I think it is a Puma small VW powered sports car from Brazil . I know I have seen one in Los Angeles at Euro Sundays etc.
This showed up at our Cars and Coffee, usually I have some basis to find out what kind of car it is (logos, something I remember reading about/looking at, etc.). This one, I have no idea, I think is a resto-mod, it had Brembo brakes hiding behind its chrome wire-wheels. It has a front engine V12 though. I took a look at the interior and there is a chrome emblem by the passenger glovebox area, which I forget what it said, but off the top of my head was something Coachworks or Workshop (don't quote me on that one), and the interior looked 'fresh' and clean. The shifter made me think it was some kind of replica or resto-mod. Help me out, no one from the AZ section has posted anything about the car, so I can't find out from reading a thread there. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks like a tribute/bitsa. Not exactly the same, but very similar to these: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=136550703&postcount=511
My Classic Car, Se.13 Ep.11. Rocky Mountain Concorse d'Elegance. http://www.myclassiccar.com/episode/13/11/ From what I remember, the car is a one off. Too bad the people that put it together have no website, no list of cars entered, or clubs involved. If someone has the episode available, and can re-visit where they discuss that car, you will have most of the info you want.
Not really. The Puma has more in common with the Typ1 (Bug) and Brasilia. It used a Karmann Ghia pan, engine, and suspension. Much like the Myers Manx, and Bradley GT, although those used Typ1 pans. The Ghia and Bug are fully interchangeable with the exception of the pan (Ghia is thinner) and body (Ghia body is one piece, save for doors, decklid, and bootlid) Found this....
They are not that confusing. (at least, not to a VW nut like myself) The public loved them, until the US government passed the safety guidelines. The last air-cooled VW car offered in the US was a convertible Super Beetle (Typ1303), which had McPherson strut front suspension, and a redesigned front end. The biggest issue with them was the anemic 1600cc engine. Anemic because of the early Bosch EFI that provided less power then the Solex carburetor, and the A/C system that robbed +16% of the engines output. Which is why you will hear VW guys refer to 'fuel infection', when discussing some of the EFI equipped models. VW was actually the first to offer EFI at a mass produced level. Not saying it was a great system, but it was the first. The Beetle was produced in its original form (torsion beam suspension, original nose) until 2004. It featured (proper) EFI, A/C, disc brakes, and a AM/FM/CD stereo. Just remember that if it is a Bug it is a Typ1, Busses are Typ2's, and the SquareBack, NotchBack, FastBack are Typ3's. Karmann Ghias are their own, but they use the same pan as a Typ181 (Thing). The funny bit is, the Thing was designed during the War, and was built for the military, years before the Ghia was designed. Sorry to digress, but old VW's are something of a passion for me.
A good friend at University had a Super Beetle so I know that car. The confusion I find is in the 411/412, K70 era. Beetles, Super Beetles, SquareBack, Fastback Notchback and Kommon Gears I know well.
The biggest thing about the 411, and 412 cars was the engine. The Typ4 engine was designed to solve the issues faced by the Typ1 engines. Which they did, and quite well. Unfortunately they have their own set of special issues, and due to the lower production numbers, Typ4 engine bits are not cheap. I can get a set of heads for a Typ1 engine (used) for around $300. The Typ4 heads run $700-$800 APIECE. The Typ4 is more commonly seen in the '75 and later busses, and Vanogens. They ranged from 1.8L to 2.0L. The 2L version was used in the Porsche/VW 914. Granted, thats still not alot, not by y'alls standards anyway, but I'm a broke country boy. (I can afford to build VW's, if I could afford to build Ferraris and Porsches, I would be. Not a skill thing, but a financial thing.) Back on topic... Who knows what this is.. Image Unavailable, Please Login