The automotive brand Puma is one of the few companies that seemingly produced a high-quality product despite the deck being stacked against them. These days, you read about plenty of organizations stood up with re-branded products, questionable manufacturing standards, and lack of ingenuity to the point that you almost don’t want to trust that a new, small, independent company will ever really “make it.” That wasn’t the case with Puma, which began life as a small Brazilian company known as Lumimari. 1992 marked the end of a fascinating run of vehicles, and this 1992 Puma AN4 convertible listed here on eBay is likely one of the last vehicles built.
Puma became an almost instant hit when it first introduced its iconic GT model. Fabulous Italian-inspired styling, a willing chassis and engine, and decent build quality all combined to make the brand a beloved institution in Brazil. However, setbacks were numerous, with the company seemingly rising like the Phoenix every time to survive and move forward. The biggest blow was when its chassis supplier, German company DKW, announced plans to exit the market in Brazil, leaving Puma without a critical supplier. That’s when the pivot to VW running gear occurred, and the Karmann-Ghia became the new chassis and engine donor mated to a brand-new fiberglass Puma body.
Now, it’s important to understand that the Puma GT was never seen as a kit car. There was an engine and chassis donor, yes – but Puma was a standalone company creating compelling models and designs to attach to existing running gear. They weren’t shipping bodies and engines in crates for a DIY builder to assemble. By the time this model rolled out, the GT undergone a steady evolution, with creature comforts introduced to make it palpable for modern transportation. I particularly like the BBS-style wheels, but don’t let them distract you from the biggest update of all which is a water-cooled VW engine. The 1.8L mill produced 89 b.h.p. and features electronic fuel injection.
The Recaro-style seats look fantastic, as does the rest of the cabin. A quick search reveals this Puma AN4 last appeared at auction in 2021, and it looks virtually identical to the car’s current condition. I would imagine a vehicle like this suits a VW collection that has one of everything, but at the same time, the performance still falls short of other models from the same period. When they were in their prime, Puma offered owners a variety of performance upgrades that complimented the company’s impressive racing pedigree in its formative years. Should this Puma be modified with a modern VR6 engine or left bone-stock as a tribute to one of Brazil’s only successful car builders?
Not a bad looking car, and people say it’s not a kit.
But it really is a (high-quality) VW-based kit.
Not trying to disparage it or anything.
I’d love to have one with some decent power under the hood.