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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:17 am Post subject: Puma GTe 1600 |
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Hi all,
I've been reading the forum for a while now, and it seemed about time to get an account and show you our project car.
Our car is a 1972 Puma GTe, or 'Tubarao' as they say in Brasil dus to the shark style air intakes. It has been in our family for over 30 years but was at the end of his life 10 years ago and was put in a garage, where it sat and waited until somebody came up with the great idea to get it out and restore it again.
So the story begins....
This is how the car looked after storage
Crappy interior...
So we send the car off to a VW specialist, boy what a mistake that was... After working on the car for two years the did the following; a new electrical wiring, adjusted the engine. And a paintjob done by a 5 year old kid.
At that point we took the car home and started working on it ourselfs. First we had to start to re wire the new wiring, as nothing seemed to work the way is should work. The engine needed some dyno adjusting... two years work... f*cking amateurs.
So fast forward, we fixed the wiring, gave it new carpets, doorcards and seats. We where planning to keep the old seats but restoring them was to expensive, so we stored them for future use.
Doing some test drives
Still a lot to do, the engine seems fine, but it needs a new exhaust, the old one had some holes in it. We want to upgrade with a VW speedshop side exit exhaust, as it seems the only exhaust that is capable of more power and should fit nicely (not much room for exhaust in a Puma) and add some 40 or 44mm HPMX or IDF's, depending on engine plans.
It also needs new floor pans, to make the seats fit better, and some lowering on the front and back.
Let's finish this post with some moving pics and sound shall we?
Link
Link
Link
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Root_Werks Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2007 Posts: 813 Location: San Juan Islands
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:05 am Post subject: |
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Nice Puma and great story about keeping it, then getting back on the road again. I have a GTI myself. We are going to be downsizing soon and it's either sell the GTI or store it for a few years. I'm starting to sway towards storing the Puma until I have time and space to play with it again.
You don't see many Puma's, especially in the states. _________________ When I set my timing, why do I flush, then take a pee? |
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1961bluebug Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2002 Posts: 1137 Location: Czech Republic, Europe
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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very nice car...how many Pumas do you have in Holand? _________________
|82x94|
1961 Deluxe beetle, 1971 type 181, 1968 T2a Baywindow, 1973 Type 147 "Swiss Fridolin"(sold), 1966 Deluxe sedan (sold), 1983 "Silver Bug" edition (sold), 1961 beetle (sold) |
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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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You don't see many of them in Holland either... I'm not sure about the amount of Puma's in Holland.
Around 100 where imported to Europe in total over the years.
I'm aware of about six Puma's in Holland, but there should be some more here and there, I reckon maybe 10?
So more exclusive than a Ferrari |
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trolls Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Nantes....France
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:56 am Post subject: |
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200 Puma were imported to Europe by a vw dealer in Switzerland. Approximatively, 100 stay there and 100 were sold in Germany and some other country.
I wanted to buy one in Sweden, but I loose the deal. So, finally, I've find one in Switzerland.
There are 4 or 5 Puma in France....They are Tubarao models. Never seen a mark 2 in France, but some were imported to Germany....
I've find parts here: www.purringpumas.com
Headlights covers, bumpers....all is avaible.
This is my Puma, when I dicoverd it :
It's a mark1/2, with flat deck lid and other details.....
Color, engine, height, wheels and interior (seats and carpet) will change soon..... _________________ 66 Karmann Ghia/ Outlaw Replica 356 Speedster/ ....and Puma GT/E..... |
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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:07 am Post subject: |
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Hi Trolls,
Congrats with your new car, glad you could find a good one after missing the first deal. They don't come up for sale very much.
Getting parts is no problem, allthough some parts are very expensive
http://www.pumacars.co.za/ for cheap parts as well.
Keep us posted as the car gets updated!
Dennis |
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 11:53 am Post subject: |
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PumaGTe,
Nice car you have!
I am from Brazil and I also own a 1972 and I know how difficult is to restore these cars!
I suggest you to keep the original seats and steering wheel. You have original stuff, pure gold! Mine is missing the seats and I have to replace the bubble on headlights. There are also some modifications on front that I need to revert.
