At a time when station wagons did not have the popularity they enjoy today, the SEAT 1500 featured from the mid-'60s an estate version called 1500 Familiar, fitted with an original split tailgate that hid a rearward-facing additional seat for children.

The 1500 Familiar was launched a year after the saloon, at the 1964 Barcelona Motor Show, held in April, and the first units were delivered from November. However, it was not an absolute novelty in the SEAT line-up, as this body had been premiered in the SEAT 1400 C Familiar, unveiled a couple of years earlier at the same event.

The 1500 Familiar was the result of mixing the new body of the 1400 C estate with the bigger, more powerful engine (72 HP) of the 1500 saloon. As had been the case with the step from the 1400 C to the 1500 saloon, the extra power of the new engine was much more in tune with the 1500 Familiar's presence and potential.

The 1500 Familiar was 1.5 cm longer (it was four and a half metres long) and 30 kg heavier than the saloon. It had a distinctive split or two-part tailgate, with upper and lower elements that formed a useful platform to carry heavy and long loads. It also had a rearward-facing third row of seats, hidden under the rear deck floor and suitable for two or three children.

In parallel with the evolution of the saloon, at the end of 1968 came the "bifaro" version, so-called for its twin headlights, as well as the diesel 1.8 model.

In addition to the standard estate version, this bodywork also had a van variant, only with front seats and windows. The van model was very popular as part of the SEAT Roadside Assistance Service fleet.

SEAT had created this pioneering service in Spain in 1959, initially with two SEAT 600s operating on Madrid's roads to help motorists in difficulty. The 1500 Roadside Assistance van could tow and pull any vehicle out of a ditch, and its exceptional comfort meant that SEAT mechanics could patrol all day without getting tired.

The 1500 Familiar also featured an ambulance version. In addition, in the summer of 1968 a SEAT 1500 Pick-up was unveiled, although its production was minimal, with just 300 units built. Around 8,000 SEAT 1500 Familiar cars were manufactured until 1972, not many when compared to the 140,000 SEAT 1500 produced in total.

The low production volume of the 1500 Familiar is explained because, at that time, these estate versions were not as popular as today. Although they were more expensive than equivalent saloons, these models were regarded as "vans", without the useful purpose and dynamism component that modern families currently relate to a station wagon. In any case, for its presence and performance the 1500 Familiar has a place of honour in the SEAT chronology as predecessor of the current Leon Sportstourer.

SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps this 1968 SEAT 1500 Familiar in perfect running order. It was one of the six models of the Collection that in 2019 took part in the SEAT Festival Clásicos & Familia at the Valencia track. The 1500 Familiar travelled the 400km route between Madrid and Cheste by B-roads and driven by journalists, showing excellent road holding, comfort and condition.