The Brazilian Puma GTB: Fiberglass Body & Chevrolet Inline-6

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 07/21/2015 at 16:01 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog

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The Puma automobile brand was the brainchild of Brazilian racer/businessman Genaro “Rino” Malzoni, launched in 1966 with a vehicle called the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! 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 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for $24,000 buy-it-now or make-offer, located in Palm City, FL.

This Puma GTB (VIN: P150651) is offered as the only GTB currently in the USA and one of 888 ever built, so if you are looking for Brazilian unicorns, it doesn’t get any better than this. Condition of this zzzippy classic can be best described as driver/survivor condition, but the fiberglass body shell doesn’t look too beat up and the mechanical bits are described as functioning.

Power comes from a Chevrolet 4.1 liter (250 cubic inch) inline-6 that pushes 168 horsepower (SAE gross) into a 4-speed manual gearbox. It seems odd to put a giant tractor motor into a fiberglass sports car — but it worked for Chevrolet in the 1950s.

The seller claims the Puma GTB (Gran Turismo Brazil) was advertised as a luxurious car when new, complete with leather seats, power windows, and air conditioning. This one is going to need some reconditioning in the inside to get it back to its former glory.

See another oddball classic from a far away land? !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Originally posted as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

My citroen won't start > DailyTurismo 07/21/2015 at 16:07

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At the time this was launched, imports were forbidden in Brazil, so it was pretty much one of the few sport cars available. The Miura was another one.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > DailyTurismo 07/21/2015 at 16:11

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I have always liked the rear-engined Puma GT/GTE...

But the GTB is a handsome car, also. A bit of a Lancia face, with a Jaguar XJS-ish body.

Imagine that little beastie with a Toyota/Lexus 2JZ-GE atmospheric engine, and a 5 or 6-speed manual gearbox, in a restored/slight resto-mod body and interior...

Not a screamer, but a very sweet song.

It is interesting that it is in the US... as so few Pumas made it to north america.

MultiplaOrgasms > DailyTurismo 07/21/2015 at 16:21

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A bit steep for a car in this condition, and with the wrong GM straight six engine.

DailyTurismo > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 07/21/2015 at 16:23

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I like the idea of an upgraded inline-6— perhaps something from the BMW catalog of sweet sounding engines?

DailyTurismo > My citroen won't start 07/21/2015 at 16:23

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Me gusta!

DailyTurismo > MultiplaOrgasms 07/21/2015 at 16:29

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Yess....I like what you are thinking. Maybe something from the oil burning catalog too...

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > DailyTurismo 07/21/2015 at 16:42

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BMW is good... but they can be complex, and a tad bit heavy, and also tend to lean to one side. BMW parts cost BMW money.

In Australia, Nissan’s RB and Ford’s DOHC inline-6 engines are sweet, but a bit harder to support on an every-day basis than some in the US, having to import parts.

Toyotas are stone reliable, and well built. The 2JZ-GE is the engine in the Lexus SC300 and IS300, as well as the non-turbo version of the ‘90’s era Toyota Supra... and directly related to the 2JZ-GTE twin-turbocharged version in the top-end Supra.

The engine, and more importantly, the maintenance and repair parts are available in the US.

It is a nice DOHC 24 valve 3 liter engine, with a mixed blessing iron block. On one hand, it is a bit heavier than an all-aluminum engine, but on the other hand, it is VERY robust and strong. For a modest engine, it will never wear out. For a powerful engine, it won’t break down.

RalphieDC > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 07/25/2015 at 10:40

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I see a bit of Jensen in the front too:

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DailyTurismo 07/25/2015 at 12:16

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I’ve always liked that engine, always wanted to mod one. But you’d have to take a zero off the price before I’d consider buying that one, regardless of its rarity.

Cadha13 > DailyTurismo 07/25/2015 at 14:44

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I’d be crazy if I didn’t put the 4V 250 SOHC engine from a Pontiac Tempest in it. 7000 RPM redline would sound so good.

jonahg > My citroen won't start 07/26/2015 at 15:21

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Me gusta too. Looks like a 924 had a kid with an Esprit