Classic cars with history: SEAT Fura

Today we bring you a new instalment of our Classic Cars with History series, to take a look at a legendary model manufactured in Spain in the 1980s, which was none other than the predecessor of the Seat Ibiza. We are talking about the Seat Fura, also known as the Seat 127 Fura. It was a model that also arrived shortly before the split between Fiat and Seat, leaving the Spanish company under German control.

At that time, you could see cars on the street such as the Citroën Visa, Talbot Samba or even the occasional Peugeot 104. The Fura was on sale from 1983 to 1985, when the first Seat Ibiza appeared, one of the most important models for Seat.

The Seat Fura hit the market in 1983. It measured 3.72 metres in length and covered the compact (or rather city car) segment. Its body was available with three or five doors, but always with a rear tailgate. Initially it was a continuation of the previous 127, which was itself built under licence from Fiat.

There were two engines available: one of 47 CV and a more powerful one of 75 CV (originating from the Fiat 124), a version called the Fura Crono. Both engines featured a five-speed gearbox, which was quite impressive for the era; the gearbox came from the Fiat Ritmo.

With the split between Fiat/Seat, the Fura received several changes to differentiate it from the Italian model, at the same time as the Fura Dos was launched, with significant changes to the headlights (now smaller), a front end of new dimensions and now new wheels, among other elements.

As a curiosity, the Fiat 127, from which the Fura derived and which reached the market in 1972, was one of the first cars to feature the typical split rear bench, a very practical solution that nearly all vehicles today are equipped with.

Via | Historiaseat.com, museoseat.com, Wikipedia

Photos | Soclasicos.es, Club600Badalona, Foro Furacrono