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There was one Ford subsidiary I forgot. Looked at all the others. A 1948 Ford Simca Vedette. The image matches. I seem to recall it used the Flathead V8, the same one as the Ford Pilot in the UK used. I don't think it can have been very popular, given the price of petrol in France at the time and high taxes for cars over 2 litres. 

Wilson

 

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1 hour ago, wlaidlaw said:

There was one Ford subsidiary I forgot. Looked at all the others. A 1948 Ford Simca Vedette. The image matches. I seem to recall it used the Flathead V8, the same one as the Ford Pilot in the UK used. I don't think it can have been very popular, given the price of petrol in France at the time and high taxes for cars over 2 litres...

We have a Winner!

Yes; a Ford Vedette made by Ford S.A.F (Société Anonyme Française) at their plant in Yvelines, to the west of Paris, between 1948 and 1954. I seem to recall that this particular example was made in '51 but can't be certain. It did feature a Poissy-made version of the 'Flathead' V8 and although it was produced in numerous body-styles the Wiki entry mentions that the Vedette enjoyed 'limited popularity'.

Two shots showing the full thing;

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Here is the inecitable link to the Wiki entry;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Vedette

...and a second link to a page from the (pleasantly enthusiastic) French Club's website. Who knows; they might even have a show coming somewhere near Tourtour sometime if you are lucky!

https://clubvedettefrance.fr/tous-les-salons-du-printemp2025/

Well done and thanks, everyone, for having a go!

Philip.

Edited by pippy
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The 2.2L version of the Ford Flathead of the "taxation special" Vedette, must be one of the smallest V8's ever offered in a production car. I can't offhand think of any smaller ones. Ferrari did propose a 308 with a 2 litre V8 engine called the 208, only in Italy, as another taxation special but I am not sure they sold any of them. With only 60 BHP the Vedette would not give you whiplash from its acceleration. 

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Wilson

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1 hour ago, wlaidlaw said:

...Ferrari did propose a 308 with a 2 litre V8 engine called the 208, only in Italy, as another taxation special but I am not sure they sold any of them...

Many years ago now I remember having read a road-test (in Classic and Sportscar magazine?) of a 208 GTB; a model whose existence, hitherto, had been unknown to me. I've just had a look but, unfortunately, can't find the article anywhere on the www.

What I did find, however, (and which, I assure you, surprised me greatly!) was that not only was there a GTB; there were also GTS and, even earlier, GT4 variants produced. Not only that but with the GTB / GTS Ferrari also made turbocharged versions(!) these cars being, as it says in the link, "the first ever turbocharged road-going Ferrari(s)". 

As can be seen in the links posted below the 208 GT4 was released in 1975 before being replaced by the 208 GTB in 1980.

Here's a link to the Wiki entry for the 308 GTB / GTS where there is mention of the 208 GTB / GTS with production figures quoted as being 140 / 160 respectively. The production figures for the Turbo versions are stated as having been 437 (GTB) and 250 (GTS);

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_308_GTB/GTS#208_GTB/GTS

The link for the 208 GT4 of which 840 were made;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_GT4#208_GT4

Every Day is a School-day!

I loved it when I was young and I still think that the 308 GTB is one of the prettiest Ferraris ever made...

Philip.

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