Puma Puma GTE History

Launched in 1970 as the GTE (E for Export), this was Puma's bid for international markets. Shown at the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville, Spain, it was sold in more than 50 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas — and its popularity even led to a licensed factory in South Africa.

The GTE used the VW Karmann Ghia platform initially and, from 1976, the newer VW Brasília chassis, always paired with VW's air-cooled 1.5 or 1.6-litre flat-four. Its lightweight fiberglass body kept kerb weight under 900 kg, giving the modest engines a sporting character.

With roughly 8,705 units produced, the GTE became Puma's single best-selling model and the car that defined the brand internationally. It ran until 1980, overlapping with the GTS roadster and the bigger Chevrolet-powered GTB.