My dear cousin Sérgio never misses a classic car gathering, and he often sends me pictures he takes there.
This time, the meeting took place in a picturesque little town called Lapa, located 70 kilometers southwest of Curitiba, my hometown in Brazil.
Lapa is one of the oldest cities in Brazil; in the downtown area, you can find several perfectly preserved houses built in the XVIII and XIX centuries.
The city holds an emotional connection for us because my wife, Estela, attended a Catholic boarding school there when she was a kid.
The Meeting
A beautiful 1980s Ford Bronco is on its way to the meeting.
Not yet a classic, but the new Suzuki looks good.
A 1969 German-built VW Transporter.
A 1990s Lada Laika. A symbol of the Perestroika, when Russia was more interested in selling cars than invading sovereign countries.
The white VW Beetle is a 1966 model, the same year as my first car, which was a dark blue Beetle.
Lapa’s Off-Road Club is very active.
The meeting was also an opportunity to advertise new cars.
1974 Chevrolet Opala
A well-preserved, unrestored 1960s Willys pick-up.
The air-cooled gang.
This is a ratty 1946 International KB1 Metro van. I have a soft spot for vans; I wish Sérgio had taken more pictures of this car.
Two distinct GM products: the iconic 1959 Cadillac (tastefully lowered) and a 1980s Brazilian Chevy Opala.
A pair of Brazilian-built Puma. You can read more about this car here
The VW Brasília was a huge success in the 1970s and 1980s. It was developed and produced in Brazil from 1973 until 1982. The car was exported to the Philippines, countries in South America, and Africa.
It was also produced in Mexico from 1974 and 1981.
1951 Chevy sedan 4 doors.
The license plate gives it away. It is a 1972 Chevy Camaro.
A 1972 Brazilian-built VW TL (touring luxury).
The Model Ts rolled in with undeniable charm. Always the crowd’s favorite.
Once again, I thank my dear cousin Sérgio for graciously sending his pictures.
That was a fantastic event, and I wish I could have been there with my wife, not only to see the cars but also to reminisce about the time she spent in that city.
The Classic Machines 
Wow! What incredible shots. Some of those vehicles I’ve never even heard of before. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi, Chris.
There was a good variety of cars at the meeting, a nice balance between domestic and imported vehicles. I really wish I was there.
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Y’all got some odd looking license plates down there in Brazil. Different sized front and rear. Plus that rear plate looks shorter than a Canadian one.
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License plates in Brazil is kind of confusing. After I left the country in 2015, the government approved the “Mercosul” plates, with a standard size and lettering for a few South American countries, but not everybody adopted it… pretty weird.
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Amazing history and car lesson thanks to you and Sergio!
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Thanks for stopping by, and I am glad you enjoyed the post. The auto industry in South America is kind of interesting.
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Lapa appears to be a beautiful city with lots of green space. Sergio’s images from a classic car gathering there were interesting to peruse through. I particularly liked the 1960 Willy’s pick-up and all the VWs! 🙂
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When I was a kid, my grampa completely rebuilt a Willys pick-up just like that one in our garage, and I followed every step of that job. That was the best lesson in auto mechanics I ever had.
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Thanks for the memories have plenty on it and Brazil in my blog i visited Lapa in 2008! while living in Curitiba working in auto industry out of Piraquara. Cheers
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Wow, it’s really cool that you have lived in Brazil and so close to my hometown Curitiba. I checked your blog, and it looks like you have been traveling to a lot of awesome places.
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Yes indeed you are welcome.
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