WTF - S. African 302 powered '73 'Can-Am' sedan?

[PeteLeathersac]

Stumbled on this online today...says 100 built??? . http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Looks kind've like a cross between an old Envoy Epic or an Opel Kadette but w/ a Chevy 302 and Muncie!. . http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
Check it out...can this be true? .
If so, I want one!!! . http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

The links seems to only go to the engine shots so make sure you click on the 'back link' to access the text and other pics.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=ht...6lr%3D%26sa%3DG (http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.my-car-picture.com/image-files/73-chevy-canam-engine576.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.my-car-picture.com/73-chevy-canam-engine.html&h=386&w=576&sz=91&hl=en&start=20&tbnid =P18kRotPpmI1FM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcan%2Bam%2Bcamaro%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3 Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
~ Pete

[PeteLeathersac]

It's true! .
Check this link out. .

http://www.users.bigpond.com/xu2/canam.htm

I see one went previously on eBay also but it's too old to access the pics. .

~ Pete

[PeteLeathersac]

I was thinking more about this last night and wondering about the possibilities of what may be left in GM South Africa's parts depots? .
302's, Muncies and related parts wouldn't have a whole lot of applications there would they...could it be possible anything NOS is left still sitting over there somewhere? .

Pretty cool cars really w/ a 302 and Muncie...and built by Chevy! .
Little seems to be found online for them...anyone have any info or ever seen one? .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Can-I-Have-It.gif
~ Pete

[PeteLeathersac]

Found this link w/ a bit of info. .

http://www.cartorque.co.za/0318.htm

The resulting cost of the vehicle w/ the engine option being twice the price of a loaded standard unit sounds familiar! .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
~ Pete

[budnate]

you may laugh, but in the mid 80's the VW guys went all over the world to old dealers and bought up all there old NOS stuff...some really rare stuff was found and bought cheap and shipped back to Cal, then resold to us guys for large sums of cash... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif the as found pics of stuff in the back of dealers was way cool.

[PeteLeathersac]

[ QUOTE ]
you may laugh, but in the mid 80's the VW guys went all over the world to old dealers and bought up all there old NOS stuff...some really rare stuff was found and bought cheap and shipped back to Cal, then resold to us guys for large sums of cash... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif the as found pics of stuff in the back of dealers was way cool.

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember reading a story on that...in Hot VW or Cars & Parts maybe? . The guys were laughing as they pulled unbelievably hard to find NOS stuff out of old VW dealerships who were only too happy to get anything for their 'old junk'! .

So...anyone know anything of these little 302 Chevy African Supercars? .

~ Pete

[Hylton]

This thread reminds me of a guy in Germany who cut a 1982 Rabbit (Golf) in half length wise so he could shoehorn a 302 out of a Porsche 928 into it. I don't know who would go through so much trouble but the car looked exactly like any other Rabbit except it was 6 inches wider. He said he had a great time on the autobahn blowing away unsuspecting exotic cars.

[PeteLeathersac]

The VW sounds like a fun car but w/ the sectioning job would surely have been a lot of work...and dough! . Any pics or links? .

About 15 years ago a buddy here built a couple TR6's w/ small blocks...they were great fun and kind've a poor man's Cobra. .

I saw the note on 427StratoChief's profile that he has a Sunbird or Cavalier w/ a RWD small block...sounds like a fun piece too! .

I guess I'm liking this Firenza CanAm more because it was built by Chevy. . With a factory installed 302 and a Muncie, does this qualify as a Supercar? .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
~ Pete

[2qwik2c]

There is a guy around home here that installed a 468 BB into a firefly convert. The back end was all tire with maybe 6" between them. Looked awesome. I bet it would be scary to drive. I will try to find a pic. 2qwik2c.

[StriperSS]

I may still have the German language car magazine with this widened Golf in it. If I recall correctly, it was built by one of the well known German tuners. I'll try and find it and scan it.

[StriperSS]

Pete;

I don't know of anything specific about these small block Firenzas, but South Africa did have some interesting cars available. Because of Apartied, the country was a bit of a Pariah, and no one was 'officially' trading with them.
American cars were available there, but the import process was rather involved, so not a lot made it over. I read somewhere that Belgian assembled cars went there to get around trade embargos.

[Hylton]

[ QUOTE ]
I may still have the German language car magazine with this widened Golf in it. If I recall correctly, it was built by one of the well known German tuners. I'll try and find it and scan it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya, I think I might still have a copy of the Road and Track article. The car was gun metal grey in color. Will try to hunt it down as well.