Editing Talbot Samba (section)

==Development==

===Background===
The [[PSA Group]], formed in 1976 when [[Peugeot]] bought out its competitor, [[Citroën]], took over the former [[Chrysler Europe]] in 1979; one of its first decisions was to rebrand all of the models manufactured in the French and [[Great Britain|British]] factories to [[Talbot (automobile)|Talbot]]. Among the models inherited from Chrysler was the Scottish-built [[rear-wheel drive]] [[Chrysler Sunbeam]], the only small car in the lineup.<ref name="rootes-development">{{cite web|url=http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-samba.html|title=Development of the Talbot Samba cars|work=Rootes-Chrysler.co.uk &ndash; Rootes Group, Chrysler Europe, SIMCA, and Talbot cars|access-date=2006-08-30|archive-date=9 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509233550/http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-samba.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Talbot Samba GL 58 CV 1982 trasera - Spain.jpg|left|thumb|Rear view]]
The Sunbeam was originally conceived by Chrysler as a stopgap model, developed to keep the [[Linwood, Renfrewshire|Linwood]] works running—it was based on the running gear of the earlier [[Hillman Avenger|Avenger]] made there—while helping the company to maintain a foothold in the growing small car market.<ref name="rootes-sunbeam">{{cite web|url=http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk/car-development/dev-sunbeam.html|title=Development of the Chrysler Sunbeam cars|work=Rootes-Chrysler.co.uk &ndash; Rootes Group, Chrysler Europe, SIMCA, and Talbot cars|access-date=2006-08-30}}</ref> Aware that a more modern design was needed to compete with upcoming [[front-wheel drive]] rivals, Chrysler undertook some development work on a shortened version of the [[Chrysler Horizon]] (which had the development code ''C2''), dubbed ''C2-short'', but it was cut short by the company's financial problems and plans to divest Chrysler Europe.<ref name="rootes-development"/>

PSA decided that the Linwood plant would be unprofitable to maintain and should be closed, which meant an end to both the Avenger and Sunbeam model lines, further emphasizing the need for a new small car in the Talbot lineup. On the eve of the 1980s, PSA's city cars lineup consisted of models based on the veteran front-wheel drive 1972 [[Peugeot 104]], which came in a shorter three-door and longer five-door version. Citroën [[badge engineering|rebadged]] the short-wheelbase 104 as the [[Citroën LN]], and the long-wheelbase chassis formed the base of the five-door [[Citroën Visa]].<ref name="rootes-development"/>

===Decision===
[[File:Talbot Samba GL 58 CV 1982 interior delantero.jpg|left|thumb|Interior]]
In 1979, PSA decided that their new small Talbot would also be based on the 104 rather than the Horizon. Keeping the common underpinnings allowed the new model, known internally as project ''C15'' (later renamed to ''T15'' to reflect the brand change from Chrysler to Talbot) to be launched in 1981, in time to replace the Sunbeam when Linwood would close. In order not to create too much internal competition, a wheelbase situated in between the three- and five-door versions of the 104 was chosen. This made the projected model slot in size slightly below popular [[supermini]]s such as the [[Ford Fiesta]], but above the city cars, including the about-to-be-launched [[Austin Metro]].<ref name="rootes-development"/>

===Styling===
As with previous Talbot and Chrysler Europe models, styling of the ''T15'' was the responsibility of the [[Whitley plant|British design centre]] in [[Whitley, Coventry]]. The stylists were limited by the need to retain the entire body structure of the 104, and allegedly were given Peugeot's own proposal of a 104 facelift as a starting point. The resulting design was quite different from and more modern-looking than its progenitor; only the bonnet and tailgate were shared, and the car was given a distinctive front end in Chrysler/Talbot "international" style.<ref name="rootes-development"/>