1990 SEAT Ibiza SXi

Registration No: H1 UJC
Chassis No: VSS021A0009893956
MOT: July 2022
Estimate: £3,000 - £4,000

Motor Car Location: Cheshire

• Just 1 owner from new and offered from a deceased estate
• 158,300 recorded miles
• Offered with a collection of invoices
• Fitted with Minilite alloy road wheels
• Category D insurance loss in 2003 but subsequently repaired
• Invoice in the history file for new front wings from Seat main agent in 2005
• Self evidently subject to a previous bodywork and paintwork restoration

Introduced at the 1984 Paris Motor Show, the SEAT Ibiza Mk1 entered production on 27 April 1984 and proved to be a success for the Spanish manufacturer, as it sold 1,342,001 units prior to the launch of the second-generation Ibiza in 1993. This version, while it established the now classic Ibiza shape, was advertised as having "Italian styling and German engines": its bodywork was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign, and it was prepared for industrialisation by the German manufacturer Karmann. It was based on the SEAT Ronda, a small family car, which in turn was based on the Fiat Ritmo. The gearbox and powertrain were developed in collaboration with Porsche, thus named under licence System Porsche. Despite Porsche's direct involvement in the Ibiza's engines, it was only after paying a royalty fee per car to Porsche that SEAT gained the right to put the 'System Porsche' inscription on the engine blocks.

By the time Giugiaro was assigned to the Ibiza project, his previous proposal for the second generation of the Golf had been rejected by Volkswagen. In fact the square headlight design had been an early rejected design for the Golf. When SEAT approached him with the proposal for a spacious supermini-class contender, that particular project was reincarnated as the first generation of the SEAT Ibiza.

The SEAT Ibiza SXi opened the way for all the Ibiza FR and Cupra that followed. This BOSCH LE-2 Jetronic electronic injection block of 1.5 litres (1,461 cm ³) was said to develop 100bhp, 15 more than the same carburetted block and it was associated with a five-speed manual transmission. The benefits were outstanding at that time, described as having a c.115 mph top speed and acceleration from 0 to 100 in 10.8 seconds. The brake kit consisted of front discs and rear drums, while the suspension had firmer dampers. Aesthetically, the SEAT Ibiza SXI received several specific components to clearly differentiate it from the rest of the range, slightly flared wheel arches, body-colour grille, and red stripes along the lower perimeter of the car.

With just 1 owner from new and offered from a deceased estate, this SXi has 158,300 recorded miles. It is fitted with Minilite alloy road wheels and presents with many of the standard factory features of the SXi model of the Mk1 SEAT Ibiza. With connections to Porsche, Giugiaro and VW, this could be an alternative to a classic Golf GTi or it may even accomapny a buyer's collection of V.A.G watercooled cars or hot hatches. Rarely seen today this SXi is a rare survivor. In 2003 the car was a Category D insurance loss, but subsequently repaired. Amongst the invoices and paperwork with the car is a 2004 bill from a SEAT main agent for a new wing. Self evidently the SXi has been subject to a previous bodywork and paintwork restoration.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760