No doubt we are very proud to be “Gearheads”, the kind of people who are so in love with cars that most of our families members and friends don’t quite understand us. After all, we can easily forget the date of our wedding anniversary but still have fresh in our memory the firing order of the piece of junk we had in High School.
Most of those stories begin with our father taking us as kids to cars meetings or to the races and even asking for help to fix that old family car. My story is no different than that but don’t you worry, I’m not going to tell it. Unless you are a racing driver, a war hero or a very successful “Don Juan”, nobody really cares about your personal life.
Another story is how we manage to keep passion alive; from the not so expensive habit to spend hours on car related web sites to actually buying and keeping a dream car
Some of us even found a way to make a living in a car related business, like working in a repair shop or in an auto parts store, but I believe just a few lucky ones actually work with classic cars.
Well, I’m lucky enough to have found a place to work; not only around classics but around race cars also.
I started to work at Powertech in 2008, but this small company has existed since 1993 and it is one of the first Speed Shops in the Brazil.
In order to boost its business, it created the Powertech Drag Race Team in the same year. The team is still alive today, but not as strong as in the beginning.
During the 2000s, the company was involved in Brazilian Stock Car racing, preparing engines for some of the top teams. The car you see here is a Chevrolet (Opel) Astra. Of course it’s just a fiberglass bubble over a chrome-moly frame, with a 350 V8 small block Chevy and a sequential 6 speed tranny. We are no longer in this business.
But the passion of the owner for Hot Rods and classic cars always leads the business toward this direction. Nowadays we may not be the biggest Speed Shop in Brazil, but I doubt if some one else has our diversity of parts for sale.
Mopar, Hemis and Ford Flatheads (the middle one, sporting Ardun hemi heads) are our favorites engines.
But we have some European stuff too. This one is going into a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr coupe. Will it be a nice replacement for the original V12?
After all those years working here, I have sold, bought and traded more classic cars than I can remember, so, now, let’s take a look of what we have in the lot right now.
The boss is fanatic for Cords. This is one of the eight he owns, and the only one we have here at the shop currently; the others are still under restoration or in museums.
A 1969 Mustang equipped with a 351 Small Block with 4 Weber 48 IDA carbs.
A 1936 Street Rod Convertible Ford, equipped with a 302 V8 and an automatic.
A 1931 Tudor with a Chevy 4 banger 2.5 engine. We have plans to drop a Small Block Chevy V8 in to the car, but it’s gonna take a while to put that plan into action.
A retired Pro Mod Ford Maverick. This car is part of the Drag Racing history in Brazil. Even after 10 years of its retirement, the fans still ask when we are going to put it back on the tracks.
Sure it is a replica, but a good one.
Recently we got ourselves involved in Harleys; this one is a 1947. When she came to us, it had been sitting for ages, the engine had nothing but a good compression. No electrical system, no clutch, no carburetor, no brakes…
Our team put the old lady running properly in less than 2 weeks for an annual Hot Rod meeting in 2014.
This 1974 Camaro will be on the Drag Strips very soon, equipped with an all aluminum 400cid and a Paxton Supercharger.
These two Cords were bought to be “parts donors”, but the four door is too nice to be dismantled. On other hand the convertible is doomed; the car was converted as RWD back in the 60s with an Oldsmobile V8 and tranny.
This is a 1934 Ford Victoria. All the fenders are brand new and the top is already chopped. A very nice project; if I had enough dough, it would be in my garage by now.
Same story here… a 1937 Studebaker bought for parts. This car will supply parts for a Hot Rod 37 coupe. Again, the car is in too good of shape to be scrapped.
This is the 37 Stude Coupe. The car will get a Viper V10 engine.
For this one we have plans: Drop a very “spicy” Flathead in it, nice wheels, but not touch the “primer”, and let’s ride.
A 1940 4 doors Willys, just waiting for a new owner.
A 911 Slant Nose
Brazilian Chrysler built a cheaper version of the american Charger based on the Dart. This one is a 1978 model and yes, we do call it Dodge Charger R/T. While I was preparing the post, the car was sold.
I know, the Brazilian “Charger” deserves a CC post.
This 1937 Willys coupe will get a classic 331 Chrysler Hemi to become a gasser.
A 1959 Ford 2 door sedan. Another one I would gladly spend my money on.
A 1974 XJ 12. It’s a little beaten up but it is running fine.
This 1960 Impala was born as a 6 cyl car and a 2 speed Powerglide transmission, but now has a 400cid small block and a TH 350.
The pride of our early auto industry, a 1961 Simca Chambord.
Another example of our domestic industry, a 1969 Ford Corcel GT.
Sure, not all the cars we can see here are for sale, but as the boss use to say: “They are just cars… If someone makes an offer that can make me smile… I can sell everything and start all over again.”
Working all these years here didn’t make me rich, but what can I say, every morning I wake up happy. Not many jobs in this world can do that. But to work in this business means to walk the extra mile very often.
When an important Classic Car Meeting or a Drag Race is coming up soon, usually the hell breaks loose. Working late hours to make the “Ladies” not only look good but to run good as well. Hotel reservations, paying fees, loading and unloading the truck, traveling to the other side of the country and spending a week far away from home.
It’s a “labor of love”… and a lot of labor at that.
But, when everything goes right, we can be proud to be part of the team that got the trophy and share this moment with the co-workers that became very good friends. (the winner ’39 Zephyr is also part of the collection).
Very cool! Yes, I would look forward to going to your job too!
Thanks for taking the time to share, a lot of interesting cars at PowerTech!
“….look forward to going to work….”.
Heck, if I worked at this place I’d probably never go home. And after working there, just about any other job would be “downer”.
