1979 in France

Events from the year 1979 in France. President: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Prime Minister: Raymond Barre 1 January – Peugeot completes its takeover of Chrysler Europe, which includes the Simca factories in France and the former Rootes Group factories in Britain. The deal was agreed eight months ago. It is unclear whether the Chrysler brand on British market models will be replaced by Simca branding, or whether a new or different brand within the combine will replace it. 8 January – French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry in Ireland; 50 are killed. February – Peugeot becomes the first carmaker to offer a turbo-diesel engine, fitting the engine to their range-topping 604 saloon. The Simca Horizon is European Car of the Year for 1979. 18 March – Cantonales elections held. 25 March – Cantonales elections held. 6 – 8 April – Metz Congress of the French Socialist Party. May – Launch of the Peugeot 505, a large rear-wheel drive family saloon which will eventually replace the 504. 9 July – A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by "Nazi hunters" Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility. 1 August – End of the Simca marque after 45 years; from now on, all former Simca and Chrysler cars will be sold as Talbots, following the takeover of Chrysler Europe by Peugeot last year. 20 September – French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Bokassa in the Central African Republic. 16 October – A tsunami in Nice kills 23 people. 2 November – French police shoot dead gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris. 14 January – the first running of the Paris–Dakar Rally is won by Alain Génestier, Joseph Terbiaut, and Cyril Neveu 27 June – Tour de France begins. 22 July – Tour de France ends, won by Bernard Hinault. 6 – 9 December – World Judo Championships held in Paris. 4 January – Tristan Gommendy, racing driver 7 January – Christophe Guénot, wrestler and Olympic medallist. 12 January – Laurent Gagnier, footballer. 13 January – Julien Baudet, footballer.