We would forgive you if you’d never previously heard of the Volkswagen (VW) SP2. It was a distinctive domestic sports car that called Brazil its home - and very few managed to sneak out of the South American country. The two-door coupe began exiting the production door in 1972, which was a time when Volkswagen hardly touched the sports car scene.
The Volkswagen SP2 did questionably have quite a resemblance with Alfa Romeos from that era, with its cool curved and flamboyant design. Perhaps you’ve heard of Volkswagen Do Brazil? No, probably not. This South American company had a respectable level of independence, meaning that it was able to self-engineer and manufacture exclusive Volkswagen vehicles, specifically for the growing Brazilian market. Maybe you’re wondering why this spectacular vehicle was developed and designed in Brazil only, and that’s because at this time it was a closed country. The reason behind its long term importation barrier was down to the attempt to stimulate self-regulation within Brazil. Cleverly, Volkswagen Do Brazil created one of the most beautiful sports cars of its time, and it’s time to check the SP2 out.
The Volkswagen SP2 Has A Look That Impressed All
This gorgeous piece of spectacular design was available in three main colors; cream, red, and light blue. All shades came equipped with a striking black and red stripe slashing down the car's side profile, and spectacular it was. The SP2's elongated bonnet and 'set-back' look screamed sports car, along with its elaborate boxy lights and rigid nose. To look at the VW SP2, it was unmistakably a gearhead's dream car. What wasn’t there to love about it? Talk to any sport car enthusiast, and they’ll tell you that a vehicle's look has to be special, and the VW SP2 seemed to have the edge.
Open the door, and things only get better. Volkswagen Do Brazil had kitted the SP2 with impressive red leather seats, further adding to its racetrack feel. The VW SP2 instantly gave off that racing feel, its looks practically dragged drivers into its seats to start it up. Four small and 2 large clocks covered the raised dashboard, sitting above its stereo, and air-conditioning system setup. Where design was concerned, during the 1970s, the VW SP2 had it all. Its look was lavish and excessive, but take a seat inside, and you felt comfortable and excited for what were to come next.
The Volkswagen SP2: Did Its Sport Appearance Match Its Performance?
In one word - no. The Volkswagen SP2 followed the previous model, the SP1, in an attempt to add some oomph to its lacking power. A minimalist 1.7-liter Volkswagen flat-four engine sat inside the VW, only producing a measly 75 horsepower. Yeah, the VW SP2 could toddle its way up to 60mph, but it did take 16 seconds. It's easy to see why this vehicle held the nickname 'pancake', and 'Sem Potencia', which translated into 'without power' in Portuguese. Surely this motors has to make you wonder of what could have been, had it produced better statistics in the performance department.
Sadly, there was hardly an attempt to fix the lack of power issue that the SP2 had, which ultimately led to its short 4-year production life, with just over 11,000 units built in total. Volkswagen did receive some pressure to release a version of its SP2 to supply Europe and other parts of the world. VW opted not to do this, but instead signed an agreement with Porsche to develop a newer VW sports car, which is now known as the Porsche 924. The VW SP2 lived on in its neighboring cousin, displaying a similar mouth-watering side silhouette.
The Volkswagen SP2 Lives On
Many may say that the VW SP2 could have been Brazil's very own answer to the Porsche 911, yet it sadly failed due to its lack of power and poor performance. Despite this, car enthusiasts could not resist the SP2's gorgeous look, and in recent years it has grown to become a cult classic - with owners even adding modern performance parts to its engine to bump its power output up. In a recent auction, an SP2 sold for $44,000, and that goes to show that its gorgeous look is still highly sought after.
The Volkswagen SP2 had a faultless design, its elongated look sure turned heads when it cruised down the street, but these heads shortly turned back after realizing they could probably walk faster than it could build speed.
Nobody can deny that the look of the Volkswagen SP2 is stunningly gorgeous. Fitted with a new engine and some slight performance modifications, this would have been the ultimate perfect sports car of its day - and for days to come.
Sources: Volkswagen