With the many car events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic we will not see the car action we are accustomed to at this time of year. I thought it would be a good idea to reach back into the My Car Quest archives and occasionally re-post certain articles with lots of photos of interesting cars and events to help us get through.
Here is the first one – a Volkswagen from the San Luis Obispo Concours (California) in June 2015.
Mike Gulett, Publisher
by Mike Gulett –
Here is another rare Volkswagen that I saw at the San Luis Obispo Concours this past Sunday.
The Volkswagen SP2 is a sports car designed and made in Brazil from 1972 to 1976. A total of 11,123 were made and the one shown here is a 1975 model.
The SP2 was known as Project X internally while in development and is based on the VW Variant, also a Brazilian design. I do not know why it is called the SP2 or why the code name was Project X.
Producing only 75 hp you can imagine it is not very fast but it sure looks good. This must be one of only a small hand full in the US.
This is a great looking VW and if it had a little more power it would be an excellent sports car.
Technical Data
Dimensions (in mm)
Length 4212
Height 1158
Width 1610
Distance between chassis and ground 149
Distance between axes 2400
Distance between wheels
front: 1342
rear: 1380
Weight 890Kg
Useful load 245Kg
Engine
Rear-mounted Type 3 pancake 4 cylinders
Displacement 1678cc
HP (SAE) 75 cv at 5000 rpm
Torque (SAE) 12 mkgf at 3000 rpm
Bore 88 mm
Stroke 69 mm
Compression Ratio 7,5 : 1
Gap Valves (cold) 0,15 mm
Oil Capacity 2,5 lt
Carburetor Solex 34 PDSITSuspension and Tires
Front Suspension 2 torsion bars (springs) with stabilizer and telescopic double action shock absorbers
Rear Suspension 2 torsion bars and telescopic double action shock absorbers
Tires 185 SR 14
Technical data taken from this site.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
All photos by Mike Gulett.
Mike:
I knew this car when I lived in Brasil in 1974-75. Outstanding styling. Well executed car. Just didn’t have the power due to low-octane gasoline available in Brasil at the time (something like 75 octane!). A guy by the name of Schmieman was the designer on this one; he was an in-house man at VW do Brasil. Head Rudolf Leidig loved the car and approved it for production.
You’ll note that the front end of the SP2 looks very much like the 412 Sedan that came out later. The front actualy originated in Brasil on the Variant built there. It was also used on the Brasil-designed Brasilia coupe.
If I can find the photo of me in an SP, I’ll scan it and send it to you.
BTW, I did a feature on a US-based SP 2 over 20 years ago for VW Trends magazine.
Robb
The Brazilian auto industry produces a number of interesting vehicles strictly for the Brazilian domestic market, similar to what Australia does (but will no longer be doing after 2017, with all Australian car manufacturing ceasing by that time). The Brazilian divisions of all the world’s manufacturers used to make interesting cars there, because the market is so large. Even Willys was making Jeeps there until throughout the sixties. Now, due to globalization, less cars are made there, but production of some models is continuing. Glenn in the Bronx, NY.
The name “SP-2” came from the São Paulo state, where the first VW plant in Brazil is located. Anda, yes, there was a SP-1, a little bit cheaper and weaker (1.6 liters boxer engine). This “1” version was aborted just before lauching.