Once upon a time when the Italians made a kit car

Once Upon A Time Italy, besides being known as the country of pizza origin which is famous for its hospitality and exotic natural beauty. The country also has many automotive manufacturers with so many talented technical talents. No wonder, if the country gave birth to so many exotic cars.

The Puma GTV 033-S was the 3rd series of the GTV sports car made in 1985. (Picture from: Autobelle)

Those exotic Italian cars are indeed famous for their design and performance. Besides being produced by well-known automotive manufacturers, there are also those made as kit cars. In our opinion, the kit car is one of the modern automotive products that is rarely highlighted in Italy, so we rarely know of its existence there.

Did you know, there's an Italian company called Stabilimento Puma Roma or Puma that has been in the industry for a long time. The story of this company stems from the interest of its founder named Adriano Gatto (born in 1943) to a unique styled vehicle called the Dune Buggy when traveling to the United States in 1965. In short, then he imported the Dune Buggy in assembly box to later modify it on his father's estate in Ronciglione, Central Italy.

The Puma GTV 033 was the 2nd series of the GTV sports car made in 1983. (Picture from: Reezocar)

What is the Dune Buggy? As quoted of Wikipedia, a dune buggy (also known as a beach buggy) is a recreational motorized vehicle first emerged and popular in America with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes, beaches, roads or desert recreation. 

Here, not all parts of this American vehicle were re-assemblied and installed by him, it turned out that there were some parts that he considered inappropriate is reshaped by hand and later printed into real fiberglass pieces. When it's finished, then he took his assembled buggy around the city of Rome to attract public attention. Until one day, at the request of his friend who forced him to sell the vehicle.

The company's first made car named Puma Gatto Spiaggia built in 1968. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

As if he didn't want to lose the momentum, when he found out that the vehicle was well received by the public, he decided to import the new buggy kits and then assemblied it into a new Italian-made buggy named 'Puma Gatto Spiaggia'. From here, there was a lot of consumer demand for his new buggy came in, then in 1968 he decided to found a new company called Puma based in Rome.

In addition to producing the Italian version buggy, the company also makes sports and off-road cars, all of which are built based on the VW Beetle chassis. Throughout this Italian company's business times, it was noted that several interesting sports cars had been made. For example in 1973, shortly after moving to a new factory in Via Nomentana, Adriano Gatto proposed a new dune buggy model named the Puma GT or Puma Gatto which took its name for its rougher lines than the previous model.

The Puma GT or Puma Gatto built in 1973 which took its name for its rougher lines than the previous model. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

The new Puma GT has a more modern look, has an almost wedge-shaped front and has a downward movement designed to increase front end grip, with partially recessed headlights and a more angled windshield.

The Puma GTV was the 1st series of the GTV sports car made in 1978 powered by an 1,200 cc Volkswagen engine which has been upgraded by Domenico Lombardi to 1,385 cc for increased its performance, but had no luck. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

And in the 1978, the company made a sports car called the Puma GTV which was designed by Richard Oakes under licensed of Nova. The sports car is built on the Volkswagen platform also powered by a 1,200 cc Volkswagen engine which has been upgraded by Domenico Lombardi to 1,385 cc for increased its performance, but it doesn't live up to expectations regarding the car's sporty style.

The Puma GTV was designed by Richard Oakes under licensed of Nova and also has unique features such as the access into the cockpit is looks similar to the Nova Eagle has. (Picture from: Tumblr)

This car has unique features such as the access into the cockpit is looks similar to the Nova Eagle has, which is hinged to the glass base, with the roof and windshield raised and rotated forward, thus allowing access into the passenger compartment. There are about 100 units ever made and now there are 52 units left only.

1982 Puma Ranch inspired by the American Jeep Wrangler by exploiting a German-made engine that is mounted uniquely on the rear, while the trunk is in the front. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

While in 1982, the Italian company had released an American Jeep likened car named Puma Ranch. This an off-road purposed vehicle is indeed inspired by the Jeep Wrangler by exploiting a German-made engine that is mounted uniquely on the rear, while the trunk is in the front. 

Then the GTV model was continued in 1983 with the launch of the Puma GTV-033, which was marked by different bodywork coupled with the engine changes with an 1,186 cc 4 cylinder boxer engine taken from Alfa Sud.

The Puma GTV 033 was the 2nd series of the GTV sports car made in 1983 powered by an 1,186 cc water-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engine of the Alfa Romeo Alfasud. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

In appearance, this car looks to have a shorter nose than the first series with the headlights hidden inside the body almost resembling the front of the Puma GT. Then the rear looks more square with the sides no longer rounded at the bottom, but forming a new angle inspired by the side skirts of racing cars at that time.

