1960 Zunder 1500
Brothers Nelson José and Eligio Oscar Bongiovanni established Industrias del Transporte Automotor in Río Cuarto, Córdoba, during Argentina’s ambitious era of automotive self-sufficiency, producing approximately 200 examples of their fiberglass-bodied sedan between 1960 and 1963.
The unconventional two-door featured quad headlights mounted at distinctive 45-degree angles, negatively raked C-pillars creating a wraparound rear window, and bodywork molded from reinforced plastic resin mounted to a tubular steel chassis.
Launched at Buenos Aires’ Alvear Palace Hotel in September 1960, the car incorporated a complete Porsche 356 drivetrain purchased directly from Germany, including the rear-mounted 1.5-liter overhead valve flat-four producing about 58 horsepower at 4,800 rpm.
The four-speed transaxle transmitted power to the rear wheels through a layout that kept curb weight at just 1,940 pounds (880 kg), contributing to a maximum speed of 93 mph (150 km/h).
Engineer Emil Rufilius directed development under the Bongiovanni brothers’ supervision, incorporating torsion bar suspension adapted from Volkswagen and Porsche components with drum brakes at all four corners.
Porsche’s involvement with the project was highlighted in contemporary promotion of the Porsche-sourced drivetrain, although period material is usually described as emphasizing the connection to Porsche rather than clearly documenting formal factory homologation under the exact phrase “homologado por Porsche.”
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