The Spain-based car company SEAT this week celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first car rolled off its production line, writes Brian Byrne.
It was the 1400, which sold just short of 100,000 units over the next ten years. Since then the company has produced over 16m vehicles and is now a fully owned subsidiary of Volkswagen.
The 1400 was built in Barcelona and reflected the luxury American cars of the time. It sold for the equivalent of €41,735.
With a 44hp front engine, the rear-drive car also featured a 4-speed gearbox at a time when 3-speeds were most common. A successor in 1973, the 132, had an automatic transmission ption and air-conditioning.
