The Volkswagen VW SP2 do Brasil is more than just a car; it is a piece of history. With its unique design and attention to detail, it embodies the essence of the 70s. Find out more about the fascinating history and technical specifications of this classic vehicle.
to the homepage to my vw SP2.
The vw SP2 is a little-known vehicle.
It was built between 1972 and 1976.
Usually the vw SP2 is believed to be a plastic kit on a beetle-chassis, or people think, it is a PUMA.
As the PUMA the vw SP2 is from Brazil, but with a steel body from VW do Brasil, developed and manufactured under the CEO Dr.Ing.e.h. Rudolf Leiding. Responsible for the styling was Márcio Lima Piancastelli.
1988 arrival in Germany
1989-1992 Restauration
1992 - today
Projekt X:
The "Projekt X" was presentet to the public in 1971 in Brazil.
The door gaps and the exhaust are different to the later series version.
From the Projekt X two versions were developed
SP 1 (1600 ccm/54 PS DIN) and the
SP 2 (1700 ccm/65 PS DIN wtith more features).
Historical documents show, that VW do Brasil pushed the Projekt X "under cover" and the head quarter was faced with facts that were mostly already reality.
Partially there are stunning design details, the instrument panel and the centre consoles of my SP2 are made of hand laminated structures, then moulded with PU foam. This way tooling costs were reduced. Probably the tooling was not finised, who knows, because my SP2 is one of the first year.
With some good will, it could have been sold in Germany and Europe as a Karmann or Porsche SP2. The performance could have been improved by Typ 4 engines out of the Porsche 914 that fits.
At the end the SP2 was mainly sold to South America, aditionally some arabic countries and a few in Africa. To Nigeria they brought complete CKD-kits.
The headquarter obviously decided the end of the aircoold aera outside South America and this killed the SP2. Interesting: The Nigeria factory was cloed down at that time but seems to be revived now after ages for new products.
The information about the totally build cars varies. A Brazilian journal writes at the 20 anniversary, that in the first half year in 1972 narly 3000 were sold. But then rapidly declining. 1976 only 100 were sold, then production ended. In total it was between 10205 and 11123, inklusive very few vw SP1.
Dirk Nessenius
The vw SP2 was mainly build with the help of Karmann Ghia do Brasil, in mix-production with the Karmann Ghia TC.
A former employee said:
Large parts made of steel like roof, doors, bonnet etc. were produced at VW do Brasil and delivered to the Karmann Ghia factory.
Small steel parts were manufactured by Karmann Ghia.
The body was assembled at Karmann Ghia.
The body was brought to VW do Brasil and painted there because Karmann Ghia could not deliver the required quality.
Karmann Ghia did the remaining and finishing work on the body and the assembly of add-on parts on the body.
The platform with all mechanical parts (axles, engine etc.) was built by VW do Brasil.
Karmann Ghia mounted the body on the chassis and completed the vehicle.
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For classic car freaks.
Dirk Nessenius
Email: kontakt(at)vwsp2.de
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