The car that charmed Brazil

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2022

⏱️ 10 minutes

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Summary

Since its launch in the 1950s, the Brazilian version of the VW Beetle has had a special place in the nation's heart. Cheap, charismatic and virtually indestructible, it was many Brazilians' first car and is affectionately known as the Fusca. The Fusca played a key role in the development of Brazil's economically and politically vital national car industry. In 2014, Candace Piette spoke to two Fusca superfans, Silio Boccanera and Edivaldo Fernandes. (Photo: A Fusca in the colonial town of Paraty. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	What's up y'all, I'm Renee Montgomery and my podcast Untold Legends Aura is available
0:05.4	now.
0:06.4	I'm looking back on the life of one of the most extraordinary black female sport stars
0:11.6	of the 20th century, whose name has been all but forgotten.
0:16.0	Aura Washington.
0:18.0	Stay listening at the end of this podcast to find out more.
0:20.8	Hello and welcome to this edition of The Witness History Podcast from the BBC World
0:33.9	Service.
0:34.9	We're bringing you stories from Brazil ahead of the presidential elections in October.
0:39.9	Today, we're going to tell you about a car that charmed a nation, cheap, charismatic and
0:46.3	virtually indestructible.
0:48.4	The VW Beetle was many Brazilians first car and is affectionately known as the Fushka.
0:55.6	In 2014, Candi's peer spoke to two Fushka super fans, Silo Bocanera and Edevaldo Fernandez.
1:15.2	Many countries have a little car with a big place in their heart.
1:19.5	For the English, it's the Austin Mini.
1:21.9	For Italians, it's the Cinquecento and for Brazilians, it's the Fushka.
1:32.2	Fushka was the nickname for the version of the VW Beetle made in Brazil.
1:37.5	It was my first car.
1:38.5	It was still a teenager.
1:40.8	Mine was light blue.
1:42.4	My dad bought it for me.
1:45.0	At the time, my friends who had any car had that.
	...

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