SEAT 850 explained

SEAT 850
Manufacturer:SEAT
Production:1966–1974
664,346 built
Assembly:Spain: Barcelona (Zona Franca)
Successor:SEAT 133
SEAT 1200 Sport (for SEAT 850 Sport)
Class:Supermini
Layout:RR
Engine:843 cc I4
903 cc I4 (Sport Coupé, Spider)
Transmission:4-speed manual
Wheelbase:2027mm
Width:1425mm
Weight:650kg (1,430lb)
Related:Fiat 850
SEAT 133
Sp:us

The SEAT 850, also popularly known as "ocho y medio" ("eight and a half", 8.5), was a supermini produced by Spanish automaker SEAT and based on the Fiat 850. The car was produced in Spain from April 1966 to 1974 and it was quite popular during that time.

Originally only available with the same 2-door sedan body as used in Italy, two different 4-door versions also appeared in 1967. The very rare corto (short) used the bodywork developed by Francis Lombardi for the Fiat 850 "Lucciola",[1] while the largo (long) version used a floorpan lengthened by 15 cm and bodywork developed specifically by Carrocerías Costa for SEAT.[2]

History

At the 1971 Paris Motor Salon, the 850 Especial Lujo (Special deLuxe) was presented, only available with the 4-door largo body. Production ended in late 1974, having been replaced by the SEAT 133, essentially an 850 rebodied in the style of the 127. Sedans and the standard coupé received 843 cc four-cylinder engines with either . After Fiat 850 production ceased in Italy in 1972, the SEAT version was sold in European countries through Fiat dealers for a couple of years. These cars had a Fiat badge which had "costruzione SEAT" underneath it.

Production figures

The total production per year of SEAT 850 cars is shown in the following table :

SEAT 850 Sport

The SEAT 850 Sport model was based on the Fiat 850 Coupé and Spider versions and was also available in two variants:

The Sport Coupé and Spider versions were also built in Spain, although they were never exported. They were equipped with a 903 cc engine as opposed to the lower powered, 843 cc standard cars.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fiat 850 Lombardi . Francis Lombardi . 2008-08-10 . 2010-11-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222025952/http://www.francislombardi.org/index.php/cars/fiat/fiat-850-lombardi . 2010-12-22.
  2. Web site: Costas . Javier . 2023-12-06 . Dosier SEAT 850, una gama completa en SEAT . 2024-03-23 . La Escudería . es.