Amante (United States) - AllCarIndex

Amante was an American manufacturer of kit sports cars that operated from approximately 1969 to 1975. The brand's origins trace back to Hebina Plastics, based in Santa Clara, California, where the initial designs were developed. In 1970, the company rebranded as Voegele Industries, continuing operations in the same location. The Amante kit car was notable for its attractive design, which was typically mounted on the Volkswagen Type 3 floorpan, providing advantages such as disc brakes and a fuel-injected engine, features that were not available in the more common Volkswagen Beetle.

The Amante was originally named the Gazelle, but this was quickly changed to its final name. In 1970, Voegele Industries introduced a tube frame that allowed for the installation of more powerful engines, including mid-mounted Con-air or V8 engines. One of the notable models produced during this time was the GT/XM, which utilized a ZF transaxle and was priced higher than a new Corvette, reflecting its performance capabilities.

In 1971, the Amante project transitioned to Performance Designers, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, which continued production until 1973. The brand was then sold to Amante Cars, based in Chamblee, Georgia, which continued to manufacture the vehicles until the brand's eventual closure in 1975.