S.E.A.T.

E, 1953 to date

Sociedad Espanola De Automóviles de Turismo, Barcelona

Spain’s biggest private-car producers, SEAT cars, opened their factory in July 1953, and SEAT cars have concentrated on the manufacture of Fiat designs. Until 1956 the staple offering of SEAT car was the 1400 4-cylinder saloon, but this SEAT car was joined in 1957 by the rear-engine SEAT 600. In 1959 SEAT cars followed Fiat in adopting the angular Pininfarina line, but SEAT cars combined the hull of the 6-cylinder SEAT 1800 model with the 1400 engine and transmission. In 1963 the parent company’s 1500 engine first became an option in this SEAT car, and then supplanted the old type. Some Siata-modified SEAT cars were also made and sold, and in 1966 the SEAT 850 joined the range of SEAT cars. A SEAT 4-door saloon version was catalogued in 1968, when production of SEAT cars passed the six-figure mark for the first time, and another special Spanish model SEAT car made its appearance. This SEAT 1430 was a de-luxe 4-headlamp 124 with 1.430cc pushrod engine. In 1970 283.678 SEAT cars were delivered, and SEAT cars assumed the role of supplier of obsolete Fiat models for which an export demand still existed – initially the SEAT 600D, but from late 1971 the 850 saloon and coupé SEAT cars as well. Alongside these production of the 124/125 family SEAT car continued.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS
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