VW Puma's

[scott s]

 I've been seeing more and more of the Puma's for sale on the Samba. They're not a bad looking car and you can get a convertible for relatively cheap money. What's the story on these?
 They're fiberglass, right? Did VW make them or are they "coachbuilt"? Are they good, bad or indifferent when it comes to quality, etc.
 I've seen really nice ones for as little as $3500. I can just imagine sticking a big stroker motor in one.

[JMPVW73]

It was a coachbuilt VW sports car built during a time that Brazil didnt allow any cars to be imported.

I dont think they were ever sold as a kit except for the grey market ones sold in the US.  They were sold as production cars so they were well finnished.Closer to a Corvette than a Bradly GT, but I dont think they were sold as a VW

All of the engines for them were equiped with Kadrons but I dont know if bore, stroke or CR was different from stock.  Later front engine versions were sold with Chevy 350's.

[notched]

A good friend of mine had one in high school. They're well made, and have full interiors.

If I'm not mistaken, they're being made again. I don't know the details though...

[MaxWelton]

Some Puma info at

http://www.houseofpuma.8k.com/

Max

[deano]

We have a 1975 Puma convertible at work. Never been driven, so it is basically, NOS. These cars were imported in the mid-'70s by Bob Tomlinson and Dick Adams, which is where (Jim Wright) obtained this one. At the time, they were completed, running cars in Brazil, then partically disassembled, minus the engine, trans and front end, and imported as kits, I believe. So, back then, you got the car with four Puma alloy wheels packaged inside the car, no tires, and no running gear. But, they were wired, plumbed and ready to bolt together. Very nicely done cars, I perfer the early ones with the chrome bumpers, over the later black plastic bumpers models. Saw several really nice ones at the VW Classic; one 'vert and coupe.