Puma GTI: A Rare Brazilian Sports Car with Racing Spirit

Brazilian Ingenuity - Some of the world’s most exciting sports cars don’t come from massive factories in Europe or North America—but from small workshops driven by passion, creativity, and a little bit of rebellion. That’s exactly what happened in Brazil in the 1960s, when a farmer’s son named Rino Malzoni turned his love for cars into something unforgettable.

The Puma GTI, shown here in its original 1981 form, is one of only 610 units built by Puma Automóveis Ltda in São Paulo and stands today as one of the most collectible Brazilian sports cars ever made. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Born in Italy and raised on a coffee plantation in São Paulo, Rino wasn’t your typical car designer. He learned mechanics on the farm, experimented with parts in his uncle’s garage, and rebuilt his first car from scraps. But it was his ambition that made the difference. He didn’t just want to fix cars—he wanted to build them, fast ones. And that’s exactly what he did. 

Rino Malzoni at the Salão do Automóvel in São Paulo, in 1964, where the Malzoni GT Type IV was shown. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Rino’s big break came when Brazilian automaker Vemag asked him to create a race car that could take on Willys–Overland. What he came up with was the DKW-Malzoni: a lightweight fiberglass-bodied rocket powered by a two-stroke engine. It was fast, it was sharp-looking, and it won. A lot.

Rino Malzoni’s breakthrough came when Brazilian automaker Vemag commissioned him to build a race car to rival Willys–Overland, leading to the creation of the DKW-Malzoni—a lightweight, fiberglass-bodied machine powered by a two-stroke engine. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

The success of this homemade race car lit a spark in the Brazilian auto scene, and before long, Rino and a group of local enthusiasts formed a company to put his creations into production. They called it Sociedade de Automóveis Lumimari—an acronym blending their names. In 1966, the carmaker changed its name to Puma Veículos e Motores Ltda, known simply as "Puma" across Brazi

The Puma GTI, shown here in its 1981 model, featured a factory-finished interior by the automaker and was among the most desirable sports cars in 1980s Brazil. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Puma's early cars were stylish, lightweight, and often built on Volkswagen platforms, which were widely available in Brazil. The combination of fiberglass bodies, rear-mounted engines, and sharp design made them stand out—not only on the streets but on racetracks too. Import laws in Brazil at the time made foreign sports cars nearly impossible to get, so Puma filled the gap with something local, fun, and full of character.

The Puma GTI, shown here in its 1981 model, is powered by a 1.6-liter VW flat-four that originally produced 54 bhp and 78 lb-ft of torque, though many examples have since been modified for significantly higher output. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Among its lineup, the Puma GTI became one of the most refined models. Introduced in 1980, it evolved from the Puma Spider and used the Volkswagen Brasilia platform—sharing the same underpinnings as the Karmann Ghia, but locally adapted. The 1.6-liter VW flat-four engine was modest in power, but the GTI’s ultra-light fiberglass body made every bit of horsepower count. With just under 900 kilograms of curb weight, the car felt lively and agile, and the Brazilian aftermarket tuning scene knew how to squeeze out more performance if needed.

The Puma GTI, as seen in the 1981 model, features a rear end that closely resembles the Porsche 911—a distant relative due to their shared VW underpinnings. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Inside, the GTI was simple yet sporty. Outside, it had clean lines, a distinct low profile, and a look that made people stop and stare. Roughly 610 units of the coupe version were produced, making it a rare find today, especially in good condition. A convertible sibling, the GTS, shared much of its DNA but offered open-air thrills. | vmsTl2Rryhg |

As Puma expanded its lineup into the 1980s, including trucks and even buses, it also faced challenges—financial troubles, factory fires, and the loss of its founder in 1979. Attempts were made to modernize the GTI and revive the brand through the P-018 project, but despite bursts of innovation, the company’s golden era slowly faded. Production changed hands multiple times, and by the early 1990s, Puma vehicles had quietly slipped into history.

The Puma GTB, shown here in its 1974 S1 version, was developed since 1971 on a Chevrolet Opala chassis and became one of Brazil’s most expensive yet highly successful cars from its launch through 1987. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

That is, until passion reignited. In 2013, a group of enthusiasts revived the brand as Puma Automóveis Ltda, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new prototype inspired by its classic models. The idea was to bring back that same spirit—the excitement of driving something special, something bold, something truly Brazilian.

In 1980, two models were introduced—the Puma GTI and the convertible Puma GTC—both restyled versions of the earlier Puma Spider, as seen here in the updated Puma GTS. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

So when you see a Puma GTI today—whether in motion or tucked away like a hidden gem—it’s not just a car. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always come from big brands or big budgets. Sometimes, it starts with a dream, a garage, and a whole lot of determination.

In 1971, Puma began producing truck cabs for Chevrolet as a sideline and later, in 1978, launched its own truck model called the 4T, as seen in the picture. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

And yet, the story of Puma doesn’t stop in Brazil. Surprisingly, there was another Puma—this one across the Atlantic in Italy. Founded by Adriano Gatto in the late 1960s, Stabilimento Puma Roma built its own line of niche sports cars, entirely separate in design and purpose.

The Balasini Tiger, a model based on the Puma GTV-033, which was first introduced by Stabilimento Puma Roma in 1983. (Picture from: Motori360.it)

While the two companies had no official ties, it’s a fascinating coincidence that two small, independent carmakers on different continents shared the same name and ambition: to create something thrilling and unique for the road. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME | WIKIPEDIA | AUTOEVOLUTION | RETROMANIA4EVER IN X ]

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