Prato Motor Company [New Budget Car 01/04/15}

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AutomatiomHub: automationhub.net/company-ca … mpanyID=35

Breif History and first Car

Prato Motor Company (PMC) founded in 1946 by N. Prato, an Italian engineer who immigrated to Canada after World War II. The company started in March of 1946 in a 5,000 square foot warehouse, with 10 employees where Prato Motor Company built custom coaches, in partnership with Ford. Using suspension, body panels, frame and transmissions supplied by Ford, PMC built custom low run automobiles of the highest standard that rivaled Oldsmobile and Cadillac for interior fit and finish. The first model produced by PMC was the Prato Grand Tourer, a luxury sedan.

The Prato Grand Tourer Sedan: 1946-59

The 1946 Prato Grand Tourer Sedan boasted a 95hp 2.9L inline six, built form a cast iron block supplied by ford, which was then bored, assembled and tuned by PMC. The transmission was a posh 2 speed automatic with the option of a 3 speed manual. The interior rivaled many of the domestic luxury brands of the time, some saying it was ‘more plush then a Caddilac.’ The car was an instant success, only held back by the limited production capabilities, despite having a large portion of the parts supplied by Ford.

The retail price for 1946 was $737.41 brand new

By 1950 PMC had grown from a 5,000 square foot warehouse to a 25,000 square foot factory, with a full time staff in excess of 100. Production has increased and at the start of the 1950 model year Prato Motor Company had improved the Grand Tourer Sedan It boasted a enhanced 3.0L 105hp inline 6, a revised version of the engine previously offered and an even more upscale interior. PMC acquired the patents and licensing to being producing body panels on their own, while still being supplied suspension components and transmissions from ford. The grill was revised, but general body styling remained the same.

The 1950 Grant Tourer Sedan sold for $1,010.04

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Complete PMC listings

PMC chromes and nickle plates in house, adding both functional corrosion resistance and flare to all of its engines.

Official PMC badge, (special thanks to BitTwiddler for taking time and effort to make this for me)

http://automationgame.com/phpBB3/posting.php?mode=edit&f=35&t=5141&p=51484#

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1958 was a big year for Prato Motor Company, the 1958 Grand Tourer Sedan Deluxe, available with the option of a 105 or 125hp 3.0l I6 in addition of the choice of 3 speed automatic or standard transmission. The interior was slightly revised and suspension was also improved. 1958 was the first year that all components were made and assembled in house, being a major milestone for PMC as they had previously relied on Ford for many components. Royalties are still paid for the patent shared and use of Ford designs. The 3.0l I6 when paired with a three speed manual transmission with overdrive manages 26 miles to the gallon and a 0-100 time of 17.2 seconds/

The 1958 Prato Grand Tourer Sedan - Deluxe retailed for $ 1,442.10 after mark up and dealer fees

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**Prato Zoope: First generation: 1960- 1970 **

By 1960 the Grand Tourer Sedan and Grand Tourer Deluxe were becoming dated. The body style had long since lost its edge, being 14 years old at this point. The wants and needs of the people were changing, cars were less of an upper class accessory but an average mans transportation. Plush interiors and chrome were not conducive to this market so Prato Motor Company re branded itself, ending production of the Grand Tourer Sedan Entirely. Inspired by small European Cars, PMC went to the drawing board and produced the Prato Zoope. A small economical car with a 1.5l I4 engine, producing 66hp and getting nearly 31 miles to the gallon. Everything was produced in house. It was cheap, affordable, reliable and well priced. It was truly a car for the average man, it was a 2 door, with seating for 5, powerful enough to overtake slower traffic but not so powerful to be dangerous. 0-100 was done in and underwhelming 15.2 seconds.

PMC had an effective staff of over 650 employees at this point with two warehouses, a factory and small dirt test track behind it. Everything from engine tuning, painting, welding fitting to chrome dipping was done by a Prato employee.

The 1960 Prato Zoope retailed for a modest $ 815.59, being a very economical choice for first time car owners and families.

Being small, and reliable Prato saw potential for the Zoope in the rally racing market.

