Cars with History: Seat 132, "the car for people who know what they want"

The Seat 132 is one of the flagship models and possibly one of the most beautiful that Seat has ever built. We agree that today other design lines are in use, but in 1973, the Seat 132 revolutionised Spain, both for its square lines and for the performance it offered. It is worth noting that the model was produced until 1980.

This distinctive saloon hit the market in May 1973 with the aim of replacing one of the brand’s legendary models from Martorell, the Seat 1500. That model was synonymous with the wealthy classes of the 1960s in our country, but it is important to note that the Seat 132 had fewer right angles and evolved into more rounded lines, although it still offered a squared-off design.

The Seat 132, ahead of its time

The Seat 132 featured safety elements that were unthinkable for a car of its era, 1973. This saloon had a chassis made of a deformable structure that was able to absorb impacts better in the event of an accident, but it was also equipped with soundproofing materials so that passengers would not hear the engine noise or the rolling of the wheels. These materials were fitted to the floor, roof, doors and bonnet. In addition, it was the first model to offer headrests on the front seats and a height-adjustable steering wheel. Furthermore, to improve aerodynamics, the 132 had a more steeply raked windscreen and rear window.

Besides being safer than its rivals, it was much faster. In fact, the Seat 132 was not a sports car, but it was a spacious saloon ideal for travelling. To these qualities was added good acceleration and top speed. This was possible, in large part, because it had a five-speed manual gearbox, something never seen before in Spain.

Despite being slightly shorter than the Seat 1500, the Seat 132 offered better habitability. It even had a heating system, ashtrays, courtesy lights, comfortable seats and a very complete instrument cluster. In addition, rear-seat passengers had good legroom. On the outside, both the dual-optic headlights and the door handles were integrated into the bodywork. The front indicators and lights were integrated into the bumpers.

One of the goals of the Martorell brand was to protect the occupants of the Seat 132. So much so that crash tests were carried out in which the bodywork deformed while the passenger compartment remained intact. Furthermore, the steering column was divided into sections, preventing it from piercing the driver’s chest in the event of an accident. It also featured seat belts on the front seats.

The Seat 132 became the symbol of the new modernity. Between 1973 and 1980, some 108,725 units were manufactured at the Zona Franca in Barcelona. It was a segment E car with a four-door saloon body. Its engines were four-cylinder units mounted longitudinally and drove the rear wheels. It measured 4.38 metres long, 1.64 metres wide, 1.43 metres high, and had a wheelbase of 2.55 metres. The weight varied according to the engine chosen: 1,070 kg for the 1.6 and 1.8, 1,110 kg for the diesel, 1,120 kg for the 2.0 engine, and 1,215 kg for the 2.2 litre.

Engines, the basis of its success?

The Seat 132 had an engine that quickly became one of the most sought-after. It was a 2.0-litre diesel unit capable of producing 109 CV, which arrived in 1979. However, the model originally reached the market with a four-cylinder 1.6-litre version producing 98 CV, another four-cylinder 1.8-litre petrol version producing 105 CV, and a diesel with a Mercedes-Benz engine from 1988 producing 55 CV, which came from the Mercedes-Benz 200D, as was the case with the Seat 1500. Drivers could also choose a diesel engine from the brand with the three-pointed star: a four-cylinder 2.2-litre unit capable of delivering 60 CV. In terms of performance, the Seat 132 could reach a top speed of 180 km/h.

The 132 came in two trims: basic and luxury. Among their main differences were the four- or five-speed manual gearbox and power steering. Inside, the luxury Seat 132 featured genuine wood on the dashboard. A few years later, in 1976, this version offered an automatic gearbox as an option. From the moment it reached the market, the Seat 132 drew attention for its double overhead camshaft layout, typical of the sports cars of the era.

Its low-consumption engines and smooth suspension made the Seat 132 one of the most outstanding Spanish saloons of its time. According to its slogan, the Seat 132 was “the car for people who know what they want“.