1963 Ejarque / Mari Carmen (Spain)

Francisco Ejarque Galindo, born in 1936 in Catalonia, is a figure whose work epitomizes the creative spirit of automotive craftsmanship. Raised in a family of coachbuilders, Ejarque’s passion for cars was evident from an early age, and he pursued this passion with unparalleled determination. His most iconic creation, a coupé based on the SEAT 600, began as a personal project in 1963 but would undergo numerous transformations over the years, evolving into a sports car of remarkable ingenuity.

Ejarque’s journey into car building began with smaller projects in his youth. One of his first creations, a beach cruiser named "La Monda," was built on an old Amilcar chassis from the 1920s. It was a whimsical vehicle, roofed with canvas and without doors, designed for fun outings with friends. This creative spark fueled Ejarque’s desire to build unique, personalized cars rather than settling for what car manufacturers had to offer.

In the early 1960s, Ejarque’s father, also a coachbuilder, gave him a SEAT 600. Instead of simply driving it, Ejarque radically transformed the small, modest car. Drawing inspiration from American and Italian automotive designs, he created a bespoke three-box coupé. He named it "Mari Carmen" after his girlfriend and future wife, a personal touch that gave the vehicle even more meaning.

The original Mari Carmen (dubbed by some as "MC1") was a true testament to Ejarque’s creativity and skill. He stripped the SEAT 600 down to its platform and built a new body that resembled the American classics of the time, with rear wings inspired by the 1959 Chevrolet Impala and a custom grille sourced from a Cadillac. With its white paint job and unique hubcaps designed by Ejarque himself, the car was a striking sight. Its aesthetic was elegant and bold, perfectly embodying the era’s flair for stylish excess.

To improve its performance, Ejarque modified the car’s engine, boosting the SEAT 600’s original displacement to 1000 cc using Abarth components. He continued to refine and restyle the Mari Carmen, incorporating modern elements such as double headlights and Abarth branding, making it difficult to believe that underneath the chic exterior lay the bones of a SEAT 600.

By the early 1970s, Ejarque’s family had grown, and the Mari Carmen no longer fit their needs. Rather than retire his beloved creation, Ejarque set out to redesign it again. This time, he extended the chassis to accommodate more space, giving the car a sleek "Coca-Cola bottle" waistline and an aggressive fastback design. The car’s new look borrowed elements from American muscle cars, with multiple headlights reminiscent of the Ford Mustang and a squared grille. The interior was upholstered in white leather, while the exterior gleamed in bright red.

This third iteration of Mari Carmen was featured in Autopista magazine, which praised Ejarque’s ingenuity and craftsmanship, calling the vehicle a fine example of a personalized car with "National" character. The article highlighted not only the car’s aesthetic qualities but also the high level of skill and dedication that Ejarque poured into his work.

However, the story of Mari Carmen took a tragic turn in 1972. A malfunction in a recently installed servo caused a fluid leak that ignited when it touched the exhaust manifolds. The car caught fire while Ejarque was driving, and despite the firefighters' efforts, the vehicle was beyond saving. The beloved Mari Carmen was reduced to ashes, leaving Ejarque heartbroken.

Despite the loss of his cherished creation, Ejarque’s drive to create never waned. He continued to work on personal automotive projects, including a second car based on a SEAT 124 in the early 1970s. This project, which involved crafting a completely new body by hand, was a stunning example of his determination and skill. He meticulously designed every element of the car, from the body panels to the retractable headlights. However, Spain’s complex bureaucracy hindered his efforts to register the vehicle. Faced with insurmountable red tape and a prohibitive cost, Ejarque was forced to abandon the project, literally hanging the unfinished car from the ceiling of his workshop.

This unfinished masterpiece remained suspended in the workshop for years, a symbol of Ejarque’s talent and the obstacles he faced. Even after dismantling his workshop, Ejarque refused to discard the bodywork, entrusting it to an admirer who vowed to find a patron willing to complete this labor of love.

Ejarque’s reputation as a coachbuilder continued to grow, and by the late 1970s, he had become a sought-after restorer of classic cars. His skills were so respected that after closing his own workshop, he began collaborating with a restoration company, American Classics, as a freelance expert. His work elevated the company’s reputation and kept the spirit of high-quality car restoration alive.

In the 1990s, Ejarque once again felt the urge to build, leading to the creation of his "Mari Carmen 3." This time, he started with a BMW 3 Series coupe, which he widened and transformed in the style of the BMW M3. For more than 15 years, he used this modified vehicle as his daily driver, until one night it was stolen and destroyed. The car, which had never been officially registered due to Ejarque’s disdain for paperwork, was scrapped by the authorities, marking another devastating loss for the artisan.

Undeterred, Ejarque built yet another car, this time a convertible BMW 3 Series. As always, he reimagined every inch of the vehicle, leaving nothing of the original bodywork untouched. His relentless drive to create and perfect cars, even well into his later years, demonstrated the depth of his passion for the craft.

Francisco Ejarque’s story is one of endless innovation, creativity, and resilience. His work, particularly the Mari Carmen, reflects an unmatched dedication to the art of coachbuilding and personalization. For those who knew him, Ejarque was an unforgettable character—a man who, despite numerous setbacks, never gave up on his vision of building cars that were not just vehicles, but works of art.

From the streets of Barcelona to the pages of automotive history, Francisco Ejarque’s legacy endures as a symbol of what can be achieved with determination, skill, and a deep love for the craft. His creations, though many have been lost to time, continue to inspire and remind us of the power of human ingenuity.