Available on automation hub here: automationhub.net/company-ca … armodel/89

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After several successful years of producing the Prato Zoope, Prato had decided that it was time to step up the company into pinnacle the Motorsport scene, rally racing. The Zoope was light, nimble and reliable with a few simple aftermarket components it was rally race ready, so Prato thought to himself, why not do these upgrades from the factory? For 1967 the engine was tuned to the hum of 77hp, and the interior was made more spartan to save weight, a 4 speed manual transmission was the only choice and the suspension and tires were upgraded. The car was sporty, small and still very affordable. With a 0-100km time of 13.4 seconds it was fast for the a 4 cylinder and managed in excess of 34 miles per gallon.

The 1967 Prato Zoope Rally Edition saw heavy use in the international rallying scene giving Volkswagen, fiat, skoda and other European brands a run for their money, placing in the top 10 in the European Rally Championship, losing to a 1967 Lotus Cortina.

The 1967 Prato Zoope Rally Edition retailed for $ 916.57, allowing the average man to own a piece of automotive performance

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Prato Zoope: Second Generation: 1970-1977

By 1970 the Prato Zoope was a rallying success, with cars claiming titles internationally, though never taking the European Rally Championship. 1970 was a bold new year for PMC, the Zoope would undego a complete overhaul. With affordable performance and reliability in mind the body was redone with new lines, curve and shape. It was compact a 4 door sedan that seats 5, no one would ever make the connection between it and the previous models save for the badges and 'Zoope" written into the headrest of the seats. With an alluminum body and a 113hp Overhead cam updated 2.0l I4 the car was capable of 0-100 in 8.7 seconds with a top speed on nearly 200kph all while maintaining a admirable 41 miles per gallon fuel consumption.

The interior was basic, the entertainment standard but it got from point A to point B every time.

With a 4 speed manual transmission and optional 3 speed automatic the car the car was efficient and sporty. Just as its predecessor many a rally enthusiast would bolt on a few aftermarket parts and race the 1970 Prato Zoope at their local rally course. International exports were at an all time high and continued to climb with the new model release. The 1970 Zoope nearly took the 1971 European Rally Championship loosing by tenths of second and a driver almost took the 1972 Canadian Rally Championship, however a rather large pine tree had other plans for the car and its driver in one of the final bends of the race. Prato Motor Cars still had not claimed a championship despite the cars capabilities.

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By 1972 the new model was surely destined for greatness. Prato listened to the wants of the people and offered a Rally edition of the current Zoope. The 1972 Prato Zoope Rally Edition was equipt with the Prato Rally package. This package included an increased horsepower of 125hp out of a heavily tuned 2.0l I4, beefed up double wishbone suspension, wider tires, larger breaks, a lightened interior and a added lip to the trunk to provide down force. Vents were added to allow greater cooling to the engine. 0-100 times were a bolstering 8.0 seconds for the Rally editions. and the people loved it with both domestic and international sales rocketing.

Prato Motor Companies opened a whole new plant just for building the rally ready components to be sent to the assembly line in Sudbury Ontario. Regular Zoopes would be pulled from the assembly line and fitted with the Rally performance package while the rest got the standard package with more comfortable interior and sound insulation. With a workforce of nearly 1,200 and a second factory added to the fleet PMC was ever growing. N. Prato was proud of what had become of his company.

Prato Motor Companies had even begun exporting rally edition engines to rally teams internationally as they had gained a reputation for reliability while still being affordable.

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Prato Zoope: Third Generation 1977-81

As the 1970’s rolled along fuel became more expensive and performance was no longer on the forefront. Everyone wanted a cheap car with good mileage, Prato Motor Company was already catering to this niche long before the trend making them a very competitive force. The 1977 Zoope saw a moderate change in body styling adopting a more modern sedan look, as opposed to a hatch. Most body panels were interchangeable with the 1970-1976 model making repairs simple and affordable. The engine was a bit of a tone down from the previous 2.0L, it had an overhead cam as before but was equip with quieter much more restrictive exhaust with a catalytic converter. The intake was also restricted due to recently implemented smog sensor regulations. The sad engine produced a meager 84.5 horsepower, a pittance of what it was capable of with a little bit of massaging and an aftermarket exhaust. Skinny road tires and a unsporting 3 speed automatic was installed. The car was reliable, cheap and passed the emissions requirements all while getting 34 miles on the gallon and that’s all that mattered. The rally lip on the rear trunk was all that remained of the performance heritage of the Zoope.

