This Group 2 SEAT Panda is one of the most emblematic competition vehicles in the SEAT HISTÓRICOS' Collection. On the one hand, in 1982 it was the first works car of future two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz; on the other hand, in 2011 it was the main protagonist of SEAT HISTÓRICOS' first participation in a regularity rally for classic cars… (read more)
Year: 1982
Petrol, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, transversal
Bore x stroke: 65 mm x 88 mm
Capacity: 903 cc
Valvetrain: Overhead valves, 2 valves per cylinder
Carburettor: 1 double choke Weber
Max. power: 62 bhp at 6.800 rpm
Max. speed: 145 kph
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Gearbox: 4-speed synchronized manual
Clutch: Dry single-plate, 170 mm
Front suspension: Independent, McPherson type with coil springs and adjustable dampers, 20 mm anti-roll bar
Rear suspension: Live axle, with semi-elliptic leaf springs joined by Panhard rod and adjustable dampers
Steering: Rack and pinion
Front/rear: Discs (227 mm)/drums (185,5 mm)
Wheel rim: 13" Targa
Tyres: 13/53 SB 10 front and 11/53 TB 15 rear
Length/width/height: 3.380/1.520/1.390 mm
Wheelbase: 2.160 mm
Tracks: 1.310/1.290 mm (front/rear)
Weight: 655 kg
This Group 2 SEAT Panda is one of the most emblematic competition vehicles in the SEAT HISTÓRICOS' Collection. On the one hand, in 1982 it was the first works car of future two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz; on the other hand, in 2011 it was the main protagonist of SEAT HISTÓRICOS' first participation in a regularity rally for classic cars.
The origin of this Group 2 Panda goes back to 1981, when SEAT organized the first edition of the SEAT Panda National Championship. Economical and affordable, as it was run on almost strictly standard Pandas, the championship provided young aspiring drivers the easiest way to enter rallying, in the same kind as the Formula SEAT 1430 promotional track racing series, contested for the first time in 1971.
In addition, a big prize awaited the SEAT Panda Cup winner: nothing less than being a works SEAT driver the following year, at the wheel of a Panda 45 prepared to Group 2 specifications (improved series production), whose development was done by driver and journalist Ricardo 'Rizos' Muñoz during 1981.
The winner of the one-make SEAT championship was a young Carlos Sainz, who aged 19 won all the rallies he entered. So in 1982 the Madrid-born driver took part in the Spanish Championship with SEAT and was one of the sensations of the season. He achieved great results with the little Group 2 Panda, like a fifth place overall in the Talavera rally, at Toledo. The car wasn't very powerful but it was very light, which made it devilishly fast in the hands of the talented Spanish driver when conditions were tricky, foggy, in the rain or when the road went downhill.
So the Group 2 SEAT Panda became the first works car of future two-time world rally champion and Dakar winner, which is why today it has a place of honour in the brand's Collection.
In fact, the Group 2 SEAT Panda was also the main protagonist of SEAT HISTÓRICOS' first ever participation in a regularity rally for classic cars, the 2011 Spanish Historic Rally. It was an emotional event, largely because the Panda driver was Juan Collín, then a motor journalist who in 1983 had been the third Panda Cup champion, after Sainz and Roland Holke.
However, unlike his predecessors, Collín had not had the opportunity to drive the Group 2 Panda in its time, so thirty years later he was able to close the circle and finally get behind the wheel of the "works" Panda.
SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps the Group 2 Panda with the livery run by Sainz in that 1982 Talavera rally. The only difference is that back then the engine was fitted with two double choke carburettors, which gave it a bit more power (around 70 HP) but made its drivability too radical. SEAT keeps the original carburettors, but the car is now fitted with a single double choke, good for 62 HP and that makes it easier to run at exhibitions and events.
