Santa Matilde

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The Santa Matilde, or SM4.1, is a legendary sports car designed and produced in Brazil by Cia. Industrial Santa Matilde between 1977 and 1997.

1 Conception
2 Characteristics
3 Generations
4 Future
5 External link

[edit] Conception

Equipped with tuned versions of the Chevrolet Opala engine, the first prototype was revealed at the 1976 Salão do Automóvel as one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the country at the time. It featured items like retractable bumpers, power windows, hidden radio antenna, cassette player, retractable seat belts, leather seats with fine adjustment and air conditioning.

The project was run by engineer Humberto Pimentel Duarte and former pilot and race-car tuner Renato Peixoto. The body design came from Humberto's daughter Ana Lídia and was not based on any previous car, although a few details were inspired by Porsche models.

[edit] Characteristics

The Santa Matilde has a fiberglass body reinforced with polyester, weighing only 66 kg. It is a 2+2 coupe, but has good space for rear passengers.

Two engines were available; a 6 cylinder 210 hp (157 kW), or a 4 cylinder turbo, also with 210 hp. Both versions are highly tuned engines from the Chevrolet Opala, featuring a specially designed exhaust manifold and a different carburetor.

The car has smoothly integrated direction and rear lights. The lower front air intakes are used for the air conditioning and the internal ventilation.

The instrument panel resembles the contemporary Porsche version and has indicators for water temperature, oil pressure, speed, odometer (full and partial), RPM, fuel level and a clock.

The Santa Matilde was conceived to offer safety to the driver and passengers: it had retractable bumpers, made of a rubber compound with steel frames. The car also has a progressive deformation structure and both front and rear disc brakes.

[edit] Generations

[edit] Santa Matilde Mk 1

Santa Matilde Mk 1: Line-produced between 1978 and 1982, it had 171 hp (128 kW) and a top speed of 185 km/h. Based on the prototype, this version had some problems like overheating, noise and ventilation.

Santa Matilde Mk 1

[edit] Santa Matilde Mk 2

Santa Matilde Mk 2: Externally, a new rear design and some cosmetic changes at the front, smoothing some lines. Internally, all problems were solved and this model introduced the tuned engines of 210 hp, propelled by ethanol. This model was line-produced between 1983 and 1986 with small changes in design.