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Ebro Siata 50S, a good mix

Agustín's Siata

The protagonist of this report is a specimen that for most of its life has received more care than the commercial vehicles of its time used to receive. Registered on July 7, 1977, It has only had two owners and its history is well known. 

Its first owner, Agustín Romero, ran a small business dedicated to lamps, furniture and decoration located in the center of Ciudad-Real. The garage in which it was kept was only a few meters from the store, and little Siata never spent a night outside of it while she was engaged in urban transport.

This garage had a steep hill that the Ebro ascended every morning without much difficulty, despite the intense noise that residents of the area still remember. Moreover, it is not such a distant memory, as the van passed its last ITV in 2004, the year in which the first owner closed his store.

The van was in this state before it was restored
The van was in this state before it was restored

One of Agustín's neighbors, with a certain fondness for the classics, had always commented on his interest in getting that unique vehicle. And when he finally decided to retire, he agreed to sell it to him at a nominal price.

The Ebro-Siata at that time had just over 36.000 original kilometers and was working perfectly. The transport of lamps and small furniture had not been a demanding job and the care put into the van was noticeable in its good general condition. The new owner began to dismantle it with the intention of subjecting it to a rapid restoration, but due to lack of time the project was stopped until 2010.

During this interval, the Siata was out in the open and with the front removed, so water and dirt accumulated inside, especially on the front floor, which had some perforations caused by rust.

Until, with the permission of the current owner, three young men appeared willing to do the job. Its condition was still quite good: The engine, for example, started without problems as soon as the hose that carries the gasoline from the pump to the carburetor was replaced and it was clogged. Also, there was no need to change or charge the old battery !!

The original upholstery is kept as new
The original upholstery is kept as new

Apart from the above, it was necessary to replace the accelerator cable, which was caught by the oxide inside the stud that leads from the front to the propeller, located at the rear. But, Regarding the rest of the mechanics, it is as it was stopped in 2004, and presents a more than correct operation after a fluid replacement and cleaning of the radiator.

The rest was simple: a complete paint job and cleaning and polishing of all interior and exterior elements, plus a new set of tires. The center body color, dark red, was chosen because it was similar to that used on old Seat mechanical service vehicles from the 60s and 70s.

Special care was taken to preserve various details that, due to their rarity, were almost impossible to find, such as the moons, the anagrams or the specific hubcaps, the same as those of a 600 or a 133 but without the inscription "Seat". the little circle in the empty center.

The little use that its first owner gave it is noticeable in every detail, as it even conserves the Seat 133 and Ebro Siata 50 S manuals that were supplied with the vehicle, which are also like new and do not look like they have been too consulted. . The original red box or the sky of the seats are other elements that the years do not seem to have passed.

The mechanics of this Ebro-Siata are in good shape, and of origin
The mechanics of this Ebro-Siata are in good shape, and of origin

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In good shape

Despite having stopped for more than three months at the time of the test, once the battery disconnector was pressed and after pulling the choke - located on the ground, next to the handbrake - the engine of the little Ebro starts. No problem. In short, the smooth start is something characteristic of this van, which seems to be used to little use and periods of inactivity that it has carried throughout its useful life.

Accessing the interior does not present any difficulty and, once seated at the wheel, it could be considered that the driving position is correct and even comfortable. Before us is the dashboard with an imitation wood strip and a Seat 133 steering wheel.

However, the speedometer and the indicators that are located on the dashboard are from Seat 850. This makes many Avia or Ebro 50 S owners think that their vehicles are equipped with an “eight-and-a-half” motorization, when the only thing they carry from this model is the odometer graduated to 140 m / h used in the first 850 “N”.

Under the center of the dashboard is the “sophisticated” heating system with a water radiator and a two-speed electric fan, identical to the one on the 133.

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Cutline
The driving position is a bit strange but not entirely uncomfortable

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Once in operation it has little difference with the Seat models from which it derives, Although the aerodynamics are not the same and that influences the performance. Still, the 133 engine packs more power than any standard 600, and several 50 S owners claim they reach higher speeds than their predecessors.

After its restoration, the unit that you can see in the photos has still never exceeded 80 km / h, probably due to the long period of inactivity before. Even so, these vehicles should not be considered the most appropriate for long road trips, both for their performance and their stability.

The forward driving position feels a bit strange at first, perhaps akin to driving a miniature bus. The amplitude is good, and the ventilation is provided by sliding glass in all the side windows.

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The positive drop of the wheels is noticeable even while driving when the van is not carrying any load
The positive drop of the wheels is noticeable even while driving when the van is not carrying any load

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In urban displacements, the cute van is agile and is “in its own right”, without getting in the way of other drivers at any time. The brakes are sufficient and the suspension does the job.

In this last section, the Iberian Motor introduced a modification to the rear consisting of longer coil springs, to withstand greater loads. This produces a funny positive drop in the rear wheels when it is unloaded, another detail that pedestrians usually come to comment when they see it, as we said at the beginning.

In short, it is a small vehicle that, due to its graceful shapes and small size, always arouses sympathy. In addition, you can participate without problems in any of the mass concentrations of Seat 600 that are held throughout our geography, with the incentive that, as a "rare" derivative, it always stands out among the pellets. Industrial vehicles must also be conserved.

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What do you think?

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Written by Francisco Carrion

My name is Francisco Carrión and I was born in Ciudad Real in 1988, a place that was not at first akin to vintage cars. Fortunately my grandfather, dedicated to the automotive sector, had friends who owned veteran cars and participated in the annual rally that was held (and continues to be held) in my hometown ... Read more

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