1978 Puma GTB

This Puma GTB left the factory in 1978 and didn’t arrive here in the UK until 2025: You see, the seller has a contact in Brazil and had asked him to let him know if one crossed his path. 

Attracted by the combination of an understated design that references both the American cars he loves (he’s a member of the All American Auto Club) and classic bruisers like the Aston Martin Vantage, given how few Series 1 cars had been built, he wasn’t holding his breath.

And yet this beauty turned up and a deal was struck. Number 519 in the production run, it arrived on these shores only last year, and the seller set about registering, a process he relished. 

Only being sold because he’s moving house and needs to clear the decks, ‘XUX 769S’ is believed to be the only example of its kind in the UK – and even the North American continent is thought to contain just one Series 2. 

The metallic blue paintwork shows off the GTB’s surprisingly compact lines – and the surprisingly narrow and consistent shutlines for the door and boot; we might have gotten used to wayward panel alignment on domestic fibreglass cars of the period, but the folk at Puma demonstrate that it is the workmanship that counts, not the material.

While the side profile and rear end is distinctly Aston Martin-esque, the front is all-American – and the use of minimalist chrome bumpers fore and aft to link the two are a deft touch.

The 14-inch Roda Guidon Scorro wheels are in a very good condition with no scuffs, scrapes, or other damage. They’re also fitted with a matching set of BF Goodrich Radial T/A tyres, with 215/70R14 from 2013 on the front and 225/70R14 from 2009 on the rear. All have good tread but are getting on a bit. 

However, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

As for flaws, the nearside of the bonnet doesn’t align as neatly as it might, and there are a few spots of rust on the bumpers. The nearside door handle is also missing, and the offside one doesn’t work: The seller’s workaround is to leave the quarterlight open and just reach in to open it from the inside. (The lock itself is in the glovebox.)

There is also paint contamination across the top of that door and along the offside front wing, plus some microblistering on the nearside A-pillar. The ‘Puma’ badge on the bonnet has also lost some colour, the screws holding the bonnet catches are rusty, and the base of the offside ‘Panther’ door mirror has cracked.

The interior apes the design of classic 70’s grand tourers too, which is no bad thing, especially because Puma has done such a good job of it, lavishing the cabin in black leather before dotting it with chrome controls.

The steering wheel is by Momo, and its slotted design co-ordinates nicely with the billet gearlever, which is machined in a way that will be instantly familiar to muscle car enthusiasts. 

The front seats are supportive and comfortable, with firm bolsters and little more than a gently developing patina to give away their age. Boasting contrasting white stitching throughout including the (very good) door cards and dashboard, the snug rear seats are in an even better condition than the ones in the front.

The white-on-black instruments feature the Puma logo, and they’re both well preserved and very stylish. While we are on the subject, everything we tested worked as it should with the exception of the coolant gauge. 

A pair of Aiwa speakers have been fitted to the rear parcel shelf, and a Bluetooth-enabled, vintage-style radio sits in the dashboard. 

The headlining is in good shape generally but some of the seams have started to let go on the nearside edge. 

The black carpets are durable and have weathered well.

The boot holds a full-size spare wheel and while the trim is good, it has started to peel away in places, so will need to be stuck back down.

There is a knack to starting it: “There is an automatic choke, so when starting from cold I remove the air box and restrict the airflow by hand, which allows more fuel in and it starts straight up.” Of course, given the engine’s popularity, converting it to a manual choke would probably be fairly straightforward. 

As you can see in the video, it starts very well and revs with the smoothness you only get with an inline-six. It’s also got a solid exhaust note and good oil pressure. 

Nonetheless, you might like to replace the old and rusty air filter. On the plus side, we did spot a new battery and carefully wrapped exhaust manifolds.

The seller has told us that his next job was to recommission coolant system, fan thermostat controller and connections as this has not been done. 

On the cosmetic front, a deep clean should see you through the coming season, after which you could spend a satisfying few hours bringing it up to whatever standard makes you happy.

The underside appears strong, and while there is a little surface corrosion it doesn’t look to be either engrained or extensive, so while removing it and treating what’s left before protecting it with a good coat of paint or underseal would be a faff, it would be a worthwhile faff. 

Some of the suspension bushes have perished too, so perhaps refreshing the underside would be a sensible job for the coming winter?

To help him sleep a bit easier at night, the seller tracked a full set of glass, which he’s happy to ship to the winning bidder at his cost. 

The Puma doesn’t have a current MoT certificate. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it has one ignition key and two door keys.

NB: There was a little confusion when the Puma GTB was being registered with the DVLA, with the All American Auto Club incorrectly assuming it has been built by Volkswagen, an understandable mistake given the German firm’s ties with the later Puma GTC. 

The combination of simple American mechanicals and a fibreglass body makes for a DIYer’s dream – and that’s without factoring in its astonishingly good condition; this is a classic muscle car you can show with confidence.

Of course, you can also rest easy that you will not see another.

So, if unusual and easily maintained is your thing, you should consider bidding – especially as our guide price starts at a very reasonable £25,000, with even our upper estimate being just £10,000 more than that.

Exclusivity has rarely been cheaper.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.