International sales dwindled with domestic sales dropped slightly but remained mostly steady. Prato Motor Company had to lay off almost 150 staff who had worked in the performance department assembling rally packages and tuning engines in addition to almost 100 regular assembly line workers. Prato was unsure as to whether there was a future for Sudbury plant. No rally versions were offered from the factory, however rally suspension components from the 1972-76 Zoope Rally edition were all compatible, giving rally enthusiasts something to work with, many would opt for using an older model to compete.

The 1977 Zoope retailed for $ 1,998.90, making it super economical being over $600 cheaper then domestic 2 doors of the time period.

Suzume Collaboration 1977-1979

Despite the lackluster performance of the 3rd gen Zoope, several cars were exported to Suzume Motor Manufacturing Industries. Suzume was looking for a 4 door chassis to accompany their two doorKaminari G. The Zoope shells were to house their prototype I6 motor boasting 137hp (as opposed to the stock 84.5hp) the car was much quicker then it was when it left PMC’d production line. It could clear 0-100 in 7.4 seconds, which was admirable for the time period.

The car was available under both the PMC and Suzumme badges as the Zoope 21G. Approximately 10,000 PMC/Suzume Zoopes were sold in the first year alone.

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Prato Zoope: Fourth Generation: 1982-93

1982 put performance back on the menu, after several years of lackluster performance Prato Zoopes had all but completely vanished from the international Rally scene and the Sudbury Factory had nearly been closed completely. In a last ditch attempt to save the company Prato signed a partnership with Volkswagen. VW provided unfinished EA827 OHC 2.0L I4’s to prato, where they would be finished and assembled in the Sudbury plant. The Zoope body was totally re hauled, taking some design ques from new found partner Volkswagen. The Prato tuned I4’s produced 105hp and were extremely reliable. Paired with a 5 speed manual transmission the Zoope was capable of 32.5 Miles per gallon. Equip with hard road tires, a small rear spoiler, a comfortable interior and entertainment system the Zoope was capable of a respectable 0-100 time of 8.7 seconds.

The 1982 Prato Zoope was a success. Being the ‘in’ time for hot hatches, the rear wheel drive sporty hatch had really hit the mark for Prato and its new partnership with Volkswagen, Prato Motor Company was back in business full swing. Within 6 months of the launch international sales were up 25% and domestic sales up 10%. Many of the laid off staff were rehired and raises were given out all around. Prato was happy, his staff were happy and there was even talk of a return to the Rally scene…

The 1982 Zoope retailed for $ 4,211.07 placing it well below the average cost of a new car of $5,967.00.

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In 1984 the moment all had been waiting for had finally happened. The 1984 Prato Zoope had a factory rally option. With an aluminum head, overhead cam, high flow tubular headers, higher compression pistons and an aggressive cam the 2.0L VW EA827 was tuned up to 125hp. The body was tuned for aerodynamics with a front lip added and a rear lip in addition to a rally hood scoop. The suspension was sport tuned, bigger brakes added and wider, sportier tires were fitted. Even the interior was performance based, with many options deleted and the amount of sound insulation removed. The 1984 Prato Zoope Rally edition was capable of 0-100 in 7.6 seconds while maintaining 31 miles to the gallon consumption.

With the Sudbury performance plant in full operation, many Zoope’s were given the performance package. The car was an instant rally success, within 8 months of the new package release the performance model sales had nearly matched the base model sales. Prato had high hopes for the 1984 Canadian Rally Championship.

