Today’s Rare Ride is a very limited production coupe from Brazil that appears to be very derivative in its styling. But what if that’s not the case at all?
Brasinca was a Brazilian truck manufacturer in the 1960s, building heavy duty trucks for the hauling of lumber or delivery of gasoline. It also made parts used by other companies. Still, the company wanted more and hoped to show the people of Brazil it was capable of making a luxury car, as well. Enter Uirapuru, sort of.
The original name for this model was the much more American-sounding 4200 GT, after the 4.2-liter Chevrolet inline-six truck engine that resided under its long hood. Matched to either a three- or four-speed manual, the rear-wheel drive coupe debuted circa 1964. Production began that same year after a quick name change to Uirapuru. As the model’s production was of the British shed style, things proceeded very slowly.
The Uirapuru’s hand-built body was made of steel. Underneath lay a unique frame not shared with any other car. Determined to get it right, Brasinca defined the shape of the coupe after testing it in a wind tunnel – a first for a Brazilian manufacturer.
Along the way, different versions of the Uirapuru sprung up, including an S model that bumped the original 155 horsepower to 163 via revised valves, and a GTS with a heady 170 horsepower. Zero to 60 times for the sportier version clocked in at a blistering 10.4 seconds.
Between 1964 and 1966, Brasinca produced 74 Uirapuru coupes, plus three convertible examples. It was all finished after 1966, when the company cited high costs and shut down production of their only coupe. Reviewing the photos, the resemblance to the Jensen Interceptor is an uncanny one, but the final year of Uirapuru production was indeed the first for the Interceptor. Interesting, isn’t it?
The gold example here is for sale in Brazil presently, and appears in excellent condition. With an asking price of about $152,000, you could bring it here and have it serviced at any place with a hammer and some carburetor knowledge.
[Images: seller]
In addition to the resemblance to the Interceptor, I see a lot of Studebaker Avanti here. This would be a neat entrant at any orphan car event, though a bit pricey for a Chevy straight 6 powered vehicle (apologies to early Corvettes).
The psychedelic lovechild of an Avanti and first-gen Mustang? And a few other bits.
Yes – Avanti was what I also though of first.
Yes, Avanti was the first thing I thought of. I wonder who was looking over who’s shoulder in the design room? There’s also a lot of Jensen Interceptor here which is more then likely the copied design
“Reviewing the photos, the resemblance to the Jensen Interceptor is an uncanny one, but the final year of Uirapuru production was indeed the *first* for the Interceptor.”
exactly what I was seeing also, Avanti, my older brother who I was living with his family after my mother died ( I was 14) had a buddy who would park his white 64 Avanti in front of the house, they both worked at a steel mill so my brother would drive them both in his 56 Buick Special, I would come home from school and drool over that car ( the Avanti)!
I think I like it, but I also think it might be 75 to 100 Grand too pricey.
Nice if slightly dated styling .
The Chevrolet 261 C.I. i6 engine was the heavy duty version of the world famous Stovebolt 235, those early Corvettes used a revised cam that was in every 261 along with better connecting rods, revised cylinder head with steam holes and a few other improvements .
-Nate
Yes, I was going to point out that it was more than a “truck engine”, as it made it’s way into many cars.
The front end brings to mind the Iso Rivolta, with a little bit of the GMC l’Universelle concept, too.
Now there’s a car I don’t think I’ve ever seen in real life, beautiful car
So, named after a Brazilian wren:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician_wren
All that rear glass, and you get a tiny mail slot of a trunk. This is where being a real automaker pays dividends … You have guys that can figure out tricky stuff like hinges and seals.
It would have been better to have made it a hatch, with the glass forming the upper part. But, as you say, resources were limited.
Check out the beautiful BMW Avanti 4.2 CS!
I assume the Chevy truck engine was chosen for easy serviceability and ability to run on dubious low-octane fuel.
That wood dash looks awfully DIY.
Because it is. It is hand made in Brazil (not England).
I absolutely love it, right down to the engine (I’m always a fan of a good, reliable Inline 6).
My first thought was the front end looks like a BMW Neue Klasse, but then I saw the rear hatch and immediately flashed back to Black Belt Jones and his Jensen Intercepter.
Beautifully eccentric.
Love the triple S.U. carbys…