SEAT · 1963–1973

SEAT 1500

The SEAT 1500 was a Spanish-built 6-seater model of saloon and estate cars, based on the Italian Fiat 2300 and using a 1481 cc engine from the Fiat 1500. The 1500 was the successor to the SEAT 1400 C; it was manufactured from 1963 to 1973, 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 minor details such as a speedometer that now read up to 160 km/h (100 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 built.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: SEAT 1400 · Successor: SEAT 132

All SEAT 1500 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Engine

Engine options were initially restricted to a 1481 cc petrol fuelled water cooled unit, driving the rear wheels via a four speed all synchromesh 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 more modern design based on the Fiat 124 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 PS (34 kW; 45 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 suitable diesel engines at this stage, and thus SEAT chose to have the engines supplied by Mercedes-Benz and Perkins Engines. The diesel engines supplied to SEAT by Mercedes-Benz were versions of the four-cylinder diesel OM636 engines that powered the Mercedes-Benz 180d. The 1800 Diesel could be bought through either SEAT or Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Spain; the engines were built under license by Empresa Nacional de Motores de Aviación (ENMASA) in Barcelona.

Body

The Fiat-based body used the Pininfarina-styled, boxy design which had been used on the 'C' version of SEAT's 1400 since 1959: 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, 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.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: SEAT 1500
Manufacturer: SEAT
aka: SEAT 1800/2000 Diesel
Production: 1963–1973
Assembly: Spain: Barcelona (Zona Franca)
Designer: Dante Giacosa
Class: Large family car (D)
Body style: 4-door saloon, 5-door estate, pick-up
Related: SEAT 1400 C, Fiat 1400, Fiat 1800/2100
Layout: FR layout
Engine: 1,481 cc I4, 1,767 cc OM636 I4 (1800 D), 1,988 cc OM615 I4 (2000 D)
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Wheelbase: 265 cm
Length: 447 cm
Width: 162 cm
Height: 143 cm
Kerb weight: 1210 kg
Predecessor: SEAT 1400
Successor: SEAT 132
sp: uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1499432CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT_1500CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1368555542 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SEAT_1500.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Charles01 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.