Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:33 am by vfreire
Name: FNM (Fábrica Nacional de Motores/National Motor Factory);
Country: Brazil;
Founder: Brazilian government;
Owner: vfreire;
Active since: 1942 (only trucks), since 1968 privatized with the current owner;
HQ: 1942-1968: Xerém district, Duque de Caxias, RJ, Brazil; 1968 onwards: Resende, RJ, Brazil, with additional manufacturing facilities in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE, Brazil (1994) (Brazil, Central America, Caribbean and Mexico); La Plata, BA, Argentina (1983) (South America); Luanda, Angola (1998) (Africa); Vasco da Gama, Goa, India (2004) (South Asia, Southeast Asia).
Most famous cars, "old" range: FNM 2000 (1960-1968): license-made Alfa Romeo sedan, leather seats and finishing, had a 2000 cc 4 cyl engine with an advanced (for the time) DOHC camshaft, 95 hp;
TIMB 2150 (1968-1973): TIMB is an acronym for Turismo Internacional, Modelo Brasileiro (International Touring, Brazilian Model). Engine enlarged to 2150 cc, 115 hp;
Capeta ("Devil") (1966-1968): sports coupé based on the FNM with a large cuore front grille, but a Mustang-ish body. 115 hp;
Most famous cars, new range: Copacabana (1973-1980): the first model developed by the new administration was named after the famous beach and neighbourhood. Had the same engine of the FNM 2000 and TIMB, with an option of another bored to 2500 cc, 135 hp. Avaiable as 2 and 4-door sedan and wagon ("Petrópolis"). Sports 2-door sedan and wagon released, with 2 Weber carbs, 160 hp;
Niterói (1975-1985): Medium sized, in the same class as the Ford Escort, Opel Kadett, Holden Torana, VW Golf. Avaiable with a 1600 DOHC engine, 75 hp, and later a 1800 hp, 95 hp was made an option. Had a facelift after 1980. Hatchback, sedan and wagon versions avaiable, hatchback as 2-door only. First car made abroad, in Argentina. 2000 hp, 115 hp sport version avaiable. Ethanol versions avaiable from 1981;
Carioca (1978-1990): A first for many concepts in FNM - the first small car (Ford Fiesta, VW Polo), the first new engine, the first ethanol powered car since its inception, though petrol versions were also an option. Hatchback, 2-door only. 1100 cc (50 hp) and 1300 cc (60 hp) OHC as options. Hot hatch with the 1600 cc DOHC tuned up to 80 hp. Also made in Argentina.