SEAT 1500
Encyclopedia
The SEAT 1500 was a Spanish-built 6-seater model of saloon and estate
cars, based on the Italian Fiat 1800. The 1500 was the successor to the SEAT 1400 C: it was manufactured between 1963 and 1972, with the five door estate ("Familiar") version arriving in 1965. Apart from the larger engine, differences between the 1500 and the C version of its predecessor were limited to such minor details as a speedometer that now read up to 140 km/h (87 mph).
There was also a '1500 pick-up' offered, and the coach builder ONECA developed a long-wheelbase 'pullman' version. A total of 134,766 cars were produced.
water cooled unit, driving the rear wheels via a four speed all syncromesh gearbox. With this engine a top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph) was claimed. After 1968, demand for petrol engined versions of the SEAT 1500 fell away with the introduction of the SEAT 124
, a much more modern design based on the Fiat 124
, and a car with a much better power-to-weight ratio.
From 1969, both 1.8 and 2-litre diesel
versions of the SEAT 1500 were offered, and most would be used as taxis. Initially only cars with the smaller diesel engines were delivered, using an engine last seen in the Mercedes Benz 180D with a claimed output in this application of 46 bhp. According to one report this version took nearly 50 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph), but fuel cost savings were impressive, helped by the lower level of sales tax on diesel fuel. These were the first diesel powered saloons manufactured in Spain. Fiat were not producing diesel engines at this stage. Engines were supplied by Mercedes Benz and Perkins Engines Company Limited. The diesel engines supplied to SEAT by Mercedes Benz were versions of the four cylinder diesel engines that powered Mercedes diesel engined cars in many corners of Europe in the 1960s.
styled boxy design which had since 1959 featured on the 'C' version of SEAT's 1400: it was broadly similar to the designs provided by the same designer to Peugeot
and BMC at this time. The car originally had a single pair of headlights at the front, but from 1969, double headlamps similar to those fitted on the Fiat 2300
were a feature of the SEAT 1500s. The post 1969 twin headlight models acquired the soubriquet 'Bifaro' in Spain.
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
cars, based on the Italian Fiat 1800. The 1500 was the successor to the SEAT 1400 C: it was manufactured between 1963 and 1972, with the five door estate ("Familiar") version arriving in 1965. Apart from the larger engine, differences between the 1500 and the C version of its predecessor were limited to such minor details as a speedometer that now read up to 140 km/h (87 mph).
There was also a '1500 pick-up' offered, and the coach builder ONECA developed a long-wheelbase 'pullman' version. A total of 134,766 cars were produced.
The engine
Engine options were initially restricted to a 1481 cc petrol fuelledPetrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
water cooled unit, driving the rear wheels via a four speed all syncromesh gearbox. With this engine a top speed of 145 km/h (90 mph) was claimed. After 1968, demand for petrol engined versions of the SEAT 1500 fell away with the introduction of the SEAT 124
SEAT 124
The SEAT 124 is a mid-sized family car produced by the Spanish manufacturer SEAT in its Barcelona Zona Franca and Landaben Pamplona plants between 1968 and 1980...
, a much more modern design based on the Fiat 124
Fiat 124
The Fiat 124 is a mid-sized family car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat between 1966 and 1974. It was the replacement of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500...
, and a car with a much better power-to-weight ratio.
From 1969, both 1.8 and 2-litre diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
versions of the SEAT 1500 were offered, and most would be used as taxis. Initially only cars with the smaller diesel engines were delivered, using an engine last seen in the Mercedes Benz 180D with a claimed output in this application of 46 bhp. According to one report this version took nearly 50 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph), but fuel cost savings were impressive, helped by the lower level of sales tax on diesel fuel. These were the first diesel powered saloons manufactured in Spain. Fiat were not producing diesel engines at this stage. Engines were supplied by Mercedes Benz and Perkins Engines Company Limited. The diesel engines supplied to SEAT by Mercedes Benz were versions of the four cylinder diesel engines that powered Mercedes diesel engined cars in many corners of Europe in the 1960s.
The body
The Fiat based body used the PininfarinaPininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
styled boxy design which had since 1959 featured on the 'C' version of SEAT's 1400: it was broadly similar to the designs provided by the same designer to Peugeot
Peugeot 404
The Peugeot 404 is a large family car produced by French automobile manufacturer Peugeot from 1960 to 1975, with the exception of the truck which was sold until 1988. It was also made under licence in various African countries until 1991 . It was also built in Argentina by Sevel.Designed by...
and BMC at this time. The car originally had a single pair of headlights at the front, but from 1969, double headlamps similar to those fitted on the Fiat 2300
Fiat 2300
The Fiat 2300 is an automobile which was produced by Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat between 1961 and 1969.Mechanically the 2300 lived up to its expectations with power assisted brake discs for all four wheels and a powerful 2.3 litre six cylinder engine...
were a feature of the SEAT 1500s. The post 1969 twin headlight models acquired the soubriquet 'Bifaro' in Spain.
External links
- SEAT 1500 history (Spanish)
- Museo Seat (Spanish, Catalan, English, German)
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Dutch Wikipedia article as of 2008-04-20