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VW Aircooled in Brazil
The Production of aircooled VWs in Brasil is rather interesting because it is very different from the german production and is mostly unknown. I will try to give here an overview and will update as soon as I find new information. |
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VW Beetle - Fusca
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| In the beginning only cars of german production were sold. Only in 1959 produciton in Brasil started. First, the cars were similar to german cars, but some of the changes were made much later or not at all. The most wellknown difference is the size of the side-windows that was changed in Germany in 1964 and stayed in production in Brazil until the end. |
Thats how a Beetle looked like until the early seventies. Long decklids and oval headlights were produced in Brasil much longer. Bumpers with overriders were standard in Brazil. |
| The first facelift effectet 1970 the bumpers and the decklids. Never built in Brazil: Convertible and Automatic stickshift. 5-lug-wheels were also built until 1970. Like in Germany Enginse of 1200 ccm up to 1600 ccm were available. |
Yes, its original: Big bumpers and oval headlights (here with rossi-sealed beam) |
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Fusca Bizorrão - a special sporty version
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| 1973 the smaller modern headlights were introduced. 1974 came the ventilation behid the rear-sidewindow. Other changes happened like in Germany. First the triangular taillights, later the big round taillights. In 1979, the gas-door was introduced. Later chrome-mirrors were replaced by plastic-mirrors. The Superbeetles 1302 and 1303 did not exist in Brazil. In the 90s, the bumpers were painted in the color of the car. In the years 1987 until 1993 the Beetle was not produced in Brazil. The restart of production "Fusca Itamar" had a catalytic converter and fuel injection. The final end of production happened at the 28.6.1996. |
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These wheels are typical for Brazil
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VW 1600 - Fusca Quatro Portas
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| In 1968 a now car was introduced: The 4-door-beetle. This car was mounted on a beetle-platform (wider version of Karmann Ghia) and it was sold almost 25.000 times until the End of Production in 1971. These cars had a 1600 ccm-Engine with 2 carburators and the flat fanshroud like on the german Type 3. Even this car has swing-axis in the rear. |
This car reminds on the german Type 3 but has tecnically not much in common |
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VW 1600 Variant 1
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| In 1969 the 4-door-limousine was developed further with the result of a Variant-Version. It also rests on a Beelte-chassis with swing-axles in the rear but disc-break in the front. The Variant was built over 250.000 times. |
The first facelift gave the car 4 headlights and a vertical VW-Logo. |
The second Facelift happened 1971. This type of headlights was later introduced to the german VW 411 and made it to the VW 412 |
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Visit my brazilian VW-Parts-Shop:
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VW 1600 TL
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| The third model of the VW-1600-family was the TL, just like the german fastback. It was built more then 100.000 times. This car was also available with 4 doors. |
The brazilian TL in its first version. |
The TL after its Facelift. Here a special edition with a 1.7 liter engine. |
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VW Variant II
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| When in 1977 the production of the Variant 1 ended, the Variant 2 was introduced. Although it reminds strongly on the VW Brasilia, it differs in length and McPherson front suspension. This model was sold only about 40.000 times. |
The Variant II was the last rear-engine-construction of Volkswagen in Brazil |
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VW Brasilia
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| From 1973 to 1982 the Brasilia was built about 1 million times. This car basically has a Beetle-chassis and a 1600 ccm-engine with vertical fanshroud. Even today, the Brasilia is a daily driver. |
Only a few Brasilias have found their way to collectors hands so far. |
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VW SP2
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| This car was was constructed as replacement for the Karmann Ghia as sporty coupe. It even got a 1.7 engine with 2 carburators. It was built only a little more then 10.000 times. Some say that this car is the most beautyful VW ever built. |
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VW Bus T1 - Kombi
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| In the beginning - just like the Beetle - only german cars were sold in Brazil. But in 1957, the Bus was the first car ever built in Brazil. The first models were just like the germans. The biggest changes in the model later were the introduction of 15 Windows as standard and Overrider-bumpers. in Brazil was a Transporter, Singlecab and 15-window-bus as Luxo and Standard available. The Crewcab and Samba was not sold in Brasil. Until the end of Production in 1975, the brazilian T1-Bus was pretty much the same as the german model from 1963 |
A Bus from early production. The pressed bumpers were built until 1966 |
A Standard model without molding and a stamped Logo (here without overriders) |
Luxo-model with molding and chromed VW-Logo |
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VW Bus T2 - Kombi
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| From 1975 to 1997, the T2 was sold with a T2 front and T1-rear. It was even sold with a diesel-engine (and plastic radiator in the front). This model was sold as 14-window version, Singlecab, Crewcab and Transporter. The normal engine was a 1600. |
T2 front with T1 rear. |
| Even today in production is the T2c (today only with watercooled engine and front radiator). The bumpers still have the round form. The roof is like the mexican roof. A more modern chromed Logo was added. Engines are available that are fueled with alcohol. The only color available is white. The bus is available as transporter (with white windows) and as 9seater. Also available is a Schoolbus-version with 15 seats. |
Officials still use the Bus: Police, Post... |
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Karmann Ghia Type 14
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| Even in Brasil, the Karmann Ghia was built from 1962 until 1975. Almost 23.000 units (of which 200 were convertibles) were sold. The engines ranged from 1200, 1500 to 1600). The big modern bumpers were never introduced in Brasil |
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Brazilian Karman with Logo of Sao Paulo in the front.
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Karmann Ghia TC (Touring Coupe)
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| In addition to the Karmann Ghia Type 14, was also the model TC built. The mechanic was used from the VW 1600 Variant. 18.119 Units weree built |
This Karmann TC found its way to germany |
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Gurgel
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| The company "Gurgel" was specialized in building various special cars on VW-basis. One of them: an open Buggy: |
A mixture of Buggy and Thing |
Another model of Gurgel |
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Puma
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| In the beginning, the Puma was built on DKW-basis and changed in 1967 to VW 1500-basis. In 1975 the mechanic was used from the Brasilia. More then 22.000 Units were sold. |
A Puma convertible |
...and as Sports-coupe |
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MP Lafer
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| A replica of the MG TD was sold as MP Lafer |
Fun-Car MP Lafer |
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VW Gol
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| From 1981 until 1984, the Gol had an aircooled engine in the front. It was a 1600 engine with double-carburation. This car was built until 1996 but with a watercooled engine. |
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