SEAT Panda | 1981

“Amigo de todos, amigo para todo” (A friend to everyone, a friend for everything). That was how SEAT introduced the Panda, “the great small car of the 80s”, in March 1981.

The Panda was a Fiat project, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and launched in Italy in 1980. That same year SEAT, the Spanish carmaker founded in 1950 with Fiat technology, began building it under licence in Pamplona and in Barcelona’s Zona Franca.

In this ad we can see both versions: the Panda 35, with an 843 cc engine and 35 hp, and the Panda 45, with 903 cc and 45 hp. The number in the name was the power. The copy recommends it for “any person, age, sex or profession” and names farmer, musician, doctor, plumber and “ama de casa” (housewife), all in the same list.

When the partnership with Fiat ended, SEAT restyled the car and in December 1986 renamed it Marbella. It was built until 1998, the last car to leave the Zona Franca plant. Today SEAT is part of the Volkswagen Group.

Text in the ad

Amigo de todos, amigo para todo.
El SEAT PANDA, el gran utilitario de los 80, es un coche muy adecuado para cualquier persona, edad, sexo o profesión. Es amigo de todos. Y amigo para todo. Que hay que trabajar… Acepta los más variados trabajos: agricultor, agente de seguros, músico, médico, ama de casa, fontanero… Que hay que viajar… Para él, cualquier camino es bueno. Que hay que ser joven… El SEAT PANDA sabe ser joven… ir al campo, a la playa, siempre alegre… El gran utilitario de los 80 es para todos y para todo. Para cualquier actividad, para cualquier uso.
Panda 35 / Panda 45 – Gasolina normal. Cilindrada: 843 cc / 903 cc. Potencia: 35 CV / 45 CV. Velocidad: 130 km / 140 km. Capacidad maletero: 272 a 1.088 dm³. Garantía SEAT: 12 meses.
Seat Panda. Amigo para todo.

Translation:
A friend to everyone, a friend for everything.
The SEAT PANDA, the great small car of the 80s, suits any person, age, sex or profession. It is a friend to everyone. And a friend for everything. If there’s work to do… It takes on the most varied jobs: farmer, insurance agent, musician, doctor, housewife, plumber… If there’s travelling to do… Any road is good for it. If you need to be young… The SEAT PANDA knows how to be young… off to the country, to the beach, always cheerful… The great small car of the 80s is for everyone and for everything. For any activity, for any use.
Panda 35 / Panda 45 – Regular petrol. Engine: 843 cc / 903 cc. Power: 35 hp / 45 hp. Top speed: 130 km/h / 140 km/h. Boot: 272 to 1,088 dm³. SEAT warranty: 12 months.
Seat Panda. A friend for everything.

Brand

SEAT

Year

1981

Decade

1980s

Country

Spain

Medium

Magazine

Themes

Cars