If ever there was a name synonymous with Simca in the US, it was Roger Barlow. A fixture of the 1950s Southern California sports car scene and an accomplished racer, he was a founding member of the California Sports Car Club. His International Motors dealership in Hollywood, California sold European exotics, including Simcas, to celebrities and wealthy clientele. A friend of F1 champion Phil Hill, he was a leading writer for Road & Track, Autoweek, Motor Trend, and Car and Driver magazines, as well as the author of two books.

Throughout the early 1950s, Barlow’s dealership fielded a trio of race-prepared Simcas with stunning class wins at Sebring, Elkhart Lake, Torrey Pines, Reno, and others – even qualifying 1st over Jim Kimberly’s Ferrari 166 at Pebble Beach in 1951. When Barlow chose a Simca road car for his personal use, he was rewarded by the factory with a one-off 8 Sport Cabriolet built to his specifications, which is the car offered here.

More than a casual Franco-Italian marriage, this car embodies a collaboration of some of the greatest European automotive designers, engineers, and tuners of its era, adapting the Stabilimenti Farina design of the iconic Cisitalia 202, reproportioned by Giovanni Michelotti to fit the Fiat 1100S chassis, and then expertly handcrafted in aluminum and steel coachwork by Facel-Méttalon under the direction of Jean Daninos. The proven and dependable 50 hp, four-cylinder Simca engine was fitted with an Abarth-prepared aluminum head and Abarth exhaust, and a S.Co.T. (Societa Compressori Torino) supercharger with a twin-choke Weber carburetor, resulting in an estimated 90–100 bhp, according to the consignor.

Custom touches were made by Farina to accommodate Barlow’s taste, including stylish fender vents which further evoke the Cisitalia, custom aluminum bumpers, and special stainless-steel rocker moldings. A functional hood scoop recalls Farina’s similarly styled Ferrari 166 Inter Cabriolet. A special luxury interior built in rich leather is denoted by “Extra Lusso” badging on the coachwork. Notably, the car features a banjo steering wheel and its ornate, three-piece aluminum wheel covers still grace the car’s 15” wheels. A custom “B” emblem, found on the rear of all of Roger Barlow’s beloved Simcas, is also included.

Stored by Barlow’s daughter for decades after his passing in 1990, the car changed hands in 2014 and received a thorough restoration by Dragone Classic Motorcars before being acquired by the current owner in 2015. A recipient of a high-quality, black repaint in 2016, this special Simca 8 Sport Cabriolet has since enjoyed a climate-controlled stewardship in one of the finest collections of European classics in North America. It is now ready for a new owner who can further appreciate this rare and fascinating sports car as an excellent candidate for concours or touring events.