{{ galleryProps.activeIndex + 1 }}/1
Description
At the end of 1971 the "Little Sassy One", as PUMA Veículos e Motores was known, once again shook up the Brazilian car market. It began testing a new prototype designed by Rino Malzoni, initially called the P8. This "new" prototype was known at the time as the PUMA GTO or PUMA Opala. During the testing phase the new car covered more than 50,000 km and with a CHEVROLET 6-cylinder in-line 3800 cc T3 engine, it was...
At the end of 1971 the "Little Sassy One", as PUMA Veículos e Motores was known, shook up the Brazilian car market once again. It began testing a new prototype designed by Rino Malzoni, initially called the P8, this "new" prototype was known at the time as the PUMA GTO or PUMA Opala, During the testing phase, the new car covered more than 50,000 km and with a CHEVROLET 6-cylinder in-line 3800 cc T3 engine, it was eagerly awaited by speed lovers. There is no news of this first prototype, which was probably completely rebuilt, with the same Chevrolet engine, but with 4.100 cc engine, and was presented at the 1973 Motor Show under the name PUMA GTO (GTO: Gran Turismo Omologato - an acronym often used by Pontiac and Ferrari). The new model attracted a lot of attention from the public, who approved of the lines of the new sports car, typically inspired by American sports cars. At the Motor Show, PUMA Veículos e Motores received around 300 orders for the new model, which only went into regular production in 1974, dubbed the PUMA GTB (Gran Turismo Brasil), with initial production of 10 units per month.
Curiously, in May 1974, a prototype of the GTB pick-up was already on the road, but it was never built in series and its whereabouts are unknown.
The PUMA GTB was a beautiful and imposing sports car, which had a waiting list for purchase. As the military government increasingly strangled the entry of imported sports cars, an even greater number of orders were placed and thus an interesting phenomenon occurred: The PUMAS GTBs already produced were sold on the used car market at much higher prices than those practiced by the factory, as these units did not have a waiting list of more than 1 year, which proves that PUMA Veículos e Motores' problem was not selling its cars but producing them.
The body of the PUMA GTB was also made of plastic and fiberglass, with a very long front end and a short rear end; metallic colors such as silver and gold were preferred. Green windows and sports seats and steering wheel were standard items.
Like its smaller sibling, the PUMA GTB was ideal for two people (the rear seat could only be used for short journeys). The instrument panel was very complete and included a rev counter, voltmeter and oil thermometer. It came equipped with exclusive PUMA wheels and tires new to the national market, the Pirelli E70.
The PUMA GTB's performance wasn't much better than that of the Opala, Dodge Dart and Charger of the time. And these were cheaper than it. In fact, the PUMA GTB only cost less than the Ford Landau, the most expensive and luxurious national car of the time. A year after its launch, a serious competitor for the PUMA GTB arrived: the Maverick GT. The PUMA GTB's top speed was 170 km/h and it went from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds. The only changes until 1978 would be to the grille, the rear optics, the location of the rear license plate, the emblems and the engine, which would change to the 250-S, with mechanical tappets instead of hydraulic ones and 171 hp, enough for 190 km/h.
Download Link
Resources
-
ABS
Simulator:
Assetto Corsa
Brand:
Puma
Model:
GTB
Power:
211 hp
Torque:
317 nm
Weight:
1,180 kg
Weight/Power:
5.59 kg/hp
0 - 100:
5,70 s
Colors:
16
Traction:
Rear - RWD
Author:
Henrique Drifter
Version:
2.0
Any problems? Send a message below
Recommended posts
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
Português do Brasil
English
Türkçe
Español de Argentina
Русский