Seat Cars
Given the poor motorization Spanish, the Institute decided to found two companies, one to build cars under license (SEAT), and one focusing on the manufacture of trucks with technical and design themselves (ENASA).
In 1956, a copy of Fiat 600 went to SEAT stand at the trade fair in Barcelona, as advertised before his immediate production in Spain. The truth is that it had not been necessary nor the announcement, since months before they are marketed, and there was a long waiting list to buy a SEAT 600.
By then, the real popular vehicle had two wheels, a single-cylinder two-stroke engine and a cubicaje less than 200cc. It was manufactured here, did not pay tariffs and there was a great variety to choose from, costing between 15,000 and 25,000 pesetas and was named motorcycle. But it also had to assume that if it rained you mojabas, spent cold, lacking as much trunk and there were two (if not available sidecar), but allowed its owner move freely, almost wherever I wanted.
We are late fifties, and not even six hundred had become an object of mass consumption. It prevented the price, affordable even a few pockets, and its dissemination (were delivered by dropper).
Despite its utilitarian vocation, would not reach the average family Spanish until well into the next decade. Spain has already been recovered from the recession of 1959, upon entry into force of the Plan Stabilization and going through a period of unprecedented economic growth. Increases in disposable income and consumption soared, while maintaining or even lowering prices of the vehicles. There is greater safety in the workplace is less traumatic for pocket purchase a home and become the passenger car. Immediate consequence, the increase in the birth rate. And parallel to the “baby-boom”, takes place seiscientosmanía. And although it may seem a cliché, this small utility field came on Sunday, the summer holidays at the beach and why not also jams.
The first six hundred that came out of the premises of the free zone in the port of Barcelona, he did so in May 1957. It was the second version of the Fiat 600, which originated in the same year in Italy, which had a bit more compression, two extra horses, which climbed windows with a crank and front again. In Spain, the anticipation by the small SEAT grew and the demands multiplied in geometric progression. Meanwhile, the production of vehicles could not sustain the pace, generating large waits between applicants and, of course, some rogue traders. Who had placed the queue and when he finally sold the car, it sold for more money than it cost new. Incredible but true, it cost more than second-hand again. However, it managed to tackle the problem, in part, forcing bail when seeking the car.
The factory SEAT worked tirelessly and the 2,585 units offered for sale in 1957, he went to 12,055 in 1958 and 22,750 in 1959. So grow slowly, it was possible to maintain annual production at a figure between 23,000 and 28,000 copies, until the arrival of 600 D in 1963, accompanied by 1500.
The six hundred was a child of its time, and as other utilities postwar Europe took a setup quite common then: traction engine and rear light, cubicaje less than one litre and high compression. With this brief recipe, it is getting to combine a low consumption and performance acceptable to a four-seater car. The variable weight was key to the success of the equation, because if this was high, the engine would feel powerless to react with a minimum of joy, in situations compromised. The original six hundred SEAT did live up to its name and equipped an engine of 633 cc and 21.5 CV, to move its 590 kg. Still incorporated accessories reminded his older brother (1,400) and will soon disappear, as the command of lights behind the wheel, and the horn on the inner ring of this. But the primary identity of the so-called 600 N and to differentiate their successors, were summarized in the location of intermittent on the wings, rear pilots small hub caps more bulky, lock off the handle of the driver, filter air in an oil bath, which marked speedometer up to 110 kph, fuel tank on the left side of the trunk and the absence of side mouldings.
The location of the engine at the rear forcing esmerarse in designing the cooling system, thus dispensing with the implied effect doubly refreshing front of the radiator.
Moreover, in the specific case of SEAT 600 Normal, if not put an emphasis on the maintenance and cleaning of this circuit, there was a certain risk of warming as the engine was raised in excess of turns.