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In 1987 Prato Motor Company in partnership with Volkswagon in association with Honewell Turbo Technologies collaborated and released a 20th aniversary of the Prato Zoope Rally Edition, dubbed the Heritage R. Equip with an all aluminum black, the custom EA827 received a decreased stroke, DCOE carburetors, and a Honeywell turbocharger. Displacing 1.9L the OHC Turbo I4 produced 163 hp at just 10 lbs of boost. The Zoope Heritage R could do 0-100 in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of over 180km per hour with its 5 speed manual transmission. The suspension is heavy duty featuring Bilstien coil overs. Aerodynamics are improved via a large rally wing. The interior is spartan, but of high quality. “20 happy Years” is stitched into the leather wrapped steering wheel and “Prato Rally Sport” is stitched into the headrests. Nearly 35 miles to the gallon is achieved.

The colour used was the classic green identical to that of the 1967 Zoope Rally. The 1987 Zoope Heritage R was produced in limited numbers, only 2500 were made, about 300 of which were purchased by Prato Motor Company Executives and factory staff. N. Prato himself bought 2 of them, one of which he still drives daily. Some were raced internationaly, others were tucked away into storage as many knew they would become very collectible in time. To this date rally enthusiasts and Zoope collectors pay top dollar for even wrecked and damaged Heritage R’s.

If you were lucky enough to buy one, it would have set you back $ 5,655.44, prices skyrocketed within 6 months of the last car rolling off the assembly line with people selling then for an excess of $15,000 on the private market.

In 2015 a Zoope Heritage R was restored and tuned for hill climbing with period correct mods.

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Prato Zoope: Fifth Generation: 1993-2002

In 1993 the Zoope received another remodeling. With a fresh face lift it was only fitting the engine was to be updated. The 2.0l EA827 was modernized with a more modern 4 valve per cylinder overhead cam, aluminum head and multi-point fuel injection. Producing 128hp and matched with a 5 speed manual all wheel drive train it is capable of 44.2 miles per gallon consumption. Its interior is standard for the time period with a CD deck, A/C, heat, and 6 speaker audi system supplied by Sony. Capable of 0-100 in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 214kmph It is a well handling, sporty step in the evolution of the Prato Zoope. In 1997 buyers received the engine option between the baseline SOHC and updated DOHC variant of the EA827 which produced 140hp.

It was an immediate hit in both rally racing and the consumer market due to the peppy and efficient engine and all wheel drive capabilities all while being extremely affordable.

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Great read!

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In 1995 the J sub series of the Zoope model was introduced. After the successful testing of DOHC technology on child company Firenza, PMC decided to feature a DOHC 20 valve all alluminum variant of the 2.0L EA827 it producing 141hp. The J series featured an upgraded interior featuring race styled heated seats, a race inspired gauge cluster, and tinted windows. The front clip received slightly more aggressive styling. The sound system received an impressive upgrade, featuring a single 10’ Sony Xplode Sub woofer, improved sound insulation and a 9 Speaker Sony sound system including tweeters, it cranked out beats like it was its job. With a tasteful splash of leather the interior is sporty and luxurious for the price. The J series also features a small rear spoiler. It was capable of 0-100 in 6.9 seconds.

The J series was inspired by N. Prato’s younger brother and is the sports and entertainment upgrade package available for a elevated price tag over the basemodel Zoope.

For a few extra dollars the car was available with an electric sunroof, so the world can hear your tunes without you having to get the wind in your face.

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In 1997 another package was available for the Zoope, the Zoope R. It featured an all aluminum, multi-throttle fuel injected Honeywell/Garrett Turbo charged variant of the EA827 available in the J series Zoope. It produced 173hp at nearly 7000rpm. The Motor commemorated 15 years of partnership between Prato Motor Company and Volkswagen. The car was outfitted with a sport closed ratio 5 speed and all wheel drive, capable of 0-100 in 5.8 seconds. The interior was somewhat downgraded for sake of performance and cost savings. It featured a minimalist 4 speaker Sony system and lesser sound insulation. The front bumper received a slight make over.

