Manufacturer | SEAT |
---|---|
Parent company | Volkswagen Group |
Production |
1980-1986 SEAT Panda 1986–1998 SEAT Marbella |
Assembly |
Navarra, Spain Barcelona Zona Franca, Spain |
Successor | SEAT Arosa |
Class | City car |
Body style(s) | 3-door hatchback |
Related | Fiat Panda Mk1 |
The SEAT Panda was a badge-engineered Fiat Panda produced by SEAT from 1980 to 1986, in the company's Landaben plant in the Spanish city of Pamplona-Navarra (from February 1980 until April 29, 1983 when its production ended in that plant) and also in the firm's Zona Franca plant in Barcelona.[1] After the break in the partnership between SEAT and Fiat, the SEAT Panda model had to be restyled and renamed.
Its restyling, the SEAT Marbella (1983-86 "Mark I" model) was produced by SEAT from 1986 until 1998 in the company's Zona Franca plant in Spain, signalising by the end of its own production in 1998 the end of vehicle production in that specific factory.[2] The SEAT model didn't receive the mechanical and cosmetic tweaks (such as the loss of front window quarter-lights) applied to Fiat Pandas (making them "Mark II") from 1986 [3].
Identification[]
The obvious differences between a Panda and a Marbella are at the front and back of the car where head and tail lights and boot panels are different, the Marbella gaining a pronounced slope to the front panel.
Powertrain[]
Mechanically, the Marbella borrowed heavily from the Fiat "parts bin", using engines and transmissions from the Fiat 127. The engine is an in-line 4-cylinder with 40 PS (29 kW) and 903 cc. This proved adequate for this light car which weighed in at about 700 kg. Due to the long development history of this engine, these models are said to be almost unbreakable in normal use.
Labels[]
Several differently labelled models were produced during the lifetime of the car, with few corresponding significant changes in specifications. Models included L, Special, GL, and GLX. It sold well in Spain, which is where SEAT originate from.
Derivatives[]
Commercial version[]
SEAT Terra[]
A van version of the Marbella, called the SEAT Terra, was produced in Spain until 1995 when this model was replaced from its successor, the SEAT Inca. The SEAT Terra shared the underpinnings and front of the Marbella, but its back was replaced by a large, high metal box; there was also a load rack above the cab roof. It was very popular in Spain, and was also available in export markets.
SEAT Trans[]
Before this, a van based on the Marbella's predecessor (the SEAT Panda) was also available. In much the same configuration as the Terra, it was called the SEAT Trans and was extremely similar to the Fiat Panda's commercial version [1].
Popemobile[]
In 1982 SEAT produced in its plant in Zona Franca a popemobile car, a modified version derived from the SEAT Panda, which was used during the Pope's John Paul II 1982 visit in Spain. That specific vehicle was an 'all-open-air' car with a grab handle in front so that the Pope could stand still to greet the crowds, while the vehicle was in motion.[4] In that car the Pope entered the FC Barcelona Camp Nou soccer stadium[5] driving through the assembled crowds celebrating mass for a congregation of over 121,000 on 17 November 1982.
Emelba derivatives[]
The Spanish company Emelba produced several derivative models from the SEAT Panda among others:
- Emelba Elba Cinco puertas (5-door), the sole 5-door version of the SEAT Panda
- Emelba Pandita 4x4
- Emelba Chato/903
- a SEAT Panda equipped with a Daihatsu diesel engine
- Emelba 127 Poker
Concept cars[]
In the 1991 Frankfurt Motorshow, SEAT presented the SEAT Marbella Playa concept car.[6]
Motorsport[]
The SEAT Panda/Marbella has taken part and won podium positions in various race events.
References[]
This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at SEAT Marbella. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons by Attribution License and/or GNU Free Documentation License. Please check page history for when the original article was copied to Wikia |
- ↑ El 29 de abril de 1983 salió el último modelo SEAT Panda de las instalaciones de Landaben. VW Navarra.es.
- ↑ SEAT history 1999-1990. SEAT.com.
- ↑ http://panda-marbella.webs.com/
- ↑ The Evolution Of The Popemobile. Jalopnik.com.
- ↑ Where JFK meets the Queen and Khrushchev. Audiusanews.com.
- ↑ +Interesante. 60 años de Seat. Descubrimos los secretos de la Nave A122. Motor16.com.
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type / class |
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0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
city car | Arosa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Panda | Marbella | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
supermini | 127 | Fura | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ibiza I | Ibiza II | Ibiza III | Ibiza IV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
small family car | 128 | Málaga | Córdoba I | Córdoba II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ritmo | Ronda | León I | León II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
mid-size car | 124 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
131 | Toledo I | Toledo II | Toledo III | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
large family car | 132 | Exeo / Exeo ST | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
compact MPV | Altea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Altea XL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Altea Freetrack | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
large MPV | Alhambra I | Alhambra II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
panel van | Trans | Terra | Inca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
founder: Instituto Nacional de Industria • SEAT corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • SEAT Cupra Challenge |