1965 Ushuaia Hidalgo 42 GT
In the PMI Americas collection:
An Argentinian grand tourer with a European inspired body and a US-based engine, developed in the late 50s and being produced in small quantities from 1961 to 1968. While the body and the engine were partially hand-made, this was not a luxury car; and some components were used from other Ushuaia cars, including the engine, which was a modified version of a US straight-six pick up engine Ushuaia built in-house under licence. Despite this, the big six cylinder engine ran smoothly although it did sound a bit truck-like. There are some that claim that with its large torquey engine it was more a Southern American version of a muscle car than of a European grand tourer.
The history of this particular car is interesting, as it was bought by a governmental official who was – rightfully or not – convicted for fraud by the military junta that took over the country soon after. The car was then impounded and declared government property and given to the intelligence services as fast interceptor. And fast it was, despite its truck engine, accelerating from 0-100 in under 10 seconds and reaching top speeds of over 180 km/h while remaining relatively stable on the road. The car was also able to run at high speed for a very long time – with the necessary fuel stops.
The car was decommissioned somewhere in the early 70s, before the so-called Dirty War, and somehow the car ended up in Uruguay. Fast forward to the mid-80 and some adventurer took it – still going strong – on a road trip to Panama. There it was sold and taken by ship to Germany. By the mid-2000s the car was in a stable in Bavaria, where a PMI employee found it after being tipped that the owner had some interesting old PMI components lying around. The Hidalgo was bought for a small sum and restored for museum exhibition.
Specifications
| Engine Specs | Hidalgo Six |
|---|---|
| Description | Straight-6, cast iron block and heads, forged crankshaft, conrods and pistons |
| Valvetrain | Pushrod – 2 valves per cylinder |
| Bore x Stroke | 88.2 mm x 116.5 mm |
| Displacement | 4172 cc |
| Aspiration | 3 single-barrel performance carburetors |
| Compression Ratio | 7.5:1 |
| Output | 156 HP @ 4200 rpm, 313 Nm @ 2300 rpm |
| Redline | 4500 rpm |
| Chassis Specs: | Ushuaia Hidalgo 42 GT |
|---|---|
| Layout | Front-engined, RWD |
| Interior | 2 + 2 premium seats and a premium AM radio |
| Chassis/Body | Galvanised steel ladder / Handmade steel panels |
| Suspension | Double-wishbone F / Semi-trailing arm R |
| Driveline | 4-speed MT, open differential |
| Brakes | Discs F / Drums R |
| Curb Weight | 1317 kg |
| Weight Distribution | F:56% - R:44% |
| 0-100 km/h | 9,8 s |
| Top Speed | 196 km/h |
| 100-0 Braking Distance | 54,3 m |
| List Price, New | $ 10188 |
| Production Run | 1961-1968 |
| Examples Produced | 1048 |