Puma GTS / GTC History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Puma introduced an open Spider variant on the Karmann Ghia platform in 1971. In 1973 it was renamed the GTS (Gran Turismo Spider), and from 1976 the GTS moved to the VW Brasília chassis alongside the coupe GTE. The GTS was Puma's drop-top companion to the GTE, using the same rear-mounted 1.6-litre VW flat-four.
In 1980 the GTS was restyled and relaunched as the GTC, a slightly updated roadster that continued in production under the original Puma company and then briefly under licensee Araucária Veículos, which built kit-form GTCs into 1987.
Generations
Spider / GTS · Spider → GTS
Open-top roadster on Karmann Ghia (1971–1975) then Brasília chassis; renamed GTS in 1973.
1977 Photo: “1977 Puma GTS 1600.jpg” by Renzo Maia ; cropped and adjusted by uploader Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1979 Photo: “Puma GTS 1979 - Brasília.jpg” by Shaitan / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1980 Photo: “Puma GTS 1980 (14558408447).jpg” by order_242 from Chile / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
GTC
Restyled roadster continuing the open-top Puma line into the mid-1980s; the last GTCs were assembled by licensee Araucária Veículos, which offered kit-form GTCs into 1987.
1983 Photo: “1983 Puma GTC in gold, front left at Greenwich 2019.jpg” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Convertible / Roadster
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