When the 850 was already an exclusive SEAT model, the Spanish brand completely renewed its line-up from the end of 1972, replacing the 850 Normal and Especial with the 850 D and 850 D Especial, respectively.

SEAT’s 850 had been introduced in 1966, and took up the 600’s rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, but with more space and performance than the popular "pellet". The big novelty of the 850 was that an entire range derived from it. It was the first SEAT offered with different powertrains and bodies, with 2- and 4-door variants, an Especial version (more powerful), a Coupé and even a convertible officially called Sport, although known as Spider.

The 850 range soon went on to rival the 600 D and towards the end of the 60s was SEAT’s and, therefore, the domestic market’s best-selling car. When it was discontinued in 1974, after eight years in production, it was the second most manufactured SEAT in history after the 600, with more than 660,000 units compared to almost 800,000 for the "pellet".

The commercial path of the 850 was in parallel with that of the 600. Like the latter, it also had a long wheelbase four-door version produced by SEAT. But the most important thing, and at the same time a symbol of the increasingly important dimension of SEAT as a European car maker, was that when the 850 ceased production in Italy it also became an exclusive SEAT model for the whole of Europe, as the 600 already was.

SEAT took the opportunity to update the 850 in September 1972. The result was the new 850 D range, which was unveiled the following month at the Paris Motor Show, with 2- and 4-door variants, and a more powerful Especial D version, also with 2 and 4 doors, in addition to the top-of-the-range D Especial 4 Puertas Lujo. SEAT thus repeated what it had already done with the 600, when the 600 D was replaced by the 600 E in 1970, a model that was also exported to selected European countries.

In this way, SEAT met the demand that the 850 still had in various European markets. Actually, the 850 D was the first SEAT exported to the UK, with steering wheel, pedals, dashboard, etc. on the right-hand side. Like the 600 L Especial also introduced in late 1972, the 850 D was easily recognized by the air vents on the rear pillars, plus a new grille and new trim badge with the model’s name.

But the biggest advance was in the active safety area, since the whole 850 D line-up was fitted with a dual independent brake circuit, front and rear, whereas before it was only available in the top-of-the-range 850 Especial 4 Puertas Lujo. The interior also featured new, more enveloping seats, with new upholstery and a rear folding bench, which freed up more luggage space. On the other hand, production of the 850 Sport Coupé and Sport Spider was stopped.

The following year, in mid-1973, the SEAT 600 was discontinued, and the 850 D went ahead as the last member of the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. And that's despite the fact that in 1972 SEAT’s 127 had already been launched, the first front-wheel drive SEAT, with a much more modern design and concept.

However, the oil crisis meant that there was still room in the market for a truly economic model, even more so than the 127. That led SEAT to unveil in 1974 the 133, a new car with the 600 and 850’s rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout but combined with the more modern style of the 127. The 133 went on sale in June of that year, and the 850 D ceased production in July.

This unit of 850 D that is part of the SEAT HISTÓRICOS’ Collection is precisely one of the very last 850s ever built, in April 1974. This car has always been the property of SEAT and has never been registered. White and with red upholstery, at the time it was used for brochure and advertising photos, and is preserved in a totally original condition.

Actually, in almost 50 years of life it has travelled only a hundred kilometres, an exceptionally low mileage in a car so old, so today it offers the rare opportunity to drive a classic vehicle that is practically like new.