The curious story of Captain Baker’s Simca 500 Montecarlo

After deciding to restore rather than scrap the Simca in his garage, the hard work really started for Kelvyne – and we’re not talking about the hard work that goes into a restoration. It made sense to restore the Simca as close to its original condition as possible, since it was such a rare vehicle. This meant a lot of research, a lot of writing, and a lot of dead ends.

‘My vehicle was the first of the chassis numbers, and was imported to Rob Walker’s Fiat dealership in Bournemouth. It was from there that Dr Kelloway purchased it and kept it until 1993,’ explains Kelvyne.

‘Frustratingly, we don’t have the records of how it arrived on UK soil, but we’re assuming it was something to do with the military. In 1965, the Simca was registered with Bournemouth City Council with a new registration. In my research I learned that the original registration actually featured my initials (talk about meant to be!), but unfortunately since the car pre-dated the DVLA, the original registration was rendered unusable as it was technically in use according to their records, and so an age related UK registration was issued’

The restoration itself was full, and sometimes complicated. A fire in Turin meant that some original records of Simca were lost, which made tracking down information on the original Simcas more difficult. But with a lot of determination, many letters, and a little travelling, Kelvyne tracked down most of the parts he needed with the help of the Paris records office.

Almost everything has been replaced or upgraded including the engine, gearbox, suspension, wheels and switches. This was done using original parts where possible, and parts as close to original where not.

The interiors, however, were a different matter. The seat frames were weak when the Simca was bought, and when it came time to replace them the originals were not available to buy.

One thing Kelvyne was sure of was that he wanted to replace the seats with wicker ones, as close to the original as possible. This pursuit led him to Cane Corner, East Budleigh who remade the seats using centre cane from New Guinea.

The fabric roof is copied from the original, but the colour is matched to the interior, not the original colour. Instead of the original canvas, it now has a German Rivenhood Mohair hood.

After a respray and a reupholster, she was almost ready for the road. Except, times have changed since the ‘60’s, and to be truly ready for our roads and lifestyle, the Simca had to reflect that. Hidden inside the interior, Kelvyne has installed two USB charging ports, a Bluetooth amp and speakers to allow him to play music, listen to the radio and follow his sat nav, and most importantly a tracker.

From the pictures you may also notice a quaint picnic basket on the back. Don’t be fooled: that isn’t to house a ploughman’s lunch! Inside there is a car cover, handily positioned should the Great British weather take a turn for the soggy.

This little motor is a true international, made in Paris for the tourism trade in Malta in a factory owned by an Italian make, and now with seats from New Guinea and a hood from Germany, ready to be driven on British roads.

‘Restoring the Simca has been a real labour of love, and it has taken a lot of research and learning for me to be able to complete it the way that I have. I think the most important thing I’ve realised, aside from the specifics of the Simca, is something that I’ve always known.

‘The history of cars is important. It’s not only important to us as owners, but it’s important to everyone. In my research I learned a lot of things that I was later told were incorrect, but I took that as a great thing – the door to information is always open, and it should be!

‘It is vital that we share information, and every new piece we can find on a specific car, make, or even person is fascinating and adds new layers to stories. The history of cars is not the history of mechanics and thrills – it’s the history of people. And that’s why I’ll never close the door on new information.’