Notice to bidders - The vendor has advised that the Brazilia has developed a fault with the braking system and therefore can not be driven away. The auction end date will now be Friday the 14th.

Brazil was one of the last domains of the Volkswagen Beetle and way back in 1970 the Brazilian President challenged VW to build a replacement for the beloved, but long in the tooth Beetle, specifically with the Brazilian market in mind. 

Unveiled in 1973 the Brasilia was powered by an air-cooled 1600cc flat four. The underpinnings were straight from the Karmann Ghia with some design cues lifted from the VW 412. Made in quite large numbers the Brasilia saw service all over South America but never saw the UK, until now. Rumour has it that an eager gentleman from the motoring press tried to get a sneak peek at the development model at a secret location and was shot at! Don’t worry, you’re quite safe looking at this one...

Being such a rare sight over here, you can expect to be asked ‘What is it?’ on pretty regular basis. Being built on the engineering of the Beetle and the Karmann Ghia service and maintenance parts are not going to be a major issue. The shark nose is very striking and the VW DNA runs very deep as you can see hints of the Golf and Polo that were yet to surface when this car was penned. 

This example was imported by a Volkswagen enthusiast in 2020, and by mid-2021, it was road registered for use in the UK. This example has been sympathetically modernised several years before being imported with the addition of a red vinyl interior including seats and dashboard, and a stainless fuel tank. There’s a sleek black paint-job which looks in good order overall, while a set of BBS alloys with low-profile tyres sets off the look.

This surely represents an unmissable opportunity for air-cooled VW enthusiasts. When did you last see one of these in the UK?! 

Its worth noting that the car has been in heated storage and not driven since its purchase so will need some re - commissioning work. 

The bodywork does appear to be in generally good condition without any apparent corrosion of signs of accident damage.

We're advised that there is some damage to the passenger side outer sill but the floor has not been affected. The stainless bumpers offer a great contrast to the black body as do the BBS alloy wheels that show no visible damage

The seats are resplendent in a bright red vinyl and are finished to a good standard. The dashboard has also been covered in the same material and works really well with the seats.  There’s a set of modern instruments to complete the ensemble. The three spoked steering wheel with Porsche emblem is a nice touch and fits in nicely with the rest of the interior.

The engine runs sweetly and has benefitted from a carburettor swap with an automatic choke. We're informed that the Brasilia starts and runs very well, with no apparent issues to report. The vendor has not used the car since purchase so will need recommissioning but as its mechanicals are shared with the ubiquitous Beetle, spares and expertise are readily available the world over - despite this particular model's rarity outside Brazil

There is no written history currently available from its time in Brazil, but there are certainly no signs of neglect.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions.. 

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 

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or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand..