MP Lafer
Encyclopedia
The MP Lafer was an automobile
built in Brazil
by Lafer S/A beginning in 1974. Created by Percival Lafer, a furniture manufacturer, the MP Lafer was a fiberglass
-bodied two-seat roadster
that took its styling cues from the classic British sports cars of the 1940s and early '50s, with a strong resemblance to the MG T-series and Morgan Plus 4. Unlike those, however, its chassis, engine, manual transmission
, steering and suspension were from the Volkswagen Beetle
(known as the Fusca in Brazil). Although the stock VW Type 1 four-cylinder
made it somewhat underpowered, the MP Lafer became a sought-after car in its time. Approximately 4,300 were built over a 16-year span, primarily in two models -- the classic MP and the TI -- before Lafer ceased production. Some 1,000 were exported, many to Europe
but some to the United States.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
built in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by Lafer S/A beginning in 1974. Created by Percival Lafer, a furniture manufacturer, the MP Lafer was a fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
-bodied two-seat roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
that took its styling cues from the classic British sports cars of the 1940s and early '50s, with a strong resemblance to the MG T-series and Morgan Plus 4. Unlike those, however, its chassis, engine, manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, steering and suspension were from the Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
(known as the Fusca in Brazil). Although the stock VW Type 1 four-cylinder
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
made it somewhat underpowered, the MP Lafer became a sought-after car in its time. Approximately 4,300 were built over a 16-year span, primarily in two models -- the classic MP and the TI -- before Lafer ceased production. Some 1,000 were exported, many to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
but some to the United States.