of 1%. This obviously was to attract a new range of clients and Simca do Brasil looked into how to make the Alvorada even cheaper in order to make it attractive for, for example for taxicab drivers. The Simca Profissional thus appeared in 1965 with three colour options (yellow, green and cream white), no chrome (even
1357-538: The Vedette range, the Présidence , featuring a luxurious interior, a radiotelephone (a European first) and a continental kit . French coachbuilder Chapron built two 2-door Présidence convertibles for a governor of one of the French colonies . Chapron had another order the next year, to build two four-door convertibles for the French President Charles de Gaulle . The Beaulieu was dropped in autumn 1960, but
1416-598: The Vedette under different model names, this time with references to the grand period of baroque in French history. The basic version was called the Simca Vedette Trianon , the mid-level was the Simca Vedette Versailles and, at the top of the range, the Simca Vedette Régence . An option on all versions was a large glass moonroof that slid into the roof, called Vistadome The Vedette range
1475-515: The Vedette, the Ford Vendôme , fitted with the bigger 3923 cc Mistral V8 engine, previously used in Ford France trucks. Also updated in 1953 was the five-door, five-seat Abeille (French for " bee ") estate with a two-piece tailgate , advertised as both practical (with a payload of 500 kg (1,100 lb)) and comfortable. The Abeille, originally exhibited with little fanfare at
1534-596: The Vedette, the first Brazilian Chambord left the production line in March 1959. It featured a standard 84 hp (63 kW) V8 engine, a 3-speed gearbox with the shifter located on the steering column, and was assembled from parts imported from France. Related models included the Simca Présidence, Simca Rallye, Simca Jangada (a station wagon based on the Simca Marly ), Simca Alvorada , and Simca Profissional . Throughout
1593-457: The addition of central armrests (Versailles in the rear only, Régence in front and rear), while the Trianon was simplified, losing bumper guards and chrome windscreen decor. In 1957, an option of the Gravina automatic clutch was added, along with better brakes and more direct steering. The Trianon regained the chrome decor around the windscreen, while the other models acquired slimmer tail lights and
1652-698: The arming of the US " Arsenal of Democracy ". With Edsel leading the company, he set the goal of producing one bomber per hour at Ford's expansive Willow Run manufacturing complex, where the B-24 was produced. It was said that the stress of this job caused Edsel to become mortally ill. According to Max Wallace in The American Axis: Ford, Lindbergh, and the Rise of the Third Reich , letters between Edsel and Maurice Dollfus ,
1711-420: The body, with the help of designer József Galamb . Edsel also prevailed upon his father to allow the inclusion of four-wheel mechanical brakes and a sliding-gear transmission on this model. The resulting Model A was a commercial success, selling over four million during four years of production. As president, Edsel often disagreed with his father on major decisions and was occasionally humiliated in public by
1770-479: The bumpers were painted in dark gray, no trimmings), the already very simple interior of the Alvorada was downgraded further with plastic seat covers, the door covers were dark, untrimmed cardboard screwed onto the metal. But the Profissional was 30 percent cheaper than its far posher brother, the all chrome and leather Simca Chambord . The production numbers of this version apparently were never documented and, unlike
1829-601: The cars "Simcas" from 1 December 1954, the date set for the formal hand-over of the business. In export markets the name change was less immediate, and even in adjacent Belgium , in January 1955 at the Brussels Motor Show the cars were still appearing on the stand of the Belgian Ford importer, sharing the space with models imported from Ford of Britain . The acquisition by Pigozzi took place in July 1954, just when Ford
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1888-815: The cars to clear. The small-engined 4-cylinder Ariane, of which 166,363 were produced, survived until 1963. Simca would not return to the luxury executive car market in Europe until 1970, when production of the Chrysler 160, 180, and 2 Litre started. The model was continued for longer in Brazil , where the Ford-sourced Aquilon 2.4-litre V8 engine underwent a number of improvements, first increasing power to 100 hp (the Tufão version), then to 140 hp (called Emi-Sul due to its hemispherical combustion chambers , as used in Chrysler's Hemi engines ). Trim levels included
1947-528: The engine output gradually rose to 120 hp (89 kW). These more powerful Chambords had an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 14.3 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). In November 1966 Simca introduced the Esplanada at the Salão do Automóvel , Brazil's sole motor show, as a replacement for the Chambord. The Simca Alvorada was a radically stripped-down version based on
2006-538: The entire factory, along with the rights to the cars manufactured there. The cars appeared at the Paris Motor Show in October 1954 on the Ford France stand, but there was no mention of the Ford name on the covers of the brochures offered to potential customers. The name "Ford" appeared just once, in very small print, on the final page, presumably in order to avoid confusing customers who would be expected to call