The Puma GTV 033-S was the 3rd series of the GTV sports car made in 1985 powered by an 1,186 cc water-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engine of the Alfa Romeo Alfasud. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

It turns out that the second series did not get a good response, because the public still prefers the rounded lines of the first series. Then in 1985, Adriano Gatto returned to using a longer nose and rectangular headlights to be closer to the original GTV style, and this GTV's new version is called the Puma GTV 033-S.

The Puma Boxer 90 electric-powered sports car built in 1990 and had shown off at the Bologna Motor Show. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

On the other hand, the 1.186 cc water-cooled 4-cylinder boxer engine from Alfa Romeo Alfasud is preferred over the air-cooled Volkswagen engine. And thanks to the higher power spewing made the car's performance became more powerful, so the GTV 033-S remained in production until 1991.

The one-off Puma 248 built in 1993 by using a newly designed chassis and is powered by an 1,700 cc 16V engine from the Arese company. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

Besides that during the 1980s, the company made several Dragsters and continued in the 1990, it is produced an electric-powered car called the Puma Boxer 90 and had shown off at the Bologna Motor Show. Then there is the Puma 248, which the company produced only one unit in 1993. The car is built on a newly designed chassis and is powered by an 1,700 cc 16V engine from the Arese company with an upgraded leather interior. 

2004 Puma Tiger electric-powered microcar is said suitable to fulfill the needs of people living in big cities. (Picture from: Puma Club Italia)

Although in their heyday, these Puma made cars were quite popular in Italy, this can be seen by the frequent appearance of these cars taken role in the circulated domestically movies in that country. But unfortunately in 1993, when the Italian laws at that time were increasingly stricted toward the Kit-Cars, effectively blocking the activities of small manufacturers like Gatto's Puma company. Then he was closed his business and sold the 'Puma' brand to Ford, due to he could not afford the exorbitant costs of homologation and the complicated bureaucracy when producing his own car models.😭 So, that's why the kit car makers was rarely seen or could be said had no existed in Italy today.😭

Today, Adriano Gatto and his son Gianluca remain existed in the world's car manufacturing, but this time with an electric-powered minicar called the Puma Tiger, a microcar is said suitable the needs of people living in big cities. In fact, in the April 2013 issue of Quattroroute magazine, the new Italian-made microcar project is being prepared for production at the historic Puma plant in Rome.

For now we've known and seen the Italian-made kit-cars even if only from pictures and videos. And hopefully this article could be inspired in many Your works in the future.👀 Ciao..! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PUMA CLUB ITALIA ]

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The Zongshen's Cyclone RA9 1000 concept revealed

Special Engine In a social media posting, there's a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer showcased their upcoming model at the 19th China International Motorcycle Exhibition (CIMA 2021) held in Chongqing from September 17 to 20, 2021.

Zongshen’s Cyclone RA9 concept was presented as a concept but the V-twin might be closer to production than we think. (Picture from: Cycleworld)

It's the Zongshen's newest motorcycle concept under its Cyclone premium brand is presented along with a very interesting range of models and sooner or later we will see in Europe. One of the most notable is the Cyclone RX6 crossover with a 650 cc in-line twin-cylinder Norton's engine is launched in the CIMA 2020.

In a related post made by those Chinese company on social media back in Tuesday September 14, 2021, It said about seven new models with the first and best sports cruiser motorbike with a 1,000 cc engine named the Cyclone RA9 Concept.

Underneath the radical bodywork you’ll find a lot of production components sourced from Aprilia, including the frame and engine. (Picture from: Cycleworld)

Among the horde of small-capacity engines unveiled the CIMA motor expo in this year's, the Cyclone RA9 stands out as a motorcycle might be closer to production than we think. As we mentioned above, the Cyclone is a premium brand of the Chinese motorcycle giant Zongshen, which also known as the partner of the Piaggio Group in China, and has signed business agreement for producing a variety motorcycle engines of the Aprilia-branded.

As you can conclude here, by those European connections could be a kind of hint about the origins technology of the new RA9 which becoming the core of the company's exhibition booth. Although it looks like a pure concept bike, the RA9 actually incorporates many production components, including the engine and frame which are developments from the components used in the Aprilia Shiver and Dorsoduro.

Zongshen also displayed an RX850 adventure bike, which is a spinoff of the RX6 parallel twin launched earlier this year.. (Picture from: Cycleworld)

As for the chassis, with a tubular steel front and a cast alloy rear, it's straight from the Shiver and Dorsoduro, although it features a new single-sided swingarm and much more radical bodywork including a large single exhaust that effectively doubles as part of the rear bodywork.

