Sem Potência 2: 1973 Volkswagen SP2

Up until the 1990s Brazil (the world's fifth largest country by population and geography) did not allow imported automobiles -- and as a result, major OEMs around the world set up local manufacturing centers.  In the beginning, the local plants built vehicles designed and engineered from the parent company's home country, but eventually the locals starting building unique vehicles, particularly Volkswagen of Brazil. The SP2 was built on the Type 3 chassis from 1972 through 1976, during which time VW do Brasil assembled about 10,000 of the sporty looking coupes.  The lack of sales was blamed on the poor performance of the steel bodied SP2 and the nickname Sem Potência (Portuguese for without power) became common.  This next one looks good at first glance...but the seller mentions something about "full rust beyond layers and layers of bondo" ...errrr...tread carefully. Find this 1973 Volkswagen SP2 offered for $10,000 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tip from Rock On!

Type 321 in TJ: 1980 Volkswagen Brasilia

The Volkswagen Brasilia was sold in Brazil (and Mexico) from 1974 through 1982.  The type 321 was manufactured by Volkswagen on Brazil and borrowed most of its chassis from the Karmann-Ghia and engine from the Beetle., but the styling was pure squareback cool. This is the first we've featured on DT, probably because they were never sold new here, and this one is south of the border. Find this 1980 Volkswagen Brasilia offered for $4800 in San Ysidro, CA (or Tijuana) via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Brazilian Kit Car: 1971 L'Automobile Ventura

The Ventura was a fiberglass rebody of a Volkswagen from Brazil --- similar in concept, spirit, and styling to the awesome Puma.  If Volkswagen made a rear-drive GT car that preceded the Scirocco and Corrado, and it looked half as good as this does, they would be everywhere. Instead, the Ventura got the "just another kit car" label and is largely forgotten. Information and comparable examples are hard to come by, but we know it was made from 1978 until at least 1992 using mostly VW parts, and most were shipped to America sans engine.  Find this 1971 L'Automobile Ventura offered for $7900 in Arroyo Grande, CA via craigslist.

Brazilian Body VW: 1978 L'Automobile Ventura

I'm sorry, the connect is bad, did you say "batmobile?" No, no, I said I just bought a Latomobile!  A Lactomobile...like a mobile nursing vehicle?  No, a LATOMOBILE -- a fiberglass custom thing based on Vdub mechanicals and built in Brazil, like the Puma or SP2!  Wait...are you talking about the Ventura, built by L'Automobile in São Bernardo do Campo?  Uhhmmm...maybe?  Find this 1978 L'Automobile Ventura offered for $4995 CAD ($3881 USD) in Vancouver, BC via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Feito no Brasil: 1987 Volkswagen Fox Wagon

The original title for this post was Hecho en Brasil, but then somebody (more smarter than me!) pointed out that people in Brazil don't speak Spanish, they talk Brazilian.  So, I whipped out the old google translator and found it was actually Portuguese...wow...that was a long trip to get to the cheapest wagon in America when new.  Find this 1987 Volkswagen Fox Wagon offered for $3500 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Brazilian VeeDub: 1984 Ventura Coupe

The Ventura was a fiberglass rebody of a Volkswagen from Brazil --- similar in concept, spirit, and styling to the awesome Puma.  I don't think I've ever seen another for sale, but this one is offered from an estate/garage sale.  Find this 1984 Ventura Coupe offered for an undisclosed amount of cash, located in Western Massachusetts via craigslist.  Tip from Anthony.

Wicked Pissa: 1982 Volkswagen Puma GTI

 Listen up ya chowdahead, if you need to get a new cah because your old one is busted, you'd bettah get that idear about buying sum high priced gahbidge from ebay outta your thick skull and head over to that list by the Craigs and get somethin killa.  Like this 1982 Volkswagen Puma GTI offahed for $7995 on the North Shore of the Hub. Tip from FuelTruckah.

Roll The Dice: 1982 Puma GTI (Volkswagen)

Las Vegas is an interesting place.  It is a city that was built a reputation around giving people a chance at something great.  You might be schmuck today, but with a little luck at the roulette table, you could be a rich schmuck tomorrow is what brings an average of 40 million visitors to the filthy hot desert town each year.  So perhaps then, it is fitting that this next pile of unknown consequences is located somewhere off the strip, in Sin City.  Find this 1982 Puma GTI offered for $4,500 in Las Vegas, NV via craigslist.

Auction Watch: 1971 Puma GT

Find this 1971 Puma GT here on eBay bidding for $3,650 with auction ending Wednesday at 7:49AM Pacific.

