Gurgel BR-800
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Gurgel BR-800
| image = Gurgel BR-800.JPG
| manufacturer = Gurgel
| aka = Gurgel 280
| production = 1988-1992
| assembly = Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
|body_style = 2–door Coupé
| successor = Gurgel Supermini
| layout = front engine, rear-wheel drive
| transmission = four-speed manual
| wheelbase = {{convert|1900|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|3195|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1460|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1460|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|650|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| related = Gurgel Motomachine
| designer = João do Amaral Gurgel
| sp = en
}}
The Gurgel BR-800 is a Brazilian city car produced by Gurgel between 1988 and early 1992. The project started under the acronym CENA, meaning "National Economical Car" ("Carro Econômico NAcional", in Portuguese), designed to be essentially a small car for urban daily use. It received great attention and good reviews from critics, regarding the mechanic solutions, comfort, drivability and stability.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gurgel800.com.br/publicacoes/quatrorodas/325/|title = Publicações - Quatro Rodas - Gurgel 800}} When it was introduced in September 1987, the car was named the Gurgel 280 but by the time sales started it was changed to the BR-800.{{cite web | url = http://e10divisoria.vilabol.uol.com.br/br800/carros.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060902082053/http://e10divisoria.vilabol.uol.com.br/br800/carros.htm | title = BR 800 & Supermini | publisher = BR 800 Clube | first = Saulus | last = de Oliveira | location = Salvador, Bahía, Brazil | language = Portuguese | archivedate = 2006-09-02}} The car could only be purchased if the buyer also bought 750 shares in Gurgel, making it considerably more expensive than the much bigger and more capable Chevrolet Chevette, the then cheapest new car available in Brazil.{{cite news | title = Brazilian auto maker dreams | first = Brian | last = Nicholson | publisher = UPI | date = 1988-10-31 }}
The project was favoured by Brazil's then-president, José Sarney, who ensured large unsecured loans for Gurgel's project and also allowed it to be sold at an especially low sales tax. Nonetheless, only about 4,000 were built in around four years of production.{{cite web | url = http://www.autosavant.com/2009/12/29/genius-or-joker-joao-gurgel-and-the-lost-cars-of-brazil/ | title = Genius or Joker? João Gurgel and the Lost Cars of Brazil | date = 2009-12-29 | first = Andy | last = Bannister | publisher = Autosavant | accessdate = 2012-02-17 | archive-date = 2010-12-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101207025110/http://www.autosavant.com/2009/12/29/genius-or-joker-joao-gurgel-and-the-lost-cars-of-brazil/ | url-status = dead }}
Mechanics
The engine, called the Gurgel Enertron, was developed by Gurgel themselves. This is a water-cooled gasoline engine with two opposed piston cylinders. Essentially a halved VW boxer-four engine, it was developed with either 650 cc or 800 cc displacements, generating {{convert|26|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|30|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}} respectively.{{cite web | url = https://www.gurgel800.com.br/historia/gurgelmotores.php | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240903234048/https://www.gurgel800.com.br/historia/gurgelmotores.php | archive-date = 2024-09-03 | title = Gurgel Motores | trans-title = Gurgel Engines | language = pt-BR | work = Gurgel800.com.br | date = 2022-09-08 }} It had a very simple and robust design, eliminating totally the V-belt by using the crankshaft for activating the alternator, and the camshaft for water and oil pump. In a later stage of development, the V-belt was reintroduced for the alternator, so that the battery would be charged even at low engine speeds.
The car's ride also came in for heavy complaints, due to the use of Gurgel's own "Springshock" suspension. This system, made mainly from synthetic materials, was abandoned for a more conventional setup for the succeeding Supermini.{{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040630071143/http://e10divisoria.vilabol.uol.com.br/br800/br800_cont.htm | url = http://e10divisoria.vilabol.uol.com.br/br800/br800_cont.htm | title = BR 800 & Supermini, á historia continua |trans-title=BR-800 and Supermini, History Continued | publisher = BR 800 Clube | first = Saulus | last = de Oliveira | location = Salvador, Bahía, Brazil | language = Portuguese | archivedate = 2004-06-30}}
The body was made using Plasteel, designed for four passengers, and considered by some to have a good level of space for passengers and the driver, despite being less than {{convert|3.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in length.{{Cite journal| url = http://www.gurgel800.com.br/publicacoes/quatrorodas/327/ | journal = Quatro Rodas | title = Acompanhe o novo Gurgel na reta final |trans-title=Following the new Gurgel to the finish | language = Portuguese | number = 327 |date=October 1987 | accessdate = 2013-09-05 }} During development, the little 650 cc engine was set aside, and only a 32 PS version of the 800 cc engine entered production. Nonetheless, the car was considered underpowered, with a top speed of {{convert|110|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.{{Cite book | title = Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1990 | editor = Mastrostefano, Raffaele | publisher = Editoriale Domus S.p.A | year = 1990 | page = 328 | language = Italian | location = Milano }} Power was increased to {{convert|36|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}} for the later SL version. The body, in order to save costs, has flat windows.
Between 1988 and July 1990, Gurgel BR-800 had the IPI tax reduced to 7%, thus giving a great advantage for Gurgel. In July 1990, the Brazilian president Fernando Collor decided to give a similar tax cut to all cars with engines smaller than one litre, thus equating the price of the BR-800 with those of significantly larger and more usable cars, reducing the BR-800 sales to a trickle.
By the end of 1991, the BR-800 received some restyling and other improvements, it was now sold under the name BR-SL. This then received some general improvements and a more thorough restyling, evolving into the Gurgel Supermini.
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References
External links
- [http://www.automobile-catalog.com/model/gurgel/br-800.html Automobile Catalog]
- [http://www.gurgel800.com.br Gurgel 800] General information and forums about Gurgel cars {{in lang|pt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurgel Br-800}}
Category:Cars introduced in 1988
Category:Cars discontinued in 1992