The technology used by Chamonix is one known as Hand
Laid Up, based on the technology used by the aviation industry, which brazilian
suppliers helped to develop. It allows better resistance, an uniform surface,
avoiding undulations and chinks.
Also the chassis is remarkable: 3" tubes are used
and after its construction, following steps are applied: sand spray, ungreasing
bath and epoxi paint at 270ēC, what gives it resistance against corrosion,
many times caused by the salt thrown on the streets to melt the snow.
from the official honepage of Chamonix
reviewed and translated by Carlos
Metzler
In the time when Chamonix was founded, no car could be
imported in Brazil. This gave brazilian industry many chances, because
the concurrence was fair enough, the costs and quality of products was
low, so anything was very cheap to produce. When the brazilian market was
finally allowed for foreign investors and importers, the country was overflown
by imported junk and cheaper and better cars than the ones offered until
then. Many brazilian car producers went bankrupt.
In July 1994, when the new currency, Real, was introduced in Brazil,
the problem got worse. The brazilian currency was too expensive, supported
by the government, which has spent billions of dollars during these years
to keep the stability of the economy. Chamonix had sold many cars for prices
that were real before the introduction of the new currency, but had to
produce using the new standards of economy, which had risen the costs very
much.
Now the situation is better, specially because of the devaluation
of the Real, which made imported goods be too expensive for brazilian standards,
and national products get cheaper for the international market.