VW-Powered Puma GTI Is a Rare, Undervalued Sports Car From Brazil

The car pictured here is a 1981 Puma GTI and is quite a rare gem, as only 610 examples were ever made by Puma Automóveis Ltda of São Paulo.

The roots of this vehicle, which has become one of the most collectible Brazilian sports cars ever made, can be traced back to the early 1960s when Italian-born car enthusiast and self-taught automotive designer Genaro "Rino" Malzoni started building custom race cars in Brazil, where he had immigrated with his family.

Seeing how his designs, like the DKW-Malzoni made with a lightweight, aerodynamic fiberglass body and a two-stroke engine, quickly became successful in local racing competitions, he decided to put a series of sports cars into production, and together with Luiz Roberto Alves da Costa, Milton Masteguin, and Mário César de Camargo Filho, he co-founded Sociedade de Automóveis Lumimari Ltda. In 1966, the carmaker changed its name to Puma Veículos e Motores Ltda, known simply as "Puma" across Brazil.

Produced in Brazil from 1967 until 1985, the Puma vehicles enjoyed tremendous success in the South American country during the 70s and 80s, a period when the government made it almost impossible to import cars from foreign manufacturers in an attempt to build up a local automotive manufacturing industry.

Based on VW chassis, these sports cars had fiberglass bodies and relatively luxurious features by the standards of the period when they were launched. Their styling, on the other hand, resembled that of the Renault Alpine, Lamborghini Muira, Porsche 904, and Dino Ferrari. These Malzoni-designed cars are rear-engined models with VW engines. All the necessary VW components were sourced from the VW manufacturing plant in Brazil.

All examples of the Puma vehicles are now highly sought-after by car collectors in Brazil. There is also increased interest in these cars on the international classic car stage as more and more people become intrigued by automotive creations coming from influential figures like Malzoni.

The GTI model was introduced in 1980 and was one of the company's more advanced models, highlighting the almost 20 years of experience accumulated by Puma in the realm of sports cars. Launched as an upgraded version of the earlier Puma Spider, the GTI was built on a Volkswagen Brasilia platform that was basically the same as the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia but built in Brazil for the local market.

It was powered by a rear-mounted 1.6 liter VW flat-four engine coupled with a four-speed manual transmission. The mill's power output was 54 hp and 78 lb-ft of torque in stock condition, but many Pumas had modified, way mightier engines. The car tipped the scales at just 890 kilograms (1,962 pounds) and featured front disc brakes and rear drums, as well as independent front and rear suspension. Puma kept all these components in place but added a lightweight fiberglass body and fitted the car with new wheels.

However, the greatest virtue of the new line was its fresh design that followed global trends. The new model re-styled the bumpers and lights, and its rear end reminisces of the Porsche 911. The interior of the car was also completely fitted at Puma.

The company actually introduced two new sports car versions in 1980 - the Puma GTI and the Puma GTC, the latter of which was a very similar model with a convertible roof.

This original Puma GTI from 1981 is currently up for auction out of Canada with an Ontario registration. It is finished in red livery, has a massive Porsche 911-inspired whale tail rear spoiler, and rides on 14" E-Scorro wheels with 185/70 Hallmark Premium tires up front and Goodyear Integrity tires at the back. It features front disc brakes, dual Solex carburetors, and quadruple exhaust tips.

It was acquired by the current owner in 2023. Under previous ownership, it received a repaint in red, while more recent work included replacing the spark plugs, throttle cable springs, fuel and air filters, and heater hoses. Other exterior details include a vented engine cover and polished exhaust outlets.

The minimalist interior is all black with dark upholstery, twin bucket seats up front with vinyl trim on the sides and backs, and a luggage compartment in the rear.

Ahead of the Puma-branded instrumentation sits a three-spoke steering wheel, and the five-digit odometer shows 81,000 kilometers (approx. 50,000 miles). The car is in good condition, and though there are obvious signs of wear and tear, it would be a great addition to any car collector's stable due to its distinctive looks, decent performance, good build quality, and easy serviceability.