Brazilian Readers Keep FM In Check

Like clockwork, whenever FordMuscle puts together a feature car article dedicated to an unappreciated Ford model or category (Taurus SHO, 1989 Cougar XR7, Ford 8N, Fords do Brasil) the enthusiastic feedback arrives through email. It’s the best part of our role as writers when we find the work we have done has influenced a group of fellow Ford owners positively. Niche Ford enthusiasts are always pleased to see their nearly unrecognized model given the respect it deserves and we are proud to be the digital magazine that brings it to them.

So here it goes, in February of 2005 I put together a piece on Fords of Brazil after a vacation to the country’s capital of Brasilia. I was curious to find that the Maverick was a celebrated classic among Brazilian collectors. Subsequently, I dedicated a majority of the article to that car. However, since that article was published I have received a number of emails asking why I skipped over the Ford Corcel GT.

This excerpt from the article proved unpopular among some Ford Corcel owners and prompted a email from Rodrigo Fagundes, the editor of Classic Show Magazine, to make me aware of the GT model …

“Unfortunately, the Corcel, Del Rey, and Belina fall towards practical on the excitement spectrum, but since they are unfamiliar to the average American, the cars are rather interesting.”

Click on the thumbnail image above and you’ll see a picture of three Ford Corcel GT’s submitted by Rodrigo. The two up front are 1970’s and the one in the background is an 1983. While the 1.4L four-cylinder equipped Corcel GT’s were still pretty modest when you consider what was happening in the U.S. at the same time, take a look at the visual cues Ford applied to what was once the Renault 12. These perfect restorations show flat black hoods, boss-like stripes, simulated Magnum 500’s, hoods scoops, Mustang-like fog lights, and emblems that must have been lifted from a 68 Torino GT.

If you know more about the performance figures or racing history of the Brazilian Ford Corcel GT, please contribute throught the comment feature below.