Some 1997 Zoope Model R’s were raced in both road an rally racing, however not on an official capacity, or internationally as it once had. The Zoope R was truly a performance oriented, economy hot hatch and outsold the J series Zoope, however trailed behind the base model marginally. Manyy people wondered when PMC would step back into the ring and produce a rally model, as much of PMC’s reputation stemmed from its rallying success of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

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With the coming of the new millennium Prato did it again. He released a rally variant for the current body style of Zoope. Featuring an all aluminum 2.0L as seen on the R series, however this engine sings to the tune of 270hp at 8100 rpm. The engine was over bored to 2.1l, the boost pressure increased, a large front mount inter cooler was installed and compression was increased. Prato’s new 6 speed close ratio transmission was naturally the only choice for the rally edition, matched with the tried and true all wheel drive train. The interior was all but completely gutted save for some carpet, the dash and the two Recaro racing seats placed in the front. The back bench seat was deleted, sound insulation was stripped, the stereo was deleted along with A/C. The heater was downsized, but other then that, left in tact. Power windows were replaced with manual rollers. Massive 4 piston Brembos were installed in addition to Pirelli tries, allowing the car to stop and a dime. The suspension received full treatment from Bilstein and was reinforced heavily. The under body received skids plates and a rear diffuser. The body panels are a combination of plastic and fiberglass to save on weight. The 2000 Zoope Rally Edition weighing hardly 975kg, got 42 miles to the gallon and could do 0-100 in 3.8 seconds flat with a top speed of over 250kmph. The car could run a 12.06 second 1/4 mile. It is rumored that a select few were hand tuned under the supervision of Prato himself, producing 350hp, however none of these cars have records of sale…

It was the rally car the people had been waiting for, and boy were they happy. All 5000 of the limited run rally package cars were assembled within the now Iconic Sudbury performance plant, with the first one off the line being given to Ivan Smith, as a retirement gift for 54 years of employment at Prato Motor Company, the glove box was signed by the other 9 original PWC employees and N. Prato himself. Ivan passed away in 2007 and the car was sold in an international auction for $340,000.00 to a rally enthusiast and museum owner in Holland.

With a sticker price of 35,000.00$ International demand was through the roof, although almost all models were sold domestically. Notably one batch of 15 Zoope’s were pre-purchased at a premium by a Saudi oil baron, reports are only 3 remain in running condition. The cars were made famous due to the superstar Youtube channel SaudiRacingX233, which exploded overnight. It features cars drifting in the desert and performing extreme jumps and stunts. A driver racing a 2000 Zoope Rally edition took 2nd place in the 2001 Canadian Rally Championship. Several Zoope’s were featured in the European Rally Championship, however none of them placed. Motor trend magazine did a 3 page feature on the car and gave it two thumbs up, saying “Porsche performance on and off the road for a fraction of the cost? Do you have any left for sale?” Jeremy Clarkson from TopGear had one word as he zipped throught the TopGear test track 'wow".

The 2000 Prato Zoope Rally cars still see some use today both domestically abroad in both Rally and Circuit racing. A heavily modified Zoope set a lap time of 7:45:12 on the Nürburgring track being one of the 100 fastest lap times in 2004.

In the words of the now, very senior N. Prato “I finally made the car I set out to make when I got into the business”. N. Prato retired from his position as CEO that July, after running the company for 54 years. The reigns were passed on to his grandson, Nathan.

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Of the 5000 Rally Zoopes 10 were taken back into the factory and fitted with even more powerful Honeywell/Garret Turbos and tuned under the direct supervision of Prato himself. This was done in total secrecy, only the small team of engineers and Prato himself knew of the secret until it was leaked to the public. The custom tuned 355hp versions of the 2000 Zoope Rally were not for sale and that just made people want to buy them more, or take them. On July 23rd 2001, 2 burglars were caught breaking into the storage facility where the cars were being held, security caught the thieves red handed before they could get the car started. One of the cars suffered some scratches to the door and a broken ignition due to the break in, however no real damage was done. The cars have made movie debuts, been portrayed in video games and fantasized about by the public for years, with the public only catching glimpses of them when they were being loaded into the back of a transport to a more secure location after the break in. Mr. Prato even turned down the offer of 1 million dollars for one of the cars by a rally car collector. Every once in a while there are reports from local townsfolk who see N. Prato driving one around at his leisure.

The cars were rumored to go 0-100 in 3.5 and have a top speed of 287kmph, however Mr. Prato refuses to comment on their existence, even after blueprints of the engine were leaked in 2003.

