DEVELOPMENT

The prestigious magazine Quatro Rodas, published since the early 1960s, whose first issue was in August 1960, ordered a car from Puma called the GT 4R, based on the Puma 1600 GT, to be raffled on the magazine's anniversary, only three cars were produced, all of which were raffled in 1969 after the project was completed, the three lucky winners won this beautiful sports car after sending in their coupons.

It was another creation by Rino Malzoni with the participation of designer Anísio Campos, both creators of the Puma. Rino Malzoni was also the creator of the DKW Malzoni, Malzoni-Onça, Puma GT and the Puma GTB.

The development of the three cars took place in the city of Araraquara, in the state of São Paulo.

The magazine showed the evolution of the model in the issues after the announcement of the raffle. However, the final shape of the bodywork and the specifications of the engine that would equip the sports car were not revealed. Seen from behind, it was possible to see that the tail lights were from the Volkswagen Variant (station wagon version of the Volkswagen Type 3 Variant) and the Volkswagen 1600 four-door (Brazilian version of the Volkswagen Type 3 sedan) from 1970 and one of the models came out with circular tail lights.

During the testing phase, a car with a sheet metal bodywork was driven over 15000 kilometers in various regions of Brazil, and underwent rigorous tests.

THE CAR

Its body had very beautiful lines, with some inspiration from the Puma GT, but a lot of originality. It was made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic and supported by the Karmann-Ghia platform. It weighed around 800 kilos. Its dimensions were similar to those of the Puma, measuring 4.0 meters in length, with a longer wheelbase of 2.25 meters, a height of 1.20 meters and a width of 1.66 meters.

Like most sports cars, it was low, with a long hood and a short rear end. There were air intakes just below the rear windows, as well as on the rear lid, for cooling the engine. Seen from the front, it had a flat hood, rectangular headlights, fairings and near the windshield, NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) type air intakes, which have no external protrusions, result in low aerodynamic drag and do not require specific structural reinforcements, thus not impacting weight. Both are located before the windshield, just after the hood.

Its interior was very luxurious and its dashboard was complete. It had a speedometer graduated to 200 km/h (124 mph), a tachometer up to 6000 rpm and a fuel gauge behind the steering wheel on the central panel with wood-effect appliqués. There was also an oil temperature and pressure gauge above the console. Everything was made of high-quality leather, the three-spoke sports steering wheel was by the brand Fittipaldi. Since the 1960s, the prestigious magazine had been warning the national industry to install three-point seat belts in our cars, and in the GT 4R they were present, next to the gear lever was the ignition key.

Its engine was the same 1600 as the Puma. A boxer with four opposed cylinders, 1584 cm³, 75 horsepower at 4700 rpm, fed by two single-body carburetors and could receive a more spicy P2 valve train. It had a four-speed gearbox and was rear-wheel drive. It had disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear with hydraulic actuation. It went from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 13 seconds and its top speed was 150 km/h or 93.2 mph.

Its suspension was the same as the Puma's, independent at the front, with torsion bars, stabilizer bars and telescopic shock absorbers. At the rear, it was also independent, with oscillating half-axles, torsion bar, compensator bar and telescopic shock absorbers. The car received exclusive quick-hub, light alloy wheels with 13-inch rims.

THE CARS’ DESTINIES

From July of that year, the editions began to include coupons for the national draw that would take place in the following months.

The first legitimate car, bronze in color, went to Rondonópolis, MT, the second, blue, went to a bank employee from Santos-SP and the green model, the third and last legitimate one, went to Rio de Janeiro.

The first one is currently part of a collection in the interior of São Paulo and is kept in a library, the third one was restored a few years ago by AMV Restaurações, from Petrópolis-RJ, and belongs to Kiko Malzoni, Rino's son and the second car is the one that has just had its restoration completed and has belonged to collector Carmelo Fernandez since 2004.

But why are these three "legitimate" examples? Because two more "bastard" GT 4Rs were produced, which were not commissioned by the magazine and did not participate in any competition.

Using the metal prototype, which served as a mold for the fiberglass, Rino Malzoni manufactured a GT 4R for his own use, which was red in colour and was later sold to a certain lady who, according to legend, lived in the Puma factory and wanted to buy it, the car appears in the sequence below from the Brazilian film "Lua de Mel & Amendoim", from 1971.

There was also a golden one whose fate is unclear. According to research by experts from the brand, it was bought by a farmer, who gave it as a gift to his affair. Therefore, its production was carried out in the utmost secrecy.

TRIVIA

·1: It was the first national car created to order in a limited series.

SOURCES

·1: https://site.retroauto.com.br/Puma-GT-4R.php