Rare 1971 L'Automobile Ventura Joins DFW Car & Toy Museum Collection

What Happened

A unique 1971 L'Automobile Ventura, a Brazilian-built coupe, has been added to the Ron Sturgeon Collection at the DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth. The vehicle features a distinctive fiberglass body mounted on a Volkswagen Type 3 chassis.

Under the hood, the car utilizes an air-cooled 1.6L flat-four engine. Recent mechanical updates include a rebuilt four-speed manual transmission, dual Weber carburetors, and a refined exhaust system to ensure operational reliability.

The interior remains largely period-correct, featuring a full suite of VDO instrumentation and a five-digit odometer displaying just 4,000 kilometers. The car is now permanently housed at the museum's new 150,000-square-foot facility.

The Core Points

1971 L'Automobile Ventura added to the DFW Car & Toy Museum
Built on a Volkswagen Type 3 platform with a 1.6L flat-four engine
Restored drivetrain features modern performance upgrades including Weber carburetors
Odometer shows low mileage at approximately 4,000 kilometers
Museum admission is free with the location open Tuesday through Saturday

Context in 60 Seconds

The arrival of the Ventura highlights the enduring global influence of Volkswagen’s mechanical architecture. During the mid-20th century, many boutique manufacturers in South America utilized reliable VW platforms to create custom, low-volume sports cars that blended European engineering with local aesthetic sensibilities.

This addition reflects a growing interest among collectors in niche, international automotive history. By preserving these rare examples, museums provide a look at how global car culture adapted to regional manufacturing constraints and market needs.

Bottom Line

The 1971 L'Automobile Ventura serves as an example of 20th-century boutique automotive engineering, now available for public viewing in North Texas.

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