The Escudería
This year they are 60 years of the first SEAT 600, A car that was manufactured uninterruptedly for 17 years and that, in this short period, managed to become a legend in the history of the automotive industry of the XNUMXth century in our country.
This peculiar vehicle was the “pioneer” in many aspects: It was the first to be exported abroad by the SEAT brand; the first to popularize its use among the middle classes and the first to revolutionize the automotive industry in an entire country. The sample can be seen in the Salamanca Automotive History Museum, during the summer months: July, August and September 2017. The exhibition has the support of Club 600 Charro and other collectors from Salamanca.
Dedicated to showing the evolution of an era in Spanish history, this exhibition will try to show us how a vehicle managed to break with the poorer Spain, ancient, isolated and out of international context, to give way to a prosperous, dynamic society, which led to Spanish developmentalism.
6, the magic number of Seat
The team at the Salamanca Automotive History Museum is compiling a selection of the best specimens existing in our country and most representative of the production of SEAT 600. To date, it already has the most well-known and commercialized parts of the model, revealing of the different technical improvements and exterior innovations from the first standard model. At this moment, work is being done to expand the selection of models with other lesser-known variants, but equally popular on the roads of Spain.
Six were the different models series manufactured of the SEAT 600, 60 years has managed to fulfill this year 2017 and 600 has always been a special number in the history of the Spanish factory. 600 million pesetas constituted the initial capital of the SEAT company, 600 cc. It was the first displacement of the original model and the 600 was the vehicle that changed the habits of XNUMXth century society in Spain.
E June 1957, A SEAT 600 was registered for the first time, thus beginning the birth of one of the myths in the history of the Spanish automotive industry. A vehicle that accompanied Spaniards in the most diverse situations for more than three decades, being relegated, in the 80s, to a mere memory.
Seat 600, an unbeatable car
Currently there are a large number of recovered units of this vehicle, in the hands of collectors and lovers of the historical vehicle who can still enjoy its use. An unbeatable car, packed with anecdotes, which helped an entire society migrate from the countryside to the city, which contributed to the generalization of coastal vacations and promoted the nationalization of the automobile throughout an entire country. An object created far from luxury, conceived as a work tool and used as a means of personal recreation.
It was the second model manufactured by SEAT under FIAT license at the Barcelona factory; a highly innovative and popular product, due to its low cost, easy maintenance and mechanical strength.
Its main features include its monocoque body with two doors, folding seats, an engine located at the rear of the vehicle and different mechanical elements typical of the vehicles of the time, such as independent suspension, cross-spring, oscillating arms and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers. double acting, four wheel drum brakes and worm gear steering.
After 17 years of manufacture, in 1973, the SEAT 600 ceased to be produced; however, its regular use lasted for more than 15 years ... Don't miss the exhibition!
* News prepared by press release