2065-440: The front bench seat of the Vedette was replaced with two "rustic" seats apparently taken from a commercial van, but behind them the rear bench was easy to remove, allowing for the installation of a flat "false-floor" of timber planks, and facilitating the use of the car as a load carrier for farmers and small-scale traders. At the October 1953 Motor Show the standard Abeille was listed at 845,000 francs as against 935,000 francs for
2124-534: The front ornament was replaced with a new design. Fender-mounted V8 badges were introduced but, although the whole range featured the same V8 engine, the new badges appeared on the fenders of only the Régence and Marly. After three years in production, the Vedettes were given new names and a new, elongated body, with a more ornate front end and large tailfins , making the cars even more American-looking than before. This
2183-670: The head of Ford SAF , sent in 1942 indicate that Ford knew and approved of their French subsidiary's manufacturing efforts on behalf of the German military. Edsel was also present at a celebratory dinner at the Manhattan Waldorf Astoria organized by Gerhard Alois Westrick after the Fall of France . Other attendees included Sosthenes Behn of ITT , Torkild Rieber of Texaco , James D. Mooney of General Motors , and Philip Dakin Wagoner of
2242-645: The historic flight of Admiral Richard Byrd over the North Pole in 1926. Byrd, in his Antarctic expeditions, also financed by Edsel, named the Edsel Ford Range of mountains after him. Other Antarctic homages include Ford Massif , Ford Nunataks , and Ford Peak . Interstate 94 in the Detroit Metropolitan Area is named the Edsel Ford Freeway . In September 1957, Ford Motor Company unveiled
2301-489: The least expensive version of the Vedette. Facing unsatisfactory sales results, as well as disruptive strikes at the Poissy plant at the turn of the decade, Ford had been trying to dispose of the factory since shortly after the end of the war. An opportunity arose in 1954, when Henri-Theodore Pigozzi, the founder of the increasingly successful French automaker Simca , was looking for a new plant to expand its operations. Ford France
2360-648: The new body, the Versailles was replaced by Simca Vedette Beaulieu and the Régence by the Chambord , while the estate retained the Vedette Marly name. The three-year-old body of the previous Vedette nevertheless continued in production but it lost its V8 2.4-litre engine. In April 1957, fitted with the 1.3 L Aronde engine, the old body now clothed a new model in the Simca range, the Simca Ariane . Later, in October 1957,
2419-478: The older man. The relationship between the father and son was close, but fraught with unhealthy aspects. Edsel managed to introduce many lasting changes. He founded and named the Mercury division. He was responsible for the Lincoln-Zephyr and Continental. He significantly strengthened Ford Motors' overseas production, and modernized the company's cars, such as by introducing hydraulic brakes . As an early and enthusiastic advocate for aviation, Edsel insisted that
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2478-477: The other models remained unchanged until the 1961 model year, when they received new seats, new chrome decor, and the engine was fitted with a new anti-vibration crankshaft. French production of the V8-engined cars ended in the summer of 1961, by which time 173,288 had been produced, although a Simca Chambord was exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in October of that year, suggesting that Simca still had some stock of
2537-462: The posh Simca Chambord as a result of a demand by the Brazilian government of President Juscelino Kubitcheck that every car manufacturer must offer an affordable basic version within their range. The idea was to give as many Brazilians as possible the possibility to own a car. The concept of a very basic version of the Simca Vedette had been previously attempted in Simca's home country France, with
2596-607: The presidency of Ford on Edsel's death, then Edsel's eldest son, Henry Ford II , succeeded Henry as president of Ford in 1945. He was also a member of the board of directors of American IG , the American subsidiary of the German chemical conglomerate IG Farben . Edsel Ford was born in November 1893 in Detroit . He was the only child of Clara and Henry Ford, and was named after Edsel Ruddiman, one of Henry Ford's closest childhood friends. He
2655-399: The purchase of the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922. His affinity for sports cars was demonstrated in his personal vehicles: Edsel bought the first MG motorcar imported to the US. In 1932, he had an aluminum, boat-tailed speedster automobile custom-designed by Ford's first designer, E. T. (Bob) Gregorie and featuring Ford's brand-new V8 , the first low-cost, eight-cylinder engine. This car
2714-402: The quality of the car and contributed to its limited popularity. Over the six years in production, the Vedette was available in several body styles, ranging from the original four-door fastback (with rear suicide doors ) through the later four-door saloon , a Sunliner two-door landaulet based on the saloon (with a roll-down roof over the entire cabin), a two-door Coupé and, based on it,
2773-552: The shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. The estate's landscape and gardens were designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen with his traditional long view, giving visitors a glimpse of the residence down the long meadow before revealing the entire house at drive's end. He also designed the gardens for Edsel and Eleanor's summer estate Skylands in Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine . Jensen designed work for their other Michigan residence, Haven Hill, between 1922 and 1935. Haven Hill, now within