This problem was solucionándose gradually over successive years. Thus, in 1961, 600 N takes a fan of aluminum and incorporates an accessory would be essential: the thermometer water. The D version with 767 cc and 25 hp, equipped series of all this progress, and also a new circuit sealed. It was followed by E, between 1970 and 1973 model recognizable by the U-turn at the opening of doors and grille with bigotera simple. Mechanically was almost identical to D. In 1972 appears L Special nearly coeval with the E, which exceeded potential and benefits (28 hp and 115 km / h). It was recognizable by the grid aeration located in the rear uprights, his shield rectangular front and inside, its board black. Finally, in 1973 ceased production of 600.
There were also lesser-known versions, such as 800 (an elongated 600 D 18 cm. With four doors), the trade with the rear side windows of plate; including vans and sport preparations
1500
“The austere elegance of the European car.” Corrían the 60′s, and with such words reflected the characteristics that made the car miquinientos more spacious, comfortable and distinguished Spanish roads, and therefore the vehicle of official acts.
The breadth and convenience was the ideal tool for public transport professionals, and for its elegance and distinction was chosen by ministries and agencies for senior figures in the movement of official acts.
The first 1500 appears in 1963. He inherited the 1400 C line of the body with minor tinkering with the front grille. Instead, mechanics, home Fiat, represented a significant step forward in terms of performance and features: the 58 CV 1400 switched to 80 hp SAE in 1500.
In the summer of 1968, despite the fact that Spain is poor tradition for this type of vehicle, saw the light SEAT 1500 Pick-up. It was a series version equipped with a box open rear to facilitate the work of loading and unloading of bulky goods. Only a few hundred were manufactured units during 1968 and 1969 (not more than three hundred). Its price was maintained during this period at 145,000 pesetas Franco Factory. Possibly, for treatment of a pickup truck version was somewhat expensive, although their benefits were much higher than similar vehicles on the market.
The highest form of fins smoothing to collect lighthouses and road crossings, in the 1969 model, in addition to adding a moulding and a new central anagram rounded SEAT. Two years later, in 1971 132 1500: in the front grille were replaced by the lamas horizontal design as a honeycomb, but romboides forms, in black matte, the design of the bonnet and rear lights were upgraded, and put some exits air vents in the amount later. Even so, his appearance was somewhat outdated.
132
The 132 has its origins in the Fiat 132, submitted in May 1972 and the Spanish brand manufactured under license a year later. Designed to occupy the most luxurious level between the saloons SEAT, marketed in its infancy with motors biárbol 1600 and 1800, although with less compression ratio and food that sports 124 Sport 1600 and 1800, as stated in these saloons Powers of 98 and 105 hp. Having regard to the effects of the oil crisis in 1973, the following year is also the diesel version, equipped with a Mercedes-Benz engine of 1,988 cc and 55 hp coupled to a four-speed shift, which used the latest version of diesel SEAT’s 1500 (officially known as the SEAT 2000) disappeared in 1972.
With 1975 coming first aesthetic and mechanical changes: new optical groups, the interior more care, tires and tires larger front stabilizer bar, more powerful engine and elastic. Disappear with the Model 1600 engine, low sales, and comes with an automatic change SEAT 132-1800. The diesel option is benefiting from a change of five marches. No doubt the competence of the new Chrysler 180 and Chrysler 2 Liters had spurred the men SEAT.
From 1978 until its demise, SEAT 132 enjoyed a third renewal, distinguishable by their black plastic coated bumpers mate, tires style four-leaf clover and a new dashboard. The cubic capacity of the model diesel rose in 1978 to 2,197 cc (60 hp) and the gasoline to 1,919 (109 hp) in the year 1979. In his last days he had to compete even with the Fiat Argenta, a second season evolution Fiat 132 that was sold and unhindered in our country.
131-1600
The four-speed 131-1600 SEAT was on sale from September 1976 until August 1978, as it appeared in September Supermirafiori range. The emergence of this model resulted from pure marketing reasons: for a price close to that of the GS Wheel Citroen and Renault 12 TS 131 with SEAT offered a clearly superior cylinder capacity (1,594 to 1,222 cc and 1,397 cc) and, on paper , 95 CV instead of the 65 or 70 of these two rivals. Then it happens that the 95 hp are actually some less (about 89) and that the group makes short climb well ports in gear… but requires it to reach its maximum speed well run into the red counter.