Simca Type 315

The Simca Type 315, commonly known as the Simca 1100 engine, was a four-cylinder OHV engine developed by Simca for use in its superminis and economy cars. In spite of its common name, the engine actually predates the Simca 1100 model, and debuted in 1961 in the Simca 1000 Coupé.

The engine was first designed in a 944 cc form, but was reduced and stretched in order to be used in a variety of models and versions, by Simca, the Rootes Group (its partner company in Chrysler Europe), Simca's final incarnation Talbot and its last parent company Peugeot, who used it until 1991 in its midsize model, the 309. The engine existed in displacements ranging from 777 to 1592 cc, the biggest one on both sides of the Atlantic, powering the United States-market Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon.

Peugeot eventually dropped the engines, replacing them with their own TU family.

Type 315

The Type 315 engine was introduced in 1961 in the Simca 1000 Coupé, a small two-door sports model. It featured a displacement of 944 cc (58 in³) and had an initial output of 52 PS (38 kW/51 hp). The following year, the 315 was used for the first time in a saloon car, the four-door Simca 1000, in a detuned from, with only 34 PS (25 kW/33 hp), which would be increased over the years, to a maximum of 44 PS (32 kW/43 hp) on the base model.

The engine was a modern unit, with a water-cooled inline design with forged crankshaft, alloy cross-flow head and five main bearings. An unusual feature on early models was the absence of a spin-on paper oil filter. Instead, the engine featured a form of centrifugal oil filter in the hollow rear crankshaft pulley, although all later versions used the more traditional disposable cartridge filters. One of its major innovations was the use of a swirl vortex on the intake valve port which gave very good combustion, and thus both power and economy for this time. This engine proved cheap to build, and several models of different sizes and market segments used this displacement, which survived until 1982, as the ever-present entry level for the Simca 1100.

maller variants

The 315 was reduced a few times, although it didn't have much use apart from the early and more compact models. In 1964, Simca developed an 844 cc (52 in³) version for the Spanish market 1000, as cars over 0.9 L were in a higher tax bracket. This variant existed in two output levels, the most powerful of which, and two single-barrel carburetors, which increased power to 43 PS (31.5 kW/42 hp). An even more economic version was created for the entire European market in 1969, with only 777 cc (47 in³). These displacements were used in the Simca 1000 up to 1978.

Larger variants

In 1968, another version was created for the Spanish market, the 1204 cc (73 in³) displacement. This was the first sporty version of the 1000, with power rising to 55 PS (40.5 kW/54 hp). A double-barrel carburetor was then used in the Simca 1200 S, a coupé designed by Bertone, and the CG sports car, and could reach 85 PS (62.5 kW/84 hp). The regular version was later used in various models around the European market, and was even installed in the US-market version of the Simca 1100, known as the Simca 1204. It was in use until 1978.

The 1118 cc (73 in³) variant appeared in 1967, initially in the 1100 and then in the 1000. This proved to be one of the most popular displacements of the 315 engines, powering the LCV version of the 1100, known as VF2, and the Talbot Horizon's entry level version. It survived until 1991, when it was used as the base model to the Peugeot 309.

The 1294 cc (79 in³) variant debuted in 1972, and although it wasn't very popular in the 1000, it continued to be used in various Simca and Talbot models. It was famous in racing circles, by being used to power the Simca Rallye, a sporty version of the 1000 introduced in 1972, with two double-barrel carburetors and a maximum power of 82 PS (60 kW/81 hp). Racing versions could be tuned well in excess of 120 PS (over 90 kW/over 120 hp), and the three generations of the Simca Rallye using this engine are still used throughout Europe, especially France, in various national rally championships for classic cars and non-homologated cars.

The 1442 cc (79 in³) variant was first used in 1975 in the Simca 1307/Chrysler Alpine. On virtue of its size, it could reach 85 PS (62.5 kW/84 hp) with a double-barrel carburetor, but unlike the 1.3 L version, it was never used for racing in any capacity, Simca and Talbot preferring to use it in its larger models, including deluxe versions of the Horizon and the Solara. It also powered Europe's first soft-roader, the Matra Rancho.

The larger iteration of the Type 315 was the 1592 cc (79 in³) variant. Like the 1.45 L engine, it debuted in the 1307/Alpine in 1975, and was positioned at the top of the range, initially only with an automatic transmission (the only version of the engine to feature one), necessary to insure this engine could power the US-market versions of the Chrysler Europe models. It was notorious for its use in the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon, and was dubbed Peugeot by the American media, despite the fact Peugeot had nothing to do with its design. It was also used as the base model for the three-seater coupé Matra Murena.

Cars that used the Type 315 engine

777 cc

*Simca 1000 - 1969-1978

844 cc

*Simca 1000 - 1964-1978

944 cc

*Simca 1000 Coupé - 1961-1966
*Simca 1000 - 1962-1978
*Simca CG - 1966-1974
*Simca 1100 - 1969-1982

1118 cc

*Simca 1000 - 1968-1978
*Simca 1100 - 1967-1982
*Simca Horizon / Talbot Horizon - 1977-1987
*Peugeot 309 - 1986-1989

1204 cc

*Simca 1000 - 1968-1978
*Simca 1200S Bertone - 1966-1971
*Simca CG - 1967-1974
*Simca 1100 - 1967-1979
*Simca VF2 - 1973-1985

1294 cc

*Simca 1000 - 1972-1974
*Simca Rallye - 1972-1978
*Simca 1100 - 1972-1982
*Simca 1307 / Chrysler Alpine / Talbot 1510 - 1975-1982
*Matra Bagheera - 1973-1976
*Simca Horizon / Talbot Horizon - 1977-1985
*Talbot Solara - 1980-1985
*Peugeot 309 - 1986-1992

1442 cc

*Simca 1100 - 1979-1980
*Simca 1307 / Chrysler Alpine / Talbot 1510 - 1975-1983
*Matra Bagheera - 1976-1980
*Matra Rancho - 1977-1982
*Simca Horizon / Talbot Horizon - 1977-1987
*Talbot Solara - 1980-1986

1592 cc

*Simca 1307 / Chrysler Alpine / Talbot 1510 - 1975-1984
*Matra Murena - 1980-1983
*Talbot Horizon - 1983-1987
*Dodge Omni / Plymouth Horizon - 1983-1986
*Talbot Solara - 1980-1986

ources

* [http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/ The Rootes-Talbot Resource]

ee also

List of Chrysler engines