Editing Santa Matilde (section)

== Conception ==

Equipped with tuned versions of the [[Chevrolet Opala]] engine, the first prototype was revealed at the 1976 '''Salão do Automóvel de São Paulo''' as one of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the country at the time. It featured items like retractable [[Bumper (automobile)|bumpers]], [[power window]]s, hidden [[radio antenna]], [[cassette player]], retractable [[seat belt]]s, [[leather]] seats with fine adjustment and [[air conditioning]].

The project was run by engineer Humberto Pimentel Duarte and former pilot and race-car tuner Renato Peixoto. The body design came from Humberto's daughter Ana Lídia and was not based on any previous car, although a few details were inspired by many car models.<ref name="Best Cars Web Site - Santa Matilde 4.1">{{Cite web|url=http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/ph/94.htm|title=Páginas da História - Sofisticação Fora de Série|accessdate=2009-03-16|work=www.bestcars.com.br}}</ref>