Oscar R. Window |
Segovia/Ávila (EFE) cities of Spain, in this edition with the World Heritage Cities of Segovia, Ávila and Salamanca as a destination, among other municipalities.
With the support of the mechanical care of the Historic Seat technicians and the brand’s Museum, who are integrated into the journey, but also with the care of their owners, many of these vehicles age slowly, with changes of parts that leave them almost ‘brand new’, as if they harbored a dream of survival from decade to decade, as if the number 600 were a temporary goal.
Organized by the TraveSeat association for seven years, this route acquires a family atmosphere, especially for the Palau, with three generations aboard their respective 600s, to give meaning to the passion of the grandfather, who is “in top form” at his 83 years old and who lives these days as one of the most special moments of the year, according to what his son Fransec Palau explains to EFE, in the midst of this intergenerational adventure.
“The link of union of the whole family”
“It has always been his hobby, since before I was born and it is the link of union for the whole family, on a little vacation”, summarized Palau, who until Sunday will enjoy gastronomy, heritage and the atmosphere of the places where they will stop, whose inhabitants are invaded and surprised by this part of the history of Spain that is the Seat 600.
They will be almost 800 kilometers of route that have started in the city of Segovia, but that will take them to places like San Lorenzo del Escorial (Madrid), Ávila, Piedrahíta, the Sierra de Francia in Salamanca, the city of Salamanca and the monumental municipality of Ciudad Rodrigo, near the border with Portugal, until Sunday every 600 return to their place of origin, the majority in Catalonia.
There is no shortage of adventures and mishaps, with the inevitable mechanical breakdowns that the technicians who accompany the participants try to solve on board a van loaded with basic spare parts, as explained by one of the organizers, Isidre López, who especially values the brotherhood that occurs among this group.
Participants from 18 to 91 years old
“It is spectacular to see 18-year-old boys, with their licenses just issued, driving a 600, and at the same time a 91-year-old man who keeps his passion alive aboard a car painted as a taxi, or men who come with the car they had when they were young”, added López.
In a world where almost everything is bought and sold, the 600 also has a market and sometimes it happens that someone participates for the first time in the concentration and quickly undertakes the search to get hold of one of these ‘jewels’ of automotive history. from the country.
The cost depends on the exclusivity of the model, for example if it is from the first or the last year of manufacture, but also on whether it has any particularity such as whether it is a convertible or a 4-door (model 800), and whether it is in good condition. .
With these references and the circumstances of each seller, the amounts to get one of these vehicles range between 3,000-4,000 euros for cars with which, with minimal adjustments, they would be able to cover this journey, but can reach 10,000- 12,000 euros if they are in good mechanical condition and have some peculiarity.
“It is the car of Spain, there is a sentimental link,” added Fransec Palau, convinced that the route will continue for years to come.