Ford Versailles

The Ford Versailles name has been used for two different automobiles: between 1954–1957 in France and between 1992–1996 in Brazil

France

1957 Ford Vedette Versailles

The former Ford SAF plant in Poissy, acquired by Simca in 1954, manufactured a large car called the Simca Vedette. This was a descendant of the late 1940s/early 1950s Ford Vedette, and was also marketed as Ford Vedette in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden until 1957. It was available in four versions, each of which was also marketed with a separate model name - Trianon, Versailles, Régence and Marly - hence the "Ford Versailles" appearing in some markets.

Brazil

Autolatina-built Ford Versailles/Galaxy

In Brazil, the Ford Versailles was a version of the Volkswagen Santana sold in the 1990s when Ford and Volkswagen shared models in South America in a joint venture known as Autolatina. It replaced the Ford Del Rey in 1991, and was available as a sedan (with two or four doors) and as a station wagon called the Ford Royale, initially only as a three-door, even though the Volkswagen Quantum on which it was based was available with five doors. (It was alleged that Volkswagen did not want the Royale to be available as a five-door model, as this would have posed a competitive threat to the popular Quantum.). In 1995 and 1996, Ford also sold a five-door version of the Royale. It was also sold as the Ford Galaxy in Argentina (not to be confused with the European MPV of the same name), where it replaced the Ford Sierra.[1] Both the Versailles and the Galaxy were eventually replaced by the Ford Mondeo.

See also

References

  1. The motor industries of South America and Mexico: poised for growth, Marco Piquini, Economist Intelligence Unit, 1995, page 185
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