The Siata Patricia was a curious fun vehicle based on the SEAT 600 D. It was unveiled in its final form in 1970 and very few units were produced, totally hand-built. With up to nine seats, it was ideal for visits to factories or beach outings… (read more)
Launch: April 1970
End of production: 1971
Price: 159,300 Pts.
Number built: between 6 and 12
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: 25 HP at 4800 rpm
Max. torque: 50 Nm at 2500 rpm
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
Body: beach car, 6/9 seats
Length/width/height: 3720/1520/1660 mm
Wheelbase: 2000 mm
Weight: 728 kg
The Siata Patricia was a curious fun vehicle based on the SEAT 600 D. It was unveiled in its final form in 1970 and very few units were produced, totally hand-built. With up to nine seats, it was ideal for visits to factories or beach outings.
The Patricia was a joint venture with the Tarragona-based Siata coachbuilder, which used to work with the SEAT factory on the production of special cars and derivatives, mainly based on the 600. One of them was the 600 Formichetta, a small mixed van derived from the SEAT 600.
In 1967, the Formichetta was replaced by the Siata Minivan. The chassis and powertrain were still those of the SEAT 600 D, but with forward-control body. The driver and passenger were seated literally on the front axle, so that a large space was gained for cargo, or for passengers (with 4- and 6-seater versions). Therefore, the Minivan was much more versatile and capable than the Formichetta.
With the collaboration of Italian coachbuilder Fissore, Siata also produced a derivative of the Minivan with pick-up truck bodywork. Fissore had also designed a beach prototype called Marinella, which Siata decided to produce using the modified SEAT 600 D’s chassis with forward cockpit.
Thus, at the 1969 Barcelona Motor Show, Siata unveiled the body frame of the future beach car. The model was named Patricia, the new-born daughter of Siata’s CEO. The first prototype was completed that same year, fitted with wicker seats. The definitive Siata Patricia was launched the following year, at the 1970 Barcelona Motor Show.
It was certainly an original and different car, ideal as a beach vehicle or for visits to factories and excursions, thanks to a totally open body of up to 9 seats. It had a tiny rigid roof, narrow and very long, suitable for the transport of water skis or surfboards. Not surprisingly, Princess Ira von Fürstenberg had commissioned Fissore a bespoke Marinella precisely for water skiing in Sardinia.
The body featured a movable handrail to access the first row of seats, and a central door on each side for access to the two rear bench seats. The Patricia was totally hand-built, in short series of two or three examples, and only a dozen were built in total. The Patricia also had a big-name owner, the great artist Salvador Dalí.
Dalí bumped into the Patricia on June 7, 1971, on a visit to the Barcelona Exhibition Fair, where a Patricia was exhibited on the main Maria Cristina Avenue. Fascinated by its originality, he decided to buy one. Unfortunately, there are no photographs of Dalí and his Patricia, and the current whereabouts of the car are unknown.
Several units of the Patricia were acquired by rental companies of tourist towns such as Fuengirola or Benidorm. And one of them was delivered to Fira de Barcelona in October 1971, for the transfer of visitors through the Montjuïc premises during the multiple thematic fairs held in Barcelona.
This unit, painted in yellow with green imitation leather upholstery, was handed over to SEAT HISTÓRICOS by Fira de Barcelona when it was retired from service. SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps it in perfect running order and continues to run it for the use it was created for, as a support vehicle in the events in which SEAT takes part. It is the only surviving Patricia, along with another one based in Valencia.
In short, the Siata Patricia is testimony to the functionality and versatility of SEAT 600’s chassis and powertrain. In addition to becoming the driving force behind motorization in Spain in the ’60s, the 600 was also the basis of practical and capable vans such as the Formichetta and the Minivan, or a 4-door saloon - the SEAT 800. And even a fun vehicle like the Patricia, which, though it may seem incredible, is a SEAT 600 with another skin.
