The Willys Interlagos: Brazil’s Rare Sports Car Born from Alpine Racing Heritage

Transcontinental Legacy - In the early 1960s, the global car industry was quietly experimenting beyond its traditional borders, and some of the most fascinating results came from unlikely places. While Europe was refining the formula for lightweight sports cars, Brazil was beginning to define its own automotive voice. From this intersection of ambition and opportunity emerged the Willys Interlagos, a machine that blended French racing DNA with South American ingenuity and signaled a bold step forward for a young industrial landscape. 

The Willys Interlagos A108 Berlineta, a machine that blended French racing DNA with South American ingenuity and signaled a bold step forward for a young industrial landscape.. (Picture from: BringATrailer)

The Willys Interlagos was closely related to the Alpine A108, a model celebrated for its success in European road racing throughout the 1960s. Designed by Giovanni Michelotti, the car shared the same graceful proportions, compact dimensions, and aerodynamic curves that emphasized balance over excess. Its fiberglass body kept weight low, giving the Interlagos a purposeful stance that felt both elegant and sporty, even by modern standards. The design managed to look refined without losing the raw character expected from a competition-inspired car of its era. 

The Willys Interlagos A108 Berlineta features a lightweight fiberglass body that enhances agility while giving it a purposeful stance that remains both elegant and sporty even today. (Picture from: BringATrailer)

Mechanically, the Interlagos drew heavily from Renault Dauphine components, the result of a partnership between Willys-Overland, Renault, and Alpine. Various inline-four engines were used during its production run, most notably the 845 cc unit, delivering modest power figures that were offset by the car’s light construction and rear-engine layout. Inside, the cabin reflected the clean, functional aesthetic of the 1960s, featuring simple vinyl trim, straightforward gauges, and an atmosphere focused on driving rather than luxury. 

The Willys Interlagos A108 Berlineta showcases a cabin that reflects the clean, functional aesthetic of the 1960s, with simple vinyl trim, clear instrumentation, and a driver-focused atmosphere rather than luxury. (Picture from: BringATrailer)

The car was built by Willys do Brasil in São Paulo, during a period when the Willys name still carried industrial weight in South America. Although Willys is often remembered primarily for its military Jeeps, its Brazilian operations played a key role in expanding the company’s identity. Introduced in 1961, the Interlagos became the first sports car manufactured in Brazil, symbolizing both technical confidence and a desire to compete on an international stage, even as the brand itself was approaching major corporate changes. 

The Willys Interlagos A108 Berlineta used Renault Dauphine-based inline-four power, including the 845 cc engine, paired with a lightweight rear-engine layout for lively performance. (Picture from: ClassicVirus)

Commercial success, however, was limited. From 1961 to 1966, only about 822 Interlagos cars were produced across all body styles, making it a rare vehicle even in its home country. Yet its impact on motorsport was far greater than its sales numbers suggest. The Interlagos enjoyed a notable racing career and helped nurture some of Brazil’s most iconic drivers, including the Fittipaldi brothers, securing its place in the golden age of Brazilian motorsport. | zXBoXe8j8eo | tfHgBNZj38Q |

Decades later, the spirit of the Interlagos continues to resonate beyond its original production years. That legacy was reinterpreted in 2015 with the Willys AW308 Berlineta by Carrozzeria Viotti in collaboration with Maggiora, a modern project that looked back to Willys’ rich history while embracing contemporary design and craftsmanship. By bridging past and present, it reaffirmed how the story of Willys—once rooted in innovation, racing passion, and cross-continental collaboration—can still feel relevant in a modern automotive world. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION | CLASSICVIRUS | BRINGATRAILER ]

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