Kicking GOLs: 1988 Volkswagen Gol GL

by Matt -- It's not often that you find an ultra low mileage V-dub, and it's also quite uncommon to find a South American market Fahrvergnügen this side of the Rio Grande. Due to the multiplicative property of rarity, we're looking at a value of about a Brazilian obscurity points scored. Find this late 80's successor to the Type 321 Brasilia smuggled into Stateside with fewer clicks than the drive up would've clocked -- a 1988 Volkswagen Gol GL for $1500 via Craigslist in Lubbock, Texas.

Auction Watch: 1990 Toyota BJ55 Land Cruiser Bandeirante Pickup

Check out this 1990 Toyota BJ55 Bandeirante Land Cruiser pickup here on eBay bidding for $29,700 reserve-not-met with auction ending today (Monday) at 5:31PM PST.

Auction Watch: 1962 Willys Interlagos Alpine A108 Somethingorother

Take a look at this 1962 Willys Interlagos Alpine thing here on eBay bidding for $24,108 reserve-not-met with auction ending on Thursday.

Caçador Unicórnio: 1981 Puma GTB S2

The Brazilian Puma automobile brand was the brainchild of Brazilian racer/businessman Genaro "Rino" Malzoni and starting in 1966 launched a vehicle called the GT that used Volkswagen's Karmann-Ghia Type 14 as the chassis with a rear mounted DKW 2-stroke engine.  A few years later, Puma used GM's Brazilian built Chevy Opala chassis (which was based on German Opel Rekord/Commodore) to build something called the Puma GTB, which may share most of its name with the earlier GT/GTS/GTE cars, but is an entirely different animal.  Find this 1981 Puma GTB S2 offered here on eBay for $24,000 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Palm City, FL.

10k: Diamond Plate In The Rough: 1982 Puma GTI

The Puma GTI was a Volkswagen based "sports" car that was built in São Paulo, Brazil for local consumption. A few made the trip to the United States as kit-cars to avoid emissions regulations, but the seller of this one claims "THIS IS NOT A SHELL FOR ALL THE EMAILING BADMOUTHING KOOKS THAT SEND MESSAGES OUT OF THE BLUE".  Things won't get any better for the seller now that the bad mouthing kooks at DT know about this car, but it seems interesting for the price.  Find this 1982 Puma GTI offered for $8,000 (NOT 5000 DOLLARS, NOT 5500, NOT 6000, NOT 6500, NOT 6800 DOLLARS.. 7000 CASH MAYBE !!!!!) in Merrimac, MA via craigslist.

10k: Stored In A Pool: 1974 Volkwagen SP2 Coupe

Life in Brazil consists of pretty much nothing but playing soccer and partying in the streets, but there is an interesting automotive subculture in the former Portuguese colony.  Up until the 1990s Brazil (the world's fifth largest country by population and geography) did not allow imported automobiles, so major OEMs around the world set up local manufacturing centers.  At first the local plants built vehicles designed and engineered from the parent company's home country, but eventually the locals starting building unique vehicles, particularly Volkswagen of Brazil.  This 1974 Volkwagen SP2 Coupe is an example of a local Brazil market vehicle and is currently bidding on ebay for $4,550 reserve-not-met with 7 days to go, located in Dallas, TX.

5k: Never See Another One In A Brazilian Years: 1977 Puma GTE

The Puma GTE is a small rear-engined sports car built by a Brazilian company that was typically exported engine-less to qualify as a kit car and then a locally sourced aircooled VW or Porsche flat-4 was added to let the car run on its own juices.  The fiberglass body created what was essentially a good looking Karmann Ghia (aka VW Type 34).  Find this 1977 Puma GTE bidding on ebay for $6,901 reserve-not-met with 1 day to go, located in Norman, OK.
 

10k: 1966 VW Bus Kombi; Brazilian 16-Window

We really wish we could say that we don't see VW Buses on the road today - because they are slow, smelly, horrible piles of junk- but unfortunately the damn things run forever and today have become collectible to the point that even the worst basket case is saved from the crusher.  This is terrible news as the average vehicle speed on SF Bay Area freeways would increase by 25 mph if all VW Buses were crushed and sent to China to be recycled into Matchbox versions of VW Buses...ironic ain't it!  Even worse news is that a Brazilian (just how many is a Brazilian anyway!) immigrant Type 2 has made its way into our fair land and this 1966 (in title only) VW Bus is now for sale via www.oldbug.com for $9500 USD (R$20,000 Brazilian Reals).