DEFINITELY looking forward to hearing about that Charger.
Great job, great shop! Be prepared for all the people to complain about some of these classics being defiled by not being restored or left in original condition.
+1 Looks like like working in a toy store for grown-ups. Sure to ruffle a few feathers though. Doubly-so if you had a restomoded Hupmobile or Terraplane on display. 😉
The Ferrari engine in a Lincoln Zephyr sounds like a bizarre combination. The Cord convertible would be a good candidate to be repowered by a Toronado drivetrain.
Very nice collection.
I have doubts that a Toronado driveline could easily replace the Cord’s, with its Mid-Front transmission similar to the Traction Avant, but I’m open to correction.
I have no idea if it’s technically possible.
Nice article! And I would gladly take that Maverick!
I remember finding a site probably 10 years ago dedicated to the Brazilian A-bodies but I can’t for the life of me find it now. They certainly got some mileage out of that 1967 bodyshell. I can’t say I’m enamored by the pseudo 69 B body front end treatment but I do find the buttresses added to the roof very attractive… preferably without the brown halo top though
I’d gladly take the Cord convertible. I’d do it up into a tasteful restomod that externally appears stock and period correct, despite the radical drivetrain swap. Please don’t scrap or part it out :'( .
For the past few years I’ve been trying to establish a classic car restoration business of my own. Between persistent periodic health problems, and being the dutiful only son of aging parents, it isn’t easy. I have most of my life savings and inheritance from a generous grandparent tied up in this venture- failure is simply NOT an option.
Just WOW.
I love going to work every morning also but donkeys, goats, chickens etc do not provide the type of eye candy that you have. Thanks for sharing.
I wonder what it would cost in USD to purchase and import one of those Chargers or repatriate that yellow Cord. What a cool post.
Wonderful story, and tales of a life that many of us will envy!
I am always impressed at the way the car hobby takes root in various places around the world. Some of the cars are extremely familiar to we North Americans, and others completely foreign to us.
I am weeping over the fate of that 37 Studebaker sedan. The 37-38 Stude is becoming one of my favorite cars from the late 30s. The styling is just right for the era. It’s a shame that they didn’t do better in the marketplace. And of course, the Cords are drool-worthy.
Wow , those are some nice cars .
Thank you for sharing them with us .
I too weep at the thought of an intact , undamaged ’37 Studebaker being broken for parts but that’s life .
I eagerly await the Brazilian MoPar article ! .
-Nate
” …the kind of people who are so in love with cars that most of our families members and friends don’t quite understand us.” Exactly. That’s one of the reasons we hang around here all the time! I too love working on my own stuff so I envy you Rubens! 🙂
As with Model A parts, there ought to be a cottage industry for reproduction Deuce Coupe bodies & chassis. They might be cheaper, depending upon demand.
Supply of deuce body and chassis either complete or as kits far exceeds demand
Rubens, that 78 Dodge Dart ‘Charger’ – does that have the extended flying buttress c-pillar? We had a few over here and they were called the Mexicana.
That’s right… our “Charger” has that, just to make the Dart look more like the real Charger.
I didn’t know the mexicans had a similar car, I just wonder which one came first.
Here’s a pic of a 1971 brazilian Charger, the year of it’s debut
We had the Dart hardtop with the VF and VG Valiant. A small number of the 1971/2 VG hardtops came with this extended buttress. Mexicana was its name here in oz. I wonder how we got them at the same time. I’m thinking we got it from Brazil.
I’ve found this post about a mexican Dart…
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/my-curbside-classico-1972-dodge-dart-hardtop-plain-jane-mexican-dart-with-long-black-hair/
Great find. Never seen it on that body. As with the Mexican example, it was a used as a luxury feature over here.
Yeah, that Stude was a platonic vision of the motorcar circa 1937.
The Ford Corcel is completely new to me. I love when that happens!
It’s fascinating that more home market Brazilian cars haven’t made it to the states where they would truly be the only one of their kind at any car show.
Take a closer look:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1969-ford-corcel-gt-the-confusing-history-of-a-multinational-brazilian-classic/
Ruben,
I am joining the chorus of “wows” here. The collection of cars that your shop is working on would be impressive anywhere.
Can you tell more about the Pro Mod Ford Maverick, which you mentioned has a memorable role in Brazil’s drag racing history? After that introduction, I want to learn more. I did a CC two years ago on a Ford Maverick GT that I found on the street in Sao Paulo in 2008, so I have some awareness of the Maverick’s place in Brazil’s automotive history in general.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classico-do-brasil-ford-maverick-gt/
Very nice post about our brazilian Maverick GT. Indeed the Maverick is a true legend here. Together with the Darts, they were the closest we got from the “Muscle Car” fever.
The Powertech team had 3 diferents Ford Mavericks as part of the Drag Race Team, the one we see here was the most famous of them. It had during its active life, many differents combinations of engines and transmissions.
In this video it had a “blown” 460 Big Block Ford. The Maverick is racing against the Brogster you see now inside our shop. As you can see, this engine is not the best option for drag racing…
What a fun job! Colour me jealous.
That white front fenderless Cord in the third photo looks rather like a hot rod.
It must be great to get a job where you indulge your passion every day, and still get paid!
A Jaguar XJ12 in Brazil? Was it sold there? How many ever made it there
Jags were (and still are) imported in very small numbers. Very expensive cars indeed.
This very one has a good story: A female british writer bought it new in England and when she moved to Brazil in 1976, she brought the car as “personal Stuff”. She didn’t pay a penny in taxes.
Excellent job… Very lucky, Rubens.
One question… Are you guys hiring? 🙂
Thanks for the tour Rubens, interesting stuff and such a variety which helps – both for the tour and working there too I expect!