UniqueONES We are still talking about unique classic cars and this time we would be discussed a unique car that had caught our curiousity when we saw it for the first time on the Pinterest while surfing in cyberspace. After searching for the info for awhile, turned out it was a sports car named FNM 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT built by Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda. for FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Motores), a Brazilian automotive company back in the 1970s.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
As quoted of the Autocult website, the car is the result of a mix of know-how between a Brazilian design and Italian engineering. How could it be happened? Well, it all began when Alfa Romeo, an Italian automotive giant bought the FNM in 1968, which was previously known as a Brazilian' state-run truck manufacturer with the whole production took place at the plant based in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Greatvintagemotorsfromtheworld)
Then the person who played the most important role in the car' birth is an Italian-born automotive designer who lives in Sao Paolo, Brazil named Ottorino 'Toni' Bianco who had been known since the 1955 to built the race cars through the Fúria Auto Esporte Ltda., his automotive company.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Frp70)
In shorts, the Bianco's auto company built several Fúria race cars to compete in various racing scenes in Brazil in the 1970s. Of the 5 race cars ever built and fitted by differing engines; sometimes Chevy, or BMW, Ferrari, and one time a V12 Lamborghini Miura engine.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: Classicandrecreationsportscars)
It also fitted a 2150cc Alfa Romeo engine producing 138 hp and put on a tubular chassis, triangular suspension arms, and Hewland Girling 4 wheel disc brakes. During 1970 to 1971, those Fúria's race cars attracted a lot of attention in the Brazilian' racing scenes. At the peak, it managed to grab respectable results at national championships, when the only Alfa powered version raced in the Brazilian 6-Hours endurance race against the Ferrari 512s and Porsche 910s and managed to finish at the 5th place in 1971.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
These sport victories called attention of the Comionauto, the Sao Paulo-based FNM' dealer and made an approach to Toni Bianco about creating a sports car for FNM. Then Bianco accepted the offer and was later designed the Fúria GT, a beautiful sportscar based on a slightly shortened of the FNM 2150 mechanical platform and is featured with two dual carburetors with the engine compression ratio increased to 9.5: 1, so the engine able to spew a power output of 130 horsepower.
1971 'Alfa Romeo' Fúria GT, a sportscar prototype built by Toni Bianco for FNM. (Picture from: LexiaCarBrasil)
Great attention was paid to finishes and comfort as well as complete instrumentation, dashboard mounted center console, individual front seats, shell type, adjustable and headrests, leather upholstery, green glass and floor rugs plus a pair of gullwing doors. The body which in the prototype was modeled by hand in steel sheet, which in the production version will be made of reinforced plastic fiberglass. The plan is that the Fúria GT will be produced as many as 12 units per month.
The 130-hp-powered car was never reach into production lines and the public got to see it at the VIII Salão do Automóvel in the 1972. Until today, no one know the reason behind the pinning of the Alfa Romeo emblem on the grilles of the sportscar prototype. Despite in the end the Fúria GT joint venture ceased, but Toni Bianco still continue to prepare the sportscar and launched his first car to bear his name Bianco S in the 1974.*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LEXIACARBRASIL | AUTOCULT-MODELS | ALFABB | BANDEIRAQUADRICULADA | FRP70 | CLASSICANDRECREATIONSPORTSCAR ]
