Seat became in 1950 the first manufacturer of passenger cars in Spain. The then Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo, S.A. was born with the challenge of motorizing and democratizing the mobility of citizens and succeeded thanks to the 600, the brand's most iconic model. It was not the first car to leave the old factory in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, as Seat debuted with the 1400, of which it already produced 10,000 units a year in 1956. The Seat 600 began to roll a year later and was the great protagonist in the 60s, along with the aristocratic 1500, the 850 and the Seat 124.
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To pay homage to these first models and celebrate the 70th anniversary of its birth, Seat has organized an exhibition of historic cars where not only the 600 can be admired, but also other emblematic models such as the 850 Sport ---the first and only series convertible manufactured by the brand--- and curiosities such as the Panda Popemobile and other milestones in the history of the firm's innovation, such as the Seat Toledo Eléctrico, launched for the 1992 Olympic Games.
The automotive group preserves all these models in the so-called Nave A-122 of the Zona Franca, a building that was part of its old factory and today houses its collection of historic cars, usually closed to the public. These automotive jewels rarely leave Nave A, but to bring them as close as possible to the people of Barcelona, on the occasion of the anniversary the company has decided to hold the exhibition at Casa Seat, located in the heart of Barcelona, at the confluence of Passeig de Gràcia and Avenida Diagonal.
From November 26 to January 9
The exhibition of historic cars, named 70 years in motion, will open next Thursday, November 26, and can be visited until January 9. It will be the first time that Casa Seat is used to display cars from the past, since its mission is precisely to exhibit the brand's latest models and technological bets, such as the new Cupra Formentor or the electric scooters of the sustainable mobility division Seat MÓ.
As space is limited, the cars exhibited at Casa Seat will change every week. In total, 17 vehicles will be displayed, which, according to the company, "constitute an exceptional testimony to the company's capacity for innovation and its constant commitment to the future." "They are emotional objects that have left their mark on the collective memory and in the cities of an entire country," Seat points out.
The exhibition, which will be accompanied by old photos and videos, will offer guided tours and parallel activities to learn about the company's history. There will also be a raffle for guided tours of the complete collection of Nave A-122, and visitors will be able to taste a bonbon in the shape of a Seat 600 created by pastry chef Christian Escribà. The celebration of the 70th anniversary is completed with an agreement with the online cinema platform Filmin, which will offer its subscribers a special collection titled Casa Seat, where they can watch films featuring cars of the brand, which are a good testimony to how not only Seat but also mobility in the country has evolved.
From the legendary 600 to the Seat Leon
Seat will open the exhibition with its first model, the 1400, and with the legendary 600. The Seat 1400, of which only five cars a day began to be manufactured on November 13, 1953, was inspired by the American sedans of the time and could be used by both official state bodies and public taxi services. Its production ceased in 1964 after selling more than 98,000 units.
Of the Seat 600, the 600 D model will be exhibited, considered the 600 par excellence. It began to roll in 1963 and became another member of Spanish families. The exhibition will show a unit equipped with the typical Zacarías roof rack, which was used to carry vacation luggage.
The exhibition 70 years in motion will also feature the Seat Panda Popemobile (1982), which was built for Pope John Paul II's first official trip to Spain. This model, white with the Vatican coat of arms, was actually the result of improvisation, as a Panda had to be urgently customized, since the official Popemobile from Italy was too large and would not fit through the doors of Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu, the stadiums where he met with the faithful.
Other models that will pass through the exhibition are the Toledo Electric Olympic (1992), the Ateca Mattracks (2017), 850 Sport (1969), 1500 Familiar (1968), Seat 1430 (1969), Seat 127 (1972), 124 sport coupé (1972), Seat 1200 (1976), Formula 1430 and Seat Leon (2008). During the last week of the exhibition, coinciding with New Year and Epiphany, the models chosen by citizens through a vote on Instagram will be displayed. The Salsa Emoción, Panda Terra, Toledo Marathon, 600 Formichetta and the 124 Seat 1 million vehicles have been pre-selected.