In Celebration Of The SEAT 600’s 60th Anniversary

Added: 09 January 2018

In Celebration of the SEAT 600’s 60th Anniversary

Here are the six major differences in 60 years of driving.

For the SEAT 600’s 60th anniversary, SEAT is celebrating by looking back at the last 60 years of driving and all the key differences between then and now, by using the SEAT Mii as a modern comparison. Both the Mii and 600 are considered urban utilitarian’s, are roughly the same size and were created as a response to mobility needs of their respective eras.

Here are the six differences SEAT discovered:

1. Boot Capacity

SEAT found that boot capacity has increased three-fold in the last 60 years. In the 600, the boot was located at the front of the car and could hold 68.5 litres. The Mii however, whilst be similarly in overall dimensions, has a boot that holds 238 litres and is found at the rear like most modern cars.

2. Doors

The SEAT 600 was characterised with some doors that hinged at the rear and opened towards the front. Whereas modern vehicles almost always have doors hinged at the front. The 50’s car also had seats that echoed the design and upholstery of a sofa.

3. Seatbelts

The early versions of the 600 did not come equipped with a seatbelt or headrest, meaning only 40% of a person’s body were connected to the seats. Contemporary vehicles such as the SEAT Mii have both seatbelts and headrests, as well as four airbags and the most advanced safety systems and driver assistants, including city brake, that can detect obstacles and automatically brake to prevent a collision.

4. Power Steering

When the 600 was launched, it took some serious arm strength to turn the steering wheel. In contrast, the electro-hydraulic power steering on the Mii means that steering is light and requires very little effort.

5. Manufacturing Time

When the 600’s popularity soared, over 800,000 units were made of the model between 1957 to 1973 and every unit took over 40 hours to complete. Nowadays, all modern vehicles take approximately 16 hours to produce, despite the vastly increased complexity.

6. Mobility

When the SEAT 600 was launched in 1957, the model signalled a change in mobility in Spain as the middle classes could afford cars and entire families could go on holidays together. In comparison, when the SEAT Mii was released in 2011, it was an urban vehicle perfect for the city, that also made it possible to go on long trips.

Find out more about the SEAT Mii today.