Seat 600. 1962. 4/600cc.

Last SEAT 600 L series Special of 1973. For purposes of model identification, note the air vent triangle black on the C-pillar, specific for the 600 L Especial. The 600 E and 600 L were the last versions that were manufactured.

The SEAT 600 (also known popularly as" six Hundred, Pellet, Seílla or Seíta) is an automobile of tourism of segment To produced by the Spanish manufacturer SEAT between the years 1957 and 1973. Was built under license of the Fiat on the original Fiat 600 designed by the Italian Dante Giacosa. Fiat 600 original presented at the Geneva motor show of 1955. It was probably one of the cars most iconic and beloved of all the production SEAT, as it was his first car but the majority of spaniards.

History

In Spain first were imported some units of the Italian model, the Fiat 600, but soon the factory SEAT started the own production on the basis of this model, under agreement with the Italian company Fiat. This model was bought mainly by the middle class, Spanish, which I could not access vehicles, high-performance.In 1957, went on sale in Spain for the price of 390€ (65.000 pesetas of the time).

The first copy came out of the factory of the Zona Franca of Barcelona on June 27, 1957, with the number of frame 100-106-400.001,³ that was discontinued in Valencia in February 1985. However, this 600 is not enrolled until December 5, 1957, with the registration M-184.018. The first unit registered was the frame number 100.106-400.071, in the province of Barcelona on the 8th June 1957 with the registration B-141.141.

Of the 600 were manufactured a number of different versions, known as Normal, D, E, and L Special non-counting versions like the commercial, the convertible, the Formichetta, etc

The masking Catalan Coast made a design with 30 cm more of battle to equip it with four side doors, that was baptized as SEAT 800. He had relative success and was a Spanish contribution to the original designs.

Preparations

By 1955, the year in which is presented the model at the Geneva motor show, Carlo Abarth did not think that the 600 would be the model most important for your story. This car was taken by Abarth to do a lot of preparations and developments sports until 1971. To work on the development of the 600 so-called "poisonous", Abarth built a new plant in Turin, in the 38 of Corse Marche; where there were cars full of thousands of special equipment to prepare 600 series for the competition.

In Spain, there were other preparers of SEAT 600 for the competition, among which highlighted the family Juncosa, in addition to Conti, Nardi, Autotécnica and Speedwell.

Production and decay of the model

The marketing of the SEAT 600 decreased gradually, by the increasing competition of other brands ' models more attractive to the consumer. For example, the Renault 5, with an aesthetic more modern and better security systems, quickly became popular on the european market.

Another reason for the cessation of the production was that the B-pillar of the 600 was weak and narrow, making it difficult to properly install the seat belts when they became mandatory in Spain.

Despite having had several redesigns, the 3 of August of 1973 ended the production of the SEAT 600. The workers of SEAT, fired the last 600 with a banner that read: "you were Born a prince and die a king"Until 1973 were manufactured 799.419 units in the factory of the Zona Franca of Barcelona, of which in 2007 were still about 10,000 in circulation.

Features

SEAT 600 as "Normal" (1957-1963)

SEAT 600 D (1963-1970)

SEAT 600 E (1969-1973)

The mechanical characteristics of the 600 And are identical to the last version of the 600 D. These versions differed in details of interior finish and, above all, in the opening system of the doors (to the front), as well as by its large headlights and older pilots back in the E, and by the different front bezel.

SEAT 600 L (1972-1973)

Derivatives

In Spain were produced several versions derived from the 600:

• 600 Convertible. As its name indicates, was a convertible version with a canvas roof.
• SEAT 800. It was a 4-door version that will only be marketed in Spain, made by the coachbuilder Catalan Coast.
• Formichetta. It was a version of the 600 out of a small van.
• 600 Commercial. It was a commercial version, without rear windows or side, and without rear seats. Your price was considerably cheaper than the original.
• 600 t-Shirt. Special version for hotels in beach. similar to its rival, a French Citroën Mehari.
• SEAT 600 Savio. In this model there is only 1 unit. Currently rests in the ship A-122 SEAT. In principle, it was a Fiat 600 Multipla, SEAT bought for the visit of the dictator Francisco Franco and modified by adding logos of SEAT, and several details more.

• SEAT Multiple. Based on the Fiat multipla.

They also had derivative instruments that were companies and preparers as Serra, Siata...

• 750 Spring. Made by “Workshops Bagovia SL" on the body of the SEAT 600. It is an elongated version and a convertible white with a red stripe and whitewall tires. Presented in the Fair of Samples of Barcelona, 1961.

• Rany 600. It was a preparation type Buggy over the SEAT 600, carried out in 1970 to 1985.

• SEAT 600 Milton.
• Within the company Siata Spanish, are derived from the 600 models as Tarraco, Ampurias.

Prototypes

• 750 Sport. The Seat 750 Sport was presented at the Fair of Samples of Barcelona, 1957. It was a design of the coachbuilder from Turin Allemagno on a frame of the "Seat 600" and he rode a motor-powered 750-cc3.

Tributes

In Spain it is considered that the 600 was the car that motorized the country. For this reason , after many years, he has been honored to with monuments.

In 2008 opened its first monument in the locality of malaga to Fuengirola.

In 2011, it became another monument with 2 SEAT 600 in a roundabout Churriana The Vega (Granada).

In 2015, there is placed another monument in a small roundabout of Martos (Jaén).

Deficiency

The only problem with the 600 is the cooling. According to its inventor, the Italian engineer Dante Giacosa, was the biggest problem they faced when creating the car. His solution was: check the radiator and carry tightens the fan belt.