Trolls
Your car seems a 1973 model. The seats are original. Keep them!
Yours also have 7 inch rear wheels, like my car. It was an optional item at the time.
Here are some pictures of my car, on Interlagos track.
Brazilian market cars are a little bit different from the cars exported to Europe.
This is the dashboard (Console was missing, but now it is in place)
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dtborders Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:03 am Post subject: |
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rotea
I'm working on restoring the dash on my '72. Mine had a piece of black carpet glued on when i purchased it, and now i can see why. What a mess.
Yours looks perfect. Did you have yours recovered, or were you able to fiñd an insert?
I'm trying to take small steps in my restore so I can keep it on the road, but I'm at the point where I may need to pull the windshield to reupholster, which I'd hoped to put off untill I was ready to paint.
Daryl
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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dtborders wrote: |
rotea
I'm working on restoring the dash on my '72. Mine had a piece of black carpet glued on when i purchased it, and now i can see why. What a mess.
Yours looks perfect. Did you have yours recovered, or were you able to fiñd an insert?
I'm trying to take small steps in my restore so I can keep it on the road, but I'm at the point where I may need to pull the windshield to reupholster, which I'd hoped to put off untill I was ready to paint.
Daryl
Seattle |
Daryl,
My dash was covered by courvin:
I took off the old dash and cut a piece of MDF with the same shape.
After I used wood-like coverings for cabinets to give the finish.
Put some pictures of your car! |
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dtborders Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Delivery day photos from 2010
First major body restoration work was the trunk compartment.
Anyway, here's the dash mess I'm tackling now.
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:23 am Post subject: |
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Really nice car!!!
Now I see what you're talking about the carpet. That's quite simple to resolve, but unfortunately you will have to take out the windshield.
But you have all the original stuff, except for the steering wheel.
You can note that my dash has a defect on the center of the windshield. I also need to take it out.
The wood you remove from the back, and then you send to upholstery. It's a kind of service that, although it's not that complicated, takes a lot of time to do, because of the logistics. Be sure to have the windshield seal and be careful with the glass! It is quite expensive. |
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dtborders Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:56 am Post subject: |
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By the way, were they able to get a perfect match for the dash material? Everyone I've shown it to says they've never seen it before. |
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: |
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dtborders wrote: |
By the way, were they able to get a perfect match for the dash material? Everyone I've shown it to says they've never seen it before. |
Here this material is called "pig bladder". Impossible to find... sorry. |
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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry for my late reaction.
You both have some very nice cars! Hope all goes well restoring them. I can't find the time right now to work on the car...
Hope to pick it up soon.
Will see if I can post some new pics next week... |
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:53 am Post subject: |
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My car had a new paint job. I also corrected some points that were not original, like the bubbles on headlights and the shape in the front.
Enjoy, Puma lovers!
Next step: New seats
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oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168
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Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Very nice. _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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That looks absolutely perfect!
How did you lowered the front? I bought lowered spindles, but had to use spacers for the wheels... then the wheels rubbed the inside of the arches... to bad.
Now looking to replace the front beam.
You did great work! It must turn everybody's head when driving it!
What wheel sizes do you have front and rear? |
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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PumaGTe wrote: |
That looks absolutely perfect!
How did you lowered the front? I bought lowered spindles, but had to use spacers for the wheels... then the wheels rubbed the inside of the arches... to bad.
Now looking to replace the front beam.
You did great work! It must turn everybody's head when driving it!
What wheel sizes do you have front and rear? |
I used adjustable beams, with original shocks. It is not very low at all. And with this system I avoid the problems with the wheels on the arches.
It's almost impossible to drive it without beeing worried about others drivers. They keep looking to my car and I fear for their safety!
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PumaGTe Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2012 Posts: 69 Location: Holland
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:19 am Post subject: |
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What's your tire size (and brand) on your Puma? They suit the car very well. |
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rotea Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2008 Posts: 20
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Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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PumaGTe wrote: |
What's your tire size (and brand) on your Puma? They suit the car very well. |
I use 175/70 R14 on front and 185/70 on the back. Michelin, always! |
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