The Puma is a small rear-engined sports coupe manufactured in Brazil that was exported engine-less to qualify as a kit car
and then a locally sourced aircooled Volkswagen or Porsche flat-4 was added for motive power. The fiberglass body is surprisingly good looking and thankfully isn't a blatant rip off of an iconic design (550 Spyder, Cobra kit, etc). Find this 1981 Volkswagen Puma GTE 1981 offered for $6,500 in Anna, TX via craigslist. Tip from Fueltruck.
The Puma looks like the bastard love child of a Ferrari Dino and Alpine A110, and why shouldn't it -- it was the product of an Italian born but Brazilian based racer and businessman named Genaro "Rino" Malzoni. Rino's initial Puma product line used DKW mechanical bits, but as the DKW brand was finally put to pasture by their Audi owners, Rino changed the Puma parts to Volkswagen components.
High import tariffs on foreign built cars allowed Puma (originally DKW-Malzoni) to stay in business far longer than you would expect from a custom auto manufacturer, but eventually poor economic times in Brazil led to bankruptcy for Puma in 1985.
See a cooler car that will confuse your neighbors for less? tips@dailyturismo.com
I really like the Puma. I wish it was available as a kit.
ReplyDeleteSomebody please spare this poor car from its front license plate. Or maybe spare the license plate.
ReplyDeleteIs the puma still available
ReplyDelete