This is clearly a single seat design with no clue for the luggage or passenger seat. There are currently no further details regarding the new models that the Cyclone will present. The only thing that is certain is that we are waiting for them with great interest, when it would be its production version launched?

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ZONGSHEN | CYCLEWORLD | 2WO.GR ]

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It's too weird to be a Porsche sports car

The Falling Star As we all knew that the Porsche AG, one of the German automotive manufacturers had been launched many great sports cars, and among the many models, only a few are worthy of being called as the true super sports cars until today. And one of them is named the Porsche 959 which had recorded in the automotive history as the "Über-Porsche".

Porsche 914 is appeared with a targa roofed roadster style, and available in two versions namely Porsche 914/4 and Porsche 914/6. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Vise versa, it turns out there is also the Porsche's model that is criticized and called less powerful in terms of performance, has an expensive price tags for that time, while in terms of appearance, it doesn't look like the Porsche in general. It could be said, the car is too weird to be a Porsche sports car.

Porsche 914 at right and the car it replaced at the top of VW's line, the Type 34 Karmann Ghia, at left. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

It could be seen in the figure of the Porsche 914, it is a model of a mid-mounted sports car designed, produced, and is marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976. The car appeared with a targa roofed roadster style, and available in two versions namely Porsche 914/4 and Porsche 914/6.

This car story began, when in the late 1960s, both Volkswagen and Porsche needed new models; Porsche is looking for a replacement model for their entry-level 912, while Volkswagen wants a new sports coupe car to replace the Karmann-Ghia model. 

Porsche 914/4 is powered by a F4 engine with a capacity of 1,679 cc, which is capable of spewing out 80 hp (60 kw). (Picture from: ClassicPark)

At that time, most of the Volkswagen development work was handled by Porsche, it was such like an unwritten agreement that has existed since the Porsche's establishment. And the person whose appointed to be responsible for the 914 project is Ferdinand Piëch, which at that time knew as the Porsche's R&D head. In short, on March 1, 1968, the Porsche 914 prototype was complete and was introduced for the first time.

Porsche 914/4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 110 mph or 177 kph. (Picture from: ClassicPark)

However, after Chairman of Volkswagen, Heinz Nordhoff passed away on April 12, 1968, the project development became complicated. And his successor, Kurt Lotz wants to be more independent in the car development and releases the company's dependence on Porsche, that's made the previous unwritten agreement between Volkswagen and Porsche should be ended.

The car has an iconic designs, where the Porsche 914/4 carries a F4 engine with a capacity of 1,679 cc, which is capable of spewing out 80 hp (60 kw). Meanwhile, on the 914/6 is powered by a F6 engine with a capacity of 1,991 cc, and capable producing power of 110 hp (82 kw). And in both of the 914 versions, the machine is placed in the middle.

For the performance, Posche 914/4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 110 mph or 177 kph. Meanwhile, version 914/6 is capable of darting from 0-60 mph within 8.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 125 mph or 201 kph.

Porsche 914/6 is powered by a F6 engine with a capacity of 1,991 cc, and capable producing power of 110 hp (82 kw). (Picture from: Carscoops)

The production both of Porsche 914 versions ended in 1976, with a total production of 118,978 units. And the Porsche 914 had managed to get the title of 'The Import Car of the Year' in the 1970 from the Motortrend magazine. Indeed, that's likes some kind an irony, if one of the best sales Porsche's models also seen by several circles as one of the major failures of the German manufacturer.

However, the Porsche 914 look was indeed made to be like that as the company marketing strategies, because the designers wanted to disguise cooperation between Porsche and Volkswagen which occurred some time before.

Porsche 914/6 is capable of darting from 0-60 mph within 8.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 125 mph or 201 kph. (Picture from: Road And Track)

And vice versa, this look can at the same time make fans curious about Porsche's future styling at that time. Over time, the unique appearance and reliable performance made the Porsche 914 more and more popular. And from this model, the one-off model named the Porsche 914 Goertz Prototype and the Porsche 916 were born in 1970s.

Although some people used to think it was underpowered and disproportionate, over time the Porsche 914 has become one of the most sought after Porsche cars by collectors! Now, the Porsche 914 no longer to be a 'forgotten treasure', with more and more fans and collectors wanting it in various parts of the world. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PORSCHE | WIKIPEDIA | CLASSICPARK | CARSCOOPS | ROADANDTRACK | ID.MOTOR1 | CURVES-MAGAZIN | CLASSICDRIVE ]

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