In 1976, when SEAT’s 131 had been on the market for a year, the 5 Puertas (5-door) variant was unveiled, in the same versions as the saloon - L 1430 and E 1600. It was a true station wagon, much larger and more capable than its predecessor, the 124 5P… (read more)
Launch: April 1975 (Familiar: April 1976)
End of production: September 1983 (1430 Familiar: September 1981)
Number built: 412,948 (total 131)
Price: 398,083 Pts.
Petrol, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, longitudinal
Bore x stroke: 80 mm x 71.5 mm
Capacity: 1438 cc
Valvetrain: Overhead valves, push-rods and rocker arms
Carburettor: 1 single Solex 32
Max. power: 75 HP at 5.400 rpm
Max. torque: 111 Nm at 3.400 rpm
Top speed: 150 km/h
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Gearbox: 4-speed manual, plus reverse
Clutch: Dry single-plate
Front suspension:
Independent, McPherson-type. Anti-roll bar
Rear suspension:
Live axle, coil springs and dampers
Steering: Rack and pinion
Front/rear: Discs/drums
165 SR-13
Body: break, 5 doors
Length/width/height: 4238/1632/1400 mm
Wheelbase: 2490 mm
Weight: 1005 kg
In 1976, when SEAT’s 131 had been on the market for a year, the 5 Puertas (5-door) variant was unveiled, in the same versions as the saloon - L 1430 and E 1600. It was a true station wagon, much larger and more capable than its predecessor, the 124 5P.
The SEAT 131 launched in 1975 was a classic middle-high class saloon. It kept the traditional front engine and rear-wheel drive layout, but offered much better space than the SEAT 124 and 1430, and greater safety, performance and comfort.
Interestingly, while the 131 saloon had gone on to coexist with the 124 Pamplona-type launched at the end of 1975, the 131 Familiar (estate) did replace the 5 Puertas version of the 124. With a length almost 30 centimetres longer than the 124, the versatility of the 131 5 Puertas as a family vehicle or suitable for carrying packages was much better. The boot had a capacity of 430 litres, and the possibility of folding the rear bench allowed it to be expanded to 1,170 litres.
The initial range was the same as the saloon, with the L 1430 and E 1600 versions. Aesthetically they were distinguished because the 1430 had rectangular headlights, while the 1600 sported double round headlights, just like the equivalent saloons. The 1430 was powered by the 1,438 cc, 75 HP OHV engine, and the 1600, by the 1,592 cc, 95 HP twin-cam that had also powered the short-lived 1974 SEAT 1430-1600 Familiar. However, the 131 was larger and heavier, and lacked the sporting appeal of the 1430-1600 estate.
In March 1977 a version of the 131 E 1600 with automatic gearbox appeared, available with both the 4- and 5-door bodies. And in October 1978 the second series of the 131 was launched, with a slight aesthetic redesign and larger rectangular headlights, a new dashboard and a diesel Perkins 1800 version, also available with the estate body. Precisely, in late 1980 a 2nd series SEAT 131 E 1600 5 Puertas made the 800,000 unit exported by SEAT (of which about 58,000 corresponded to the 131).
At the end of 1981, the 1430 engine was no longer available with the estate body, although it was still offered in the saloon. At the same time, the estate body was renamed Panorama, while by late 1980 a 72 HP, 2500 diesel engine had been incorporated, which by 1982 was to replace the Perkins 1800.
The SEAT 131 was discontinued at the end of 1983. Its replacement would be the new Malaga, in 1985, although in a lower segment on the market. The Malaga had a front-wheel drive layout and it was powered by the modern SEAT System Porsche engines, but it didn’t have an estate version.
Indeed, when production of the 131 stopped, SEAT no longer had an estate body in its line-up for the first time since the unveiling of the 1400 C Familiar in 1962. And there would not be another estate SEAT until the 1997 Córdoba Vario, although the closest to the 131 by category and market segment was the 2009 Exeo ST. Today, the Leon Sportstourer perfectly fills the gap once occupied by the 131 Familliar.
This 131 L 1430 5 Puertas that is part of the SEAT HISTÓRICOS Collection was registered in Madrid in mid-1976, and corresponds to one of the very first 131 Familiar units built. SEAT HISTÓRICOS recovered and restored it years ago, and currently sports an immaculate condition.