Right now, in one of the Facebook groups I follow, there’s a big showing of Brazil-market vehicles that the masses are eating up. Brazil is an interesting vehicle market…they have some neat little ute-style pickups, they have local classics like the Chevrolet Opala and the Dodge Charger (a worked-over A-body Dart, in this case) and they have a near-feverish appreciation for the Ford Maverick. They’ve also got a smattering of vehicles we got in the States that have been tweaked here and there to satisfy the marketplace, and it’s those vehicles that usually ping high on the “WTF?!” meter. Personally, I’m enjoying learning about rides I didn’t know existed, so from the cool to the beyond belief, here’s a couple of Blue Oval takes:

1. Ford Super Duty Tropiclassic Far and away, the most baffling thing I’ve seen in some years, the Tropiclassic answers a question that I’m not 100% sure was ever asked anywhere else in the world. What would a Ford Super Duty sedan look like? Well, here’s your answer: by mating Ford Focus parts to the back of a crew cab, that’s how. Upfits like the Tropiclassic and locally-produced SUVs that emulated the Ford Excursion were common. I’m still not certain on the “why” part of this program, but they exist. Can someone clarify this for me?

2. Ford Maverick Wagon

In the U.S. market we got Mavericks in two-door and four-door versions, but for a small, compact car that did well enough that it staved off it’s own death for a few years, it’s a bit of a head-shaker as to why we never got a station wagon version. A dealership cranked out 100 of these wagons, and like the rest of the Brazil lineup, you could either get a 302 V8 or a 2.3L four. The Willys six that earlier Brazillian Mavericks had endured should have been replaced by the time the wagons were produced.

3. Ford Pampa

Small pickup truck-like utes are popular in Brazil and have been. Vehicles like the Chevrolet Chevy 500, Dodge 1500 (read: Hillman Avenger conversion that tended to break in half) proved popular. The Ford Pampa is another one of those vehicles, but take a close look at it for a second. Yes, there are blue ovals everywhere and a couple of notable touches that say 1980s Ford, but does something seem a little off here? You’re right if you said yes: the Pampa is related to the Volkswagen Saverio, a ute based on the car we got in North America as the Volkswagen Fox.