Seat 127 it carried on the Seat 600 and transferred it to Ibiza overhand. He spent 13 years in production and more than 1,300,000 units were manufactured.

If the Seat 600 began popularization of the automobile between Spanish middle class, he Seat 127 He certified that there was a future that did not provide for the car as a means of transport individually and plural. And so we come to conversion that while in sixties demand exceeded the offer, a decade later changed the tables and Spanish brands -still had not produced the release of the market- toiled for seducing a customer who, in addition to a simple car, itched and higher and aspired to show him their upward social status .

Seat 850 with end stage and in a step 124 Seat still high economically, Seat It was the first to revolutionize the market and called multipurpose cars (family, leisure and work) Of new batch. He Seat 127 became its first “all forward” and, above all, in the new banner. A vehicle that combined amplitude (room for five and trunk able), comfort, driveability, nerve, maneuverability in city, stability Y security road, reliability, better and more extensive service network nationwide and moderate fuel consumption that would soon become rising value.

In less than a decade (1972-1981), Until the appearance of Seat Fura, the factory Zona Franca it launched almost 1,250,000 units of Seat 127, while production of Six hundred (1957-1973) He had stopped in just over 800,000. In fact, Seat Fura (1982-1985) It was nothing but a postrera third and evolution of 127, which they were manufactured around 85,000, when and Seat had broken its ties with Fiat and embarked on the modern Seat Ibiza (1984) Hand Germany Volkswagen.

During those years, the saga Seat 127-Seat Fura logically went through different transformations resulting from its peak and commercial decline, sometimes influenced by exogenous factors such were the Crisis 1973 oil and said delinking (not entirely friendly) with Fiat.

Seat 127: analysis and personal experiences

Before you begin these retro-journalistic and newlywed (1989) LIDES, my wife Carmen “inherited” from one who can not remember Seat 127 4 doors first generation of 1974 (Just one year after the market come out this variant), with many kilometers and many scars on the body. It was white, like the frame No. 1 (HB000001) photographs. However, the engine looked as though it had preserved in cotton wool; or just that it was so robust. Her brash and characteristic verve so many compliments received from the press at the time, was driving easy and quick and fast shooting allowed even in traffic where it was totally out of context.

So unmistakable was the sound from that Seat 127 when it rose beyond four thousand laps (Which exceeded without the slightest protest) as its homogeneous behavior, hard suspension, a rear ballestón stability that made his watchword, without losing the effect “pimento” (understeery) When you tried to take advantage of their 47 horses and brakes that were his Achilles heel when forcing too.

As fate, to that he substituted a 4-door CL 1980/1981, equipped with low compression engine (8.7: 1) for use with gasoline Normal, known by that peculiarity as Seat 127 “90 octane”. The interior had been rejuvenated with a more integrated dashboard and watchmaking, straight lines, switches colorful bunting and the long-awaited cuentavueltas; standard heated rear window, emergency lights ( “warning”), about a little bucket seats upholstered in velvet, carpet and door panels floor and retractable seat belts. A luxury, go.

Externally, changing some ornamental details He gave another aspect. The main printing plates were the same, but had a flat hood and a front grille-style also brought up to date Seat 124 -called “Pamplona” – chaired by a black plastic rectangular grill, headlights (the same as the first generation 127) and integrated rear lights and a large and wraparound bumper. Other notable improvements had to do with the visibility and accessibility. First it grew to the size of the rear windows, including opening compass; and the latter also increased the trunk lid, the lower edge stretched to line drivers.

But in short, he earned more modern, youthful and better finish appearance, lost in performance this watered down version of the 903. Although only four horses were apart (from 47 to 43 hp), The engine had lost deflated and the brightness of its predecessor.

Anyway, for those consumption it was not decisive and they wanted to enjoy the engine less than 1000 cc brightest moment, even more than the R5 950 and 957 Ford Fiesta, Seat maintained the option of 47 903 CV Super gasoline. And yet, in 1978, up the ante and launched the Special Seat 127, provided the same four cylinder led its maximum internal dimensions (66.5 x 72.7 mm). The displacement up to 1,010 cc, riding a Weber carburetor double body and a slightly longer end group and “voila!”, This time, its 52 hp returned to make the 127 the vigorous drive of the early planting face even his rivals, the R5 TS and Fiesta 1.3, and other major packaging and 1,200 cc engines as its relative the 124.

