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.

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.

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.