In Coches con Historia we remember the Citroën Mehari, a true survivor of the 60s and 70s and an icon of off-road vehicles. It stood out for its multi-coloured plastic bodywork and the windscreen that folded down over the bonnet. Some versions were genuinely off-road, with 4×4 traction, and it was manufactured for a few years. This May, the Mehari celebrates 45 years since its launch.
In Cars with History we mark the 50th anniversary of the Mercedes Pagoda, none other than the SL 230, 250 and 280. These cars were unmistakable and highly coveted convertibles in the 1960s, successors to the famous 300 SL. They were first shown at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show and remained in production until 1971.
Today marks 65 years since Land Rover and almost the same number of years since one of the vehicles that stayed in production the longest, across its various series, was presented: the Land Rover Series 1. A Spartan off-roader, with no aspiration beyond being a working vehicle, but which soon became the most highly prized off-roader in the world.
In our Cars with History section, we show you the history of the Renault Siete, a Renault 5 with a boot, which enjoyed some success in Spain from 1974 to 1984. A saloon without excessive pretensions, but one of the few offerings in its segment B at the time.
The Lohner-Porsche Electromobile was one of the first vehicles in which Ferdinand Porsche had direct involvement, early in his career. It had two electric motors, one in each wheel, and a petrol engine used as a generator, which is why it is considered the first hybrid in history.
The De Tomaso Guará was the last sports car built by Alejandro de Tomaso and the least known model from a prolific constructor. The Guará was born under the wing of a Maserati model and was built in Modena, an irresistible combination for anyone. The Guará did not enjoy the success that was expected; it was produced from 1993 to 2004, shortly after Alejandro de Tomaso’s death.
In Spain, the Seat 600 was a pioneer, not because it was technically brilliant (it wasn’t), but because it marked the beginning of mass car ownership among Spaniards. After almost 800,000 units produced in Barcelona over nearly 17 years, in the midst of one of the darkest periods in Spain’s history, the 600 represented one of the few freedoms of the era and a social revolution.
El Simca 1000 fue otro de los preferidos del conductor español durante sus 13 años de permanencia en el mercado. Con una buena cantidad de versiones disponible en nuestro país, llegando a la versión 1000 Rallye GT, era también un coche apreciado por el aficionado a las carreras, contando hasta con preparación de Abarth.
Nikola Tesla was ahead of his time, but the struggle between his alternating current and the “conventional” one led him to complete ostracism. In his final years he attempted to create an electric car that required no batteries at all, since it obtained its energy wirelessly through a 1.8-metre antenna. That energy, moreover, came from electromagnetic waves.
The Renault 4-4 is no less renowned for being the first vehicle of the modern era of Renault, one that helped the brand emerge from the post-war period. Designed with the collaboration of Ferdinand Porsche himself (although under not very orthodox circumstances), the 4 CV or 4-4 had versions all over the world, and was even built in Japan. In Spain, this vehicle was the pioneer of Spanish motorisation and it can be said that it directly rivals the Seat 600.
The seven finalists for the 2027 European Car of the Year (COTY) are exclusively electric 
Peugeot E-208 GTi: a battery-powered toy that revives the spirit of the 1980s sports cars 
New Lexus ES: luxury grows and goes electric