Who did it better – the Tesla Cybertruck or Renha Formigao?

The Tesla Cybertruck has been no stranger to controversy since its polarising design was first revealed to the world in 2019.

Now, a lone Cybertruck is trolling the streets of Sydney, its angular design drawing crowds and plenty of happy snaps from passers-by.

But, predating the Tesla Cybertruck by five decades was 1978’s Renha Formigao, a fibreglass-bodied pick-up truck built on a ubiquitous Volkswagen chassis.

Underneath the angular-styled body of the Formigao, which bears more than a passing resemblance to 2019’s Cybertruck, lies Volkswagen Beetle running gear. VW’s venerated 1600cc air-cooled four-cylinder engine was good for around 43kW and 110Nm.

But, thanks to the Formigao’s fibreglass body resulting in a kerb weight of just 756kg, performance was, according to a 1978 road test in leading Brazilian auto magazine Quatro Rodas, “quite satisfactory”.

Payload was compromised, however, thanks to the 1600cc VW engine taking up some tray space, thanks to its tall engineering and rear-engine layout. Access to the engine was via an engine cover located in the tray. Still, Renha quoted a payload of 650kg.

Under the angular bonnet, just as it does in the Volkswagen Beetle, lived a spare wheel and tyre as well as around 40 litres of storage.

The Formigao’s unique design was, according to Quatro Rodas’s 1978 road test (pictured above), a “completely different design from other Brazilian cars” and “always provoked a lot of curiosity in the places it went”. A bit like the Tesla Cybertruck casually driving around Sydney today, then.

Additionally, the car’s designer, Paulo Sérgio Renha, as per Quatro Rodas, stated he was “not inspired by other vehicles when he designed the Formigao”.

The Brazilian magazine concluded that the Renha Formigao was, overall, a decent pick-up truck, one that could easily find its place in the Brazilian market. It commended its driving characteristics (“it is almost a normal car with utility characteristics”) as well as its unconventional styling (“its appearance, although strange at first glance, becomes pleasant over time”).

Despite favourable reviews, the Renha Formigao only enjoyed a short life, with production ending in 1980.

Now, nearly 45 years later, another pick-up with unconventional styling, has captivated Sydney, with sightings of the wedge-shaped Tesla documented all over social media. Owned by Tesla, the Cybertruck was spotted in Sydney last week and is set to embark on a promotional tour of the brand’s showrooms over the coming weeks.

As for the similarities between the Renha Formigao and Tesla Cybertruck, perhaps the last word should go to the original’s designer, the titular Paulo Sergio Renha, who told Brazilian news outlet UOL in 2019 that “It’s really cool that the two look alike, but I don’t see plagiarism.”

So, what do you think? Renha Formigao or Tesla Cybertruck? Let us know in the comments below.