The Simca 8 was first presented, at the Paris Motor Show in October 1937, and sales in France started almost immediately in November.

[2] Early the next summer Henri Pigozzi, Simca's energetic boss, organised a three part endurance run under the supervision of the ACF.

[2] The printed summary of the event, used to advertise to the wider public, concluded with an invitation that the reader "achetez la même voiture" (buy the same car).

[2] Fuel feed came via a Solex 30 mm carburetor and overhead valves driven, using rods and rocker arms, by a side-mounted camshaft.

[4] The cars were similar in size and power, but sales data suggest that the market found space for both of them, despite the Simca's higher price.

[2] The gear box could be disagreeable when changing down across the gate from third speed to second, and the car was only just large enough for four people, with only a small storage area for luggage, located in a hard to get at position behind the back seat and without any external access.

Nevertheless, as the fourth best selling car of 1950 the Simca 8 with unit sales of 17,705 in that year achieved a respectable 10.2% market share.