SEAT is Spain's only car manufacturer. It was founded in 1950. Initially, SEAT manufactured rebadged Fiat models. In 1967 Fiat bought 36% of SEAT, making it the company's largest shareholder. (The Spanish government owned 32% and various banks owned the rest.) In 1981, Fiat sold off its interest in SEAT.
Shortly after Fiat left, Volkswagen came in and signed a letter of cooperation as well as a licencing agreement with SEAT for the production of the Volkswagen Passat, Santana and Polo models in Spain. In 1986 they bought 51% of the compnay, later upped that to 75% and in 1990, 100%. It is now part of VW's Audi Brand Group, together with Audi and Lamborghini.
Which, you might think, is why this car looks like a VW Golf. Well, not quite, but sort of.
The Ibiza MK1 was designed prior to VW having an ownership stake in SEAT. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign. The design is based on his proposal for the second generation of the Volkswagen Golf. VW rejected the design. When SEAT came to Giugiaro looking for a design for the Ibiza he essentially gave them his rejected Golf design.
It's an odd sized car, being bigger than a Ford Fiesta, but smaller than an Escort.
The engine and transmission were developed in collaboration with Porsche. The car was advertised as having "Italian styling and German engines".
The Ibiza M1 was the last "non-VW" SEAT. It was a huge success for SEAT. They sold over 1,300,000 of these cars.
That's the story of the SEAT Mk1.
The story of this SEAT Ibiza Mk1? Well, the seller says it's in New York, has 70,000 miles on it and writes: "I shall sell SEAT Ibiza a hatchback, 1.2 i gasoline, green, all native, requires small cosmetics, oil and all belts are changed, running is touched, a soft suspension bracket, expense 5L (А-92) on 100 km, 5 door, a condition good." Cool. I kind of wish I knew what "running is touched" means, though. Or maybe not...
Caveat Emptor.
Click here to see the eBay listing.
SEAT makes some very interesting cars these days. (I especially like the Ibiza ST.) You can find their website here.
