In the 1960s, people’s tastes were changing. People no longer wanted economical and slow cars, they wanted fast and beautiful sports cars. Cars like the Ferrari 250, Lamborghini Miura and DeTomaso Panthera were finding their way into the homes of the rich and famous. However, the common man also wanted speed and power and many companies were ready to comply.
Puma was a new and unproven company in Brazil. Brazil was very strict on its reliance on other countries, so imports of many products, such as cars, were banned. This meant that performance car companies such as Puma had a fighting chance as the public didn’t have too many options when buying a sports car. The company initially used a different chassis, but eventually settled on the chassis and engine from one of the best sports cars on the market, the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. Puma eventually settled on a concept it would use for the rest of the car’s production lifetime: A fibreglass body on top of a VW chassis. This resulted in the car being called the ‘VW’ Puma GT, a name which has stuck to this day.
The car’s design was based on one of the most famous cars of that era, the Lamborghini Miura. The design of the car’s exterior was one of its best-selling points, along with its relatively affordable price. Despite this, production wasn’t great, with only around 100 cars produced each year. However, as Puma was a small manufacturer, they were very happy to carry on like this. The Puma brand eventually developed a following as a niche brand in Brazil.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. By 1985, Puma was running out of Karmann Ghia chassis to use. Also, by this time, cars such as the Ford Mustang and many Lotuses were being imported into Brazil, giving the public a lot more choice. As such, Puma stopped production in Brazil in 1985.
In the end, Puma remains an extremely niche brand. Not much is known about it, apart from the fact that the brand can find its origins in Brazil circuit racing. However, its relationship with Volkswagen is more well-known than the brand itself. The story of the Puma GT lives on, as the car continues to be produced in Johannesburg, South Africa. However, the production is much smaller, around 5 to 10 cars a year. It’s good to know that despite all the challenges faced by the company, it is still going to this day.
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