2832-458: The time, thanks to the popular Aronde . At the same time, Ford was seeking to divest itself of its French subsidiary, Ford SAF, which had a factory in Poissy, close to Paris , where it had been manufacturing a large car called the Ford Vedette. The Poissy plant was large and there was capacity for further expansion. The Vedette was a larger car than anything that Simca had on offer at that time. These points attracted Pigozzi, who decided to take over
2891-541: Was designed entirely in Detroit (resembling contemporary Mercury models) and featured the Poissy-made 2158 cc Aquillon sidevalve V8 engine of Ford's Flathead engine family, the same as in pre-war Matford cars. It was the only French car of its time with a V8 engine. Because the Poissy factory could not resume complete automobile production immediately after World War II and had no stamping equipment , many vital components had still to be made by various subcontractors, which reportedly had an adverse effect on
2950-477: Was groomed to take over the family automobile business, and grew up tinkering on cars with his father. He became secretary of Ford in 1915, and married Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896–1976), the niece of department store owner J. L. Hudson , on November 1, 1916. Together, they had four children: Henry Ford II (1917–1987), Benson Ford (1919–1978), Josephine Clay Ford (1923–2005), and William Clay Ford (1925–2014). They made their home at 2171 Iroquois Street, in
3009-403: Was her wish that the property be used for "the benefit of the public." The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is now open to the public. Located on 87 acres (35.2 ha), the house has an excellent collection of the Fords' original antiques and art, and the historical landscape grounds on the lakefront. The museum currently hosts tours, classes, lectures, and special events. The property is listed on
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#17328548584263068-434: Was marketed with different model names according to trim and equipment levels. The Vedette was Simca's largest model at that time, and it went on to spawn a more economical version, the Simca Ariane . Simca acquired the Poissy factory from Ford France (Ford Société Anonyme Française, the French subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company ), along with the model line, in 1954. The Vedette was therefore initially still marketed as
3127-456: Was merged into Simca with both the Poissy plant and the rights to all models manufactured there — including a newly designed Vedette. The new car had debuted in France under the name of Simca Vedette , but was sold as the Ford Vedette in some markets (including Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany) at least until 1956. Edsel Ford Edsel Bryant Ford (November 6, 1893 – May 26, 1943) was an American business executive and philanthropist who
3186-413: Was part of a styling trend shown by most large European cars of that period, which were, to some extent, inspired by American styling, as tailfins appeared on Peugeots , Fiats , BMC models ( Pinin Farina -styled), Fords and even Mercedes-Benz cars of that era. The engine was uprated to 84 hp (62 kW) (now called Aquillon 84 ) but the fiscal qualification of the car remained unchanged. Using
3245-419: Was poised to launch its new, modern Vedette, with a four-door saloon body of "American" style, much like the contemporary British Fords or Vauxhalls . The car was powered by an unusually small 2351 cc sidevalve V8 engine called Aquilon (" North wind ") in France, derived from Ford's Flathead engine family , whose displacement positioned the car into the " 13 CV " French tax class. Equipped with
3304-475: Was sold at an auction during the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in 2016. After becoming the president of Ford, he advocated for the introduction of a more modern automobile to replace the Model T , but was repeatedly overruled by his father. Dwindling market share finally made the introduction of a new model inevitable: the Model A . During the design of the Model A in 1927, Henry Ford assured mechanical quality and reliability, allowing his son to develop
3363-406: Was still marketed under the Ford brand in some markets, including the Netherlands and Germany , until 1956. As the new model caught on, Simca was able to increase production from the 150 daily achieved during Ford's ownership of the factory to 250 cars a day. Pigozzi maintained a schedule of year-to-year model revisions, much like US manufacturers. For 1956, an estate version called
3422-461: Was the only child of pioneering industrialist Henry Ford and his wife, Clara Jane Bryant Ford . He was the president of Ford Motor Company from 1919 until his death in 1943. He worked closely with his father, as sole heir to the business, but was keen to develop cars more exciting than the Model T ("Tin Lizzie"), in line with his personal tastes. Even as president, he had trouble persuading his father to allow any departure from this formula. Only
3481-411: Was too large for its market, as was Gregorie’s proposed 1949 Mercury . To that end, the planned Ford and Mercury lines were pushed to Mercury and Lincoln, and a contest held to design a Ford that would be at once smaller than the Mercury, but larger than the Light Ford. To recoup the cost of Light Ford, that car was transferred to Ford France. Introduced at the 1948 Salon de l'automobile in Paris, it
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