The SEAT 800 is a very important model in the brand’s chronology, because it is the first in-house SEAT design. Basically, the 800 is a four-door SEAT 600 with a longer wheelbase, features that made it a family car alternative.

SEAT thought about the 800 as a simple way to expand its car line-up, that in 1963 had only two models, the 600 and the 1500. With the 800, SEAT reduced the huge gap between its "small" and "large" cars, and offered a medium-type saloon substitute in the domestic market. The two doors on each side of the 800 shared a single central pillar, so that the front ones were rear-hinged (as in the 600) and the rear ones were front-hinged.

SEAT gave the go-ahead to the project in early 1963, and in June, at the Barcelona Trade Fair, the final prototype was unveiled, together with SEAT’s new 600 D and 1500 (the latter was the replacement for the 1400 C, also an exclusive SEAT model, but which was actually the result of mixing existing components: the 1400 engine and the future 1500 body). The great novelty of the 600 D was a larger, 767 cc engine instead of the 633 cc unit that powered the original model. The SEAT 800 went on to use this more powerful engine too.

Incidentally, the new model was named after the new engine, even though it had initially been known as "4-door 600 D". Following the policy of naming the cars as per the engine capacity (already followed in the 1400, 600 and 1500), it was finally called "800". This helped to present the mid-60s SEAT line-up in three distinct levels: 600 (which would continue to be called that despite the increase in capacity), 800 and 1500.

The first SEAT 800s were registered in January 1964. Thanks to its four doors, the 800 allowed for better rear-seat accessibility and more legroom, but had no more seats or more luggage space than a standard 600 D. What’s more, as the powertrain was the same, the performance suffered slightly, since the 800 (with an 18 cm longer wheelbase) weighed 35 kg more than the shorter two-door model. Its big cabin meant the 800 had some success as a microtaxi in a number of Spanish cities, especially in Madrid.

The production of the 800 was a joint venture with Carrocerías Costa, since it was SEAT’s practice to outsource the building of models with a relatively low production volume, such as the 600-derived van also produced by coachbuilders Costa and Siata.

SEAT supplied Costa’s factory in Terrassa (near Barcelona) with the naked 600 bodies from its Zona Franca factory. The monocoque bodies were transformed and painted by Costa, and then sent back to SEAT’s plant, where they joined the normal 600 assembly line. So, at any given moment a two- or four-door model could come out of the assembly line. Subsequently, Carrocerías Costa also contributed to the production of SEAT’s four-door 850 and 1200 Sport "Bocanegra".

Actually, the launch of the 850 in 1966 led to another project of a four-door version exclusive to SEAT, in a process similar to the 800’s. But while the 600 and the two-door 850 coexisted in the domestic market, the four-door 850 replaced the 800 in the SEAT range from May 1967.

Only 18,200 units of the exclusive 800 were built in just over three years, all sold in Spain. A very small quantity compared to the almost 800,000 two-door SEAT 600s ever built, which makes the SEAT 800 today a very scarce and appreciated model by collectors.

SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps a SEAT 800 in the Collection, registered in Barcelona in 1965, preserved in an immaculate condition and in perfect running order. The car is frequently used in exhibitions, reports and events such as the TraveSEAT (a road trip for owners of SEAT’ 600 and its derivatives).