Seat: First model 1400 for 850 francs
The Seat 1400 celebrates its 65th birthday. The first example of the Limouisne rolled off the production line on November 13, 1953. The then still young company had been founded three years earlier and employed 925 workers at the Zona Franca plant near Barcelona. In the first year of production, they produced five vehicles a day. The sales price [...]
The then still young company had been founded three years earlier and employed 925 workers at the Zona Franca plant near Barcelona. They produced five vehicles a day in the first year of production. The selling price was 117,000 pesetas - that would be around 850 francs at today's exchange rate.
Top speed of 120 km / h
Technically, the Seat 1400 was at the height of its time, with a longitudinally mounted front engine with power transmission to a rigid rear axle with differential gear. Thanks to the four-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual transmission and a displacement of 1395 cubic centimeters, as well as 44 horsepower, the sedan reached a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
Design with American influence
In terms of design, its builders were influenced by American brands, as evidenced by the rounded rear end and the cone-shaped taillights. The curved, one-piece windshield and the interior heating of the Seat 1400, on the other hand, were new to the market.
With 98,978 vehicles sold, the Seat 1400 has earned a firm place in the history of the automobile, and the brand's success is far from over. This is clearly shown by the current sales figures in Switzerland as well.