Because as regards frame and his behavior, he Seat 127 It remained the reference: stiffer suspension, direct and smooth steering, noble and very agile reactions in type Redia roads that made up the road map of Spain. Serving as an example, their numbers (0 to 1000 meter acceleration, maximum speed and average consumption) for context the three mechanical variants: 903-43 (40 s, 134 km / h and 6.5 l / 100 km), 903-47 (38, 137 and 8) and 1,010 (36, 142 and 9.3).

Even with all Seat continued betting big on its flagship model and launched in 1981 postrera limited CLX, only available in metallic colors and gray copper (Case copy of this short list) and the motor of 43 hp. The new “X” in the name just supposed smallest details like thicker side shields or tires Sport 1200 “Bocanegra”. It was actually a logistical operation to relieve the accumulated stock before the imminent arrival of the 127 third generation: the Seat Fura.

End of 1981: it presented the Seat Fura

Presented to the press late 1981, he Seat Fura It was but another turn of the screw to a commercial success in clear and logical descent. The Seat Panda had entered the Spanish market as an elephant in a china shop, enjoying the versatility of features Seat 127, but updated in areas such as design, safety, ergonomics, spaciousness and, above all, price. Theoretically, this Panda was below the Fura step.

He 127 Seat Fura He had to fight a great battle. The breaking off (not entirely friendly) with Fiat Seat and force required in the years to rethink even the names of the main models: Pace-round, Panda-Marbella… Second, the evolution should lead to a controlled cost. That is, taking as its starting point the base of 127 in the design department Martorell contrived to the Fura seem quite different without major structural changes.

And what if they succeeded. At first glance, the increased plastic surfaces in the bumpers and side fenders, and the Panda, give it a more modern and casual look. Headlights and rear lights are larger and turn signals are integrated into the above. Behind closed doors, the (re) developments in the Seat Fura It is even more remarkable. Dashboard, steering wheel, instrument panel, switches, seats and trim are new bill, attractive, better combined and consistent with the times.

Nevertheless, mechanically he Seat Fura It gives a lime and sand. The only version available is the 903 low compression (43 CV), together with the integral transmission (gearbox five relationships and group) Rhythm CLX. And of course, as the Spanish saying goes, what goes no sighs, he goes into tears. With a development in fifth longer than just allows lap up the engine beyond 4,400 rpm (well below the 5,800 to which its maximum power), driving in steep terrain becomes a continuous change between fourth and fifth, and even third. Therefore, except in very favorable conditions, the search for improved consumption figures does not become as significant as expected. To get an idea, I reproduce the figures given above for 127: 0-1,000 meters Acceleration: 41.5 seconds; maximum speed: 132 km / h (4th) and 126 (in 5th) and consumption: 10.2 l / 100 km city and 7.5 highway.

Logically, roadholding Seat Fura was barely affected, with a rack above the performance achieved by the motor. To overcome such a deficit, Seat resorted to the same formula applied in the pseudo-sports Sport ‘Bocanegra’ and 128: 1,430 versatile engine. That was how, if the swansong it were, saw the light Fura Crono in 1982. A model light dye athletic, fast and, not surprisingly, starred in one of the most popular drinks and exciting circuit. Provided with external attachments that will reveal right away (additional fog lamps housed in the front bumper, which also forms a spoiler at the bottom, aletines in the footsteps of wheels, aileron at tailgate Y alloy wheels), he Fura Crono He received the known four-cylinder 1,438 cc single overhead and 75 hp.

Logically, some time later, on the occasion of this family meeting of these two historic cars Seat, he Seat Fura, It returned to its original format, I found another car. Verve was still there, but the tires, seat and steering wheel series and a smoother ride, made it a little less alive. It was, after all, a magnificent climax to a saga of success, whose shadow was extended to beyond the appearance of Ibiza of the new Seat.