The 1400 had the honour of being the first SEAT. Actually, from its launch in late 1953 and until the unveiling of the 600 in 1957 it was "the SEAT", because the brand’s catalogue had no other model available. With the 1400, SEAT consolidated mass production of cars in Spain and made it possible to achieve the socialization of the car in the ’60s.

The key date is November 13, 1953. That day the first SEAT 1400 was registered. The company had been incorporated on May 9, 1950, with the aim of creating the first Spanish volume-production car manufacturing industry. During those three years a large factory was put up in Barcelona’s Zona Franca, whose assembly lines began operating at the end of May 1953, accumulating stock at the rate of five units per day.

SEAT’s 1400 was a mid-sized saloon, with the classic layout of a 1395cc longitudinal front engine (hence the name “1400”) and rear-wheel drive. However, it was one of the most advanced upper middle segment European cars of the time, as it had a monocoque pontoon-type body and an unmistakable American style, then very much in vogue. Thus, the interior featured a front bench and gear lever on the steering column, thus being able to carry up to six passengers.

However, in the domestic market of the ’50s the 1400 was a luxurious and expensive car. SEAT chose this vehicle as its first model for two reasons: firstly, it was ideal for providing cars to government bodies and public services, such as taxis; secondly, with a relatively low production volume at first, the 1400 helped to smoothly get the SEAT factory up and running, as well as the auxiliary industry network, then virtually non-existent and to which SEAT had to provide technical advice, patents and even capital.

Ownership of a SEAT 1400 soon became a sign of class and modernity. At the same time, production was increasing. From one thousand cars built in the first year the factory went to about 3,000 in 1954. In 1956, the year before the launch of the SEAT 600, the historic figure of 10,000 cars built in a single year was reached, with an average of 42 units per day.

Finally, in 1969, sixteen years after the start of production, SEAT reached its first million cars built, with a modern SEAT 124 that stood up next to that first 1953 SEAT 1400. The aim of putting Spain on wheels had been achieved.

This SEAT 1400 preserved in the SEAT HISTÓRICOS’ Collection corresponds to the initial 1953 model, which was in production until the spring of 1954 with just over 2,000 units built. The next version, the 1400 A, had a newly-designed grille and plenty more chrome, as well as more prominent “fintail” rear wings. At the end of 1956 the 1400 B appeared, with a distinctive central fog light, and in mid-1958, the 1400 B Especial, with a more powerful 58 HP engine, compared to the 44 HP of the previous 1400.

In total, just over 50,000 units of all these versions of the 1400 were manufactured, until in 1960 the 1400 C appeared, with the all-new body that would also carry the future SEAT 1500. In short, the 1400 takes pride of place in the history of SEAT, not only for having been the first one in a long chronology of models, but also for having laid the foundations of Spanish motorization.