14 years after the release of the now iconic Zoope Rally edition and the ‘never actually released’ secret rally production cars GG performance decided a commemoration of the car was in order. Imitation is the best form of flattery isn’t it? The maniacs over at G&G really went to town on this one. The modern recreating features a far more aggressive styling, with a slightly redesigned front array, that captures the spirit of the original, and enhances it with all kinds of meanness. The hood scoops are integrated into matte black GT stripes over a crimson finish. The car looks like a race car, smells like a race, feels like a race car and can and does 0-60 like a race car. It weights hardly 2200lbs and has 1129hp, far exceeding 1000hp per tonne. The car somehow manages nearly 18 miles per gallon on 98 RON, not great but considering you can get from your home to the supermarket and home again in less then a minute we think that’s quite alright. As a side bonus and inside joke his car has rear rails to give the option to install two further seats in the rear for 2 additional Recaro racing seats with harnesses, in case you want to take an elderly relative for a spin around the Nordschleife.

G&G reports “The tailgate sports the massive Mephisto doublewing, generating well over half a tonne of downforce at top speed. With integrated downforce undertray and splitter, the car is glued to the road at speed, and can blast around most tracks at a pace to match that of the Mephisto.” With the power and grip this car is capable of you can generate enough G forces to stop your heart and restart it, twice! The car has been able to in multiple instances claim a sub 7 minute lap around Nordschleife. N. Prato and his grand son test drove the car when it shipped to Canada and the two of them had one thing to say among blurry eyes and clearing throats. The car was the ultimate homage and tribute to the Zoope that put Prato Motor Company on the map for good, and G&G did a damn fine job with their modern hyprecar recreation.

The car was truly a spectacle as to what can be done with a vision, a little bit of madness and what a bunch of performance parts can do when cobbled together. The car is not for sale via mass production, and GG design has exclusive rights to produce the cars with PMC permission and consent. The car is rumored to retail in the 1.7-2.0 million range. There company can be contracted via viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4022

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Prato Zoope Sixth Generation: 2003 - present

By 2003 the previous body style had seen in nearly 8 years of use and it was time for a change. Reverting back to a rear wheel drive design the 2003 Prato Zoope was designed with affordable performance in mind. With a 139hp DOHC aluminum head 2.0L EA827 paired with a 6 speed manual transmission it achieved 46 miles to the gallon and a 0-100km time of 8 seconds all with seating for 5. While not super car stats, but the car was comfortable. It had a 9 speaker Sony Sounds system, including tweeter, a built in 10" Sony Xplode sub-woofer, a 6" LED, blue-tooth compatible touchscreen HUD in the dash, heated seats, power windows and A/C. It got you from A to B in a reasonable time in a great deal of comfort.

It sports moderate sized disk brakes and a rear spoiler which hearken back to Prato Zoope’s rally heritage.

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With the 2005 model year the 2005 Prato Zoope Rally edition was released, featuring an 165hp aluminum head DOHC variant of the tired and true 2.0L EA827. With a 6 speed transmission it was capable of 0-100 in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 220kmph, hearkening back to the previous rally models. It featured aggresive exterior styling, a large rear wing, rally headlighs, larger brakes, pirelli tires and Bilstien shocks.The interior experiences a modest tone down, with the subwoofer deleted, less sound insulation and a basic 6 speaker set up. The 6" LED display remained. The steering wheel was replaced with a leather wrapped momo wheel and semi race style front seats were installed, the rear seats remained allowing a maximum capacity of 5 individuals. The car maintained an admirable 44 miles to the gallon consumption despite the performance tune.

The ‘retro green’ used on 60’s Zoopes was applied to display the cars heritage. a New front clip and rear bumper were also part of the rally model.

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The feels man, the feels. N. Prato is one dedicated to the dream of making something beautiful and he spent fifty years achieving that dream. Clearly the company is an enduring one not because it seeks for dominion, nor for massive profit margins, but was built as a family that did its best to look after its own and set about its business in what I’m going to go out on a limb and call a charming Canadian understatement (with small streaks of fun-loving obnoxiousness).

With such a history and track record PMC ought to be considered part of Canada’s cultural heritage, their cars an icon for commuter and enthusiast alike.