At the end of 1972, when the modern SEAT 127 had already been on sale for six months, SEAT launched by surprise the latest evolution of the 600, the L Especial version. It was the swan song of the legendary SEAT model, which had been in production since 1957… (read more)
Launch: October 1972
End of production: August 1973
Price: 77.291 Pts.
Number built: around 31,600
Petrol, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At rear, longitudinal
Bore x stroke: 62 mm x 63.5 mm
Capacity: 767 cc
Valvetrain: Overhead valves, push-rods and rocker arms
Carburettor: 1 single Weber
Max. power: 28 HP at 4800 rpm
Max. torque: 45 Nm at 3500 rpm
Top Speed: 115 km/h
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Gearbox: 4-speed manual, plus reverse
Clutch: Dry single-plate
Front suspension:
Independent, transverse leaf spring and dampers
Rear suspension:
Independent, swing axles, coil springs and dampers
Steering: Worm and sector
Front/rear: Drums
5.20-12
Body: 2-door small car
Length/width/height: 3320/1380/1400 mm
Wheelbase: 2000 mm
Weight: 615 kg
At the end of 1972, when the modern SEAT 127 had already been on sale for six months, SEAT launched by surprise the latest evolution of the 600, the L Especial version. It was the swan song of the legendary SEAT model, which had been in production since 1957.
Since its birth and throughout the decade of the ’60s, SEAT’s 600 had played a fundamental role in the history of the Spanish automotive industry: to put the country on four wheels no less, making available to drivers the first truly popular car on the domestic market.
However, come the ’70s the 600 was no longer the vehicle that Spanish families dreamt of, but a capable city car or the perfect second car. Even more so since the launch in April 1972 of the new 127, the supermini B-segment pioneer. Its modern front-wheel drive powertrain made obsolete the 600's rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. However, the 600 was still being built, now in the E version, and was an important pillar of SEAT's European exports.
Times were changing, as illustrated when the 1500, SEAT’s big saloon, was discontinued at the end of 1972. In the mid-’60s the 1500 had been the only offering in the SEAT line-up together with the small 600. So, it was a relative surprise when SEAT launched at the prestigious Paris Motor Show a final version of the 600 in October 1972.
SEAT’s 600 L Especial was an exclusive version of the Spanish brand, which went on to coexist during the last ten months of the model's life with the 600 E, launched in 1970. The great novelty of the E compared to the previous 600 were the front-hinged doors, as well as larger headlights and rear lights.
The 600 L Especial retained the basic features of the 600 E, but incorporated even more novelties, which made it the most luxurious and powerful 600 series in history. On the exterior, the L Especial was easily recognizable by the air vents on the rear pillars, as well as the rectangular rather than round SEAT logo on the front, and also by the newly designed trim badge on the rear with the model’s name.
Under the rear bonnet there were also novelties, as the engine featured redesigned exhaust manifolds, a higher throw camshaft and also a higher compression ratio. So, the power increased slightly, from 25 HP in the 600 D and E to 28 in the L Especial.
Although the increase in power did not justify it, inside the speedometer was now graduated to 140 km/h (previously, 120), although the 600 L Especial did not exceed 115. The trim was much more refined, as it included a centre console and new door handles and window winders. The dashboard was padded and lined in anti-reflective black, and the steering wheel (now with anti-theft lock) and instrument board were also black. On the other hand, the seats were more enveloping and with new upholstery.
In addition, from 1973 the 600 L Especial was fitted with seat belts as standard, a breakthrough in passive safety. As if all this were not enough, there was an optional package called Extras that, for a price of 5,000 pesetas, added alternator, heated rear window, carpet, reclining seats and trimmed roof.
Interestingly, despite being the most "modern" version of the 600, the L Especial is also the rarest among the mass-produced series (leaving aside derivatives such as the four-door 800 or the Formichetta van). Being only ten months in production, until August 1973, less than 32,000 units of the 600 L Especial were built, all in sedan body (the L Especial did not have Commercial or Convertible versions, unlike the previous 600s). They are very few compared to about 800,000 SEAT 600 built.
SEAT’s employees at the Barcelona factory in Zona Franca bid farewell to the 600 on August 3, 1973 with a banner that said it all: "You were born a prince; you die a king." However, the 600 did not actually die, as in 1974 SEAT launched the 133, a SEAT exclusive production model that took up the 600’s rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout but combined with the 127’s more modern style. The 133 was the true successor to the 600 and also the 850, and was in production until the end of the decade.
Trying to summarize the impact that SEAT’s 600 had on Spanish society during the 16 years of its commercial life is an arduous task. One fact, however, helps to capture it: in 1957, the economic effort that an average employee had to make to buy a 600 was equivalent to three and a half years of salary; in 1973, barely three-quarters of the annual salary.
This cherry red (red 127, in the official name) SEAT 600 L Especial that forms part of SEAT HISTÓRICOS’ Collection is a unit of great historical value. It is the penultimate SEAT 600 ever built, and is fitted with the Extras package. It hasn’t been registered and it has always been the property of SEAT. Actually, this very car was used at the time for brochure and promotional photographs. In almost 50 years of life, it has covered very few kilometres and its condition is as good as new.
However, the car has never been restored: this SEAT 600 L Especial has been preserved in a totally original condition. Without a doubt, it is the Collection’s most charismatic and historically valuable "six-hundred". For this reason, this 600 L Especial is only used on the big occasions, which allow you to enjoy the pleasure of driving an almost new car but with five decades of history.