The auction ends tonight for this rare Volkswagen Brasilia, which is a model never sold in the United States but has begun to show up from various importers. This is one of the more intriguing air-cooled models you can get your hands on these days if you’re bored with Beetles and Buses and features a tidy hatchback-style body with a rear-mounted engine. The Brasilia is listed here on eBay with a few bids to $6,000 but the reserve is unmet at the moment. I can’t say I know a lot of VW fans hungry to own one of these, but it will likely be the only one at the air-cooled swap meet.
The Squareback is the closest model we had here in the states in terms of appearance, and in four-door form, the Brasilia looks near close to being identical. The two-door body really is distinctive, and the low-slung rear quarter panels really do sit on top of the back wheels. The rear hatch is almost elegant in design, and you lift that up with the glass as one piece so you can access the engine below. The steel wheels are classic VW/Porsche design, and I can almost imagine these same wheels on a 550 Spyder. The paint job is known as Marfil, which is a Spanish translation for Ivory.
The bucket seats are the kind that will give you severe whiplash should you have the unfortunate fate of being hit from behind given the lack of headrests. Of course, you don’t want to think about a collision in this thing, as crash protection is nearly non-existent. The Brasilia is the kind of car that an air-cooled enthusiast would pick up to add to their collection but I don’t know that your average car collector would spend the money to own an oddball. And even among the air-cooled faithful, they may find that their money is better spent on a Bus that seemingly keeps going up in value versus a Brasilia like this which will likely be worth exactly what it sells for – if not less when it comes time to re-home it.
The air-cooled 1,600 CC dual-carbureted engine looks tidy in its nesting place and will provide leisurely acceleration. The Brasilia rides atop a Karmann Ghia chassis, and the seller reports that it features “…dual circuit brakes, front disc brakes, and a collapsible steering wheel modified for collision safety.” The seller has also secured a valid Florida title for the Brasilia, and it retains matching VINs in both factory locations. I run a car show called the VW Beach Bash in Florida where a ride like this would prove very popular and draw a crowd; however, outside of a dedicated circle like that, the Brasilia may be a few auctions away from finding a new forever home.
Saw a Brasilia on BaT some time back — I think it was this one: how many yellow/tan examples can there be in Florida? — where, IIRC, it “sold” for (or was bid up to) a much larger sum than is currently bid here.
Too bad. It’s kind of an attractive little piece, and I might almost ante up at $6K.
Looks almost like the old 411/412,which were not great cars.
Rare doesn’t always mean desireable.
Similar styling but not really related.
I like the spunky attitude it has in the design. I would happily have in my care if I weren’t 2000 miles away.
Have never seen this model of a VW.Very nice
Cool little car – the nose looks like it uses 412 headlight bezels and it definitely has the late 60s – early 70s VW design cues.
Yea, they standardized the front end lighting hardware here in Brazil to cut costs. It shares its headlights with the SP2 and the 2nd gen Brazilian “Variant” wagon and fastback (type 3)
Another oddity from VW do Brasil. They built there many
oddities we never have seen here like the Gol or Parati.
A mix of different designs and drivetrain throughout the
VW empire. Not my kind of car.
Technically we did see the Gol and Parati here, rebadged as the ’87-94 VW Fox sedan and wagon, respectively.
I remember seeing a few of these in the Philippines of all places. They were basically a VW Bug with a new body, and that’s not necessarily bad. If I wasn’t all the way cross country, I’d be interested.
Sold for $6,700.
I always thought this were neat little cars. If I had one, I’d do it in a “Cal-Look” style and hop up the engine.
I like it! If I had a chance to get one ,I would be very tempted to buy it,
I had one of these when I worked in Brazil in the late 70’s early 80’s. It took a beating on muddy dirt roads to the beach house and never let me down. I loved the car!
hot hatch (not), a Rabbit? Golf? sorta~
It ended at $6,700 reserve not met, and now relisted.
These were popular in Mexico when I lived there late 70s. It is a Beetle chassis with a very practical, upmarket and attractive redesign. I’m not remotely into the VW scene, but this I like. It must tick boxes:parts no problem, air-cooled driving experience and tunability, unusual model. Makes more sense at this money than a bad Beetle.
I wonder if that’s the same flat 1600 that was in the 66-7? square/ fastback.
This on is not a “flat” 1600 as seen by its upright fan housing, but probably the same except for obvious differences. Its neat, I’d love to own it.
No, its a standard beetle config engine with the fan on top, not a pancake config. (I had a type 3 with the pancake engine for years here in Brazil)
Hey guys…. best old era VW ever.! Same air cooled mechanical simplicity of the regular bug but with a lot more room, handled very well, had killer lights up front that made the rude drivers on the opposite side take their brights right down… from factory.! VW Mexico made these or assembled them over there but my mom bought one same color and we drove it all over Mexico for 3 years and exported it to Chile when we moved there in 73. Truly great car…. saw a few lowered, w killer stance, upgraded engines, looked really cool wayyyy back then..! Good luck with this one… enjoy it..
On an import, nice to see vent windows in the doors that actually open up, for a change, unlike on the very distant cousin ’77 Rabbit &
even ’77 Ferrari 308 – ridiculous.
6K !?!?! I’ve lived in Brazil for 30 years and I think I need to start exporting these. These are the junkest of the junk here. Crappiest of the crap. They are now used only by very poor tradies who stick a big rack on the roof for their ladders, fill the back with tools and then drive them into the ground. Most here run on 3 cylinders only. They can be had here for the equivalent of US$300-500.