yup...green...but not an actual race livery...just my made up version.
soon.
........
But for now, lets do this:
Bricklin SV1
I met two or three Bricklins during my Automotive career.
I really liked them.
No, it wasn't a great car.
Felt like driving most other Fords of that era.
Heavy, underpowered, and full of cheap plastic and vinyl.
And the fit and finish of the body left a lot to be desired.
But it was such a cool and unique car.
Reminded me more of the many fiberglass kit cars that were of big interest at that time.
Except this kit car was built on a proper space frame chassis with a V8 engine instead of a Volkswagen Beetle.
(not that I don't love Beetles!...I owned a VW powered Dune Buggy in the 70s!)
What I liked about the Bricklin was that it was created to prove that Sports Cars could be safe and cheap.
The SV-1 (Safety Vehicle One) came in five "safety" colours.
Designed to compete with the Corvette Stingray, it cost half the price.
The Bricklin body was a composite fiberglass and plastic construction making it rust proof and cheap to repair.
Electrically operated Gull Wing Doors made it stylish and exotic .
And it had the safety features lacking in most cars at that time, like cage frame construction with side impact beams.
It also featured the very new larger front and rear 5mph safety bumpers.
And it was made right here in Canada.
Unfortunately it came out at a time when gas prices were soaring.
..and pollution controls were choking engines, and robbing performance
...and making V8 sports cars very redundant.
Being a two door sports car, it already faced a limited market.
The Bricklin car company had other problems too...issues with body quality and finish, as well as slow unit production.
In the end, the company failed after only three years of production and less than 3000 Bricklin SV-1 built.
You can still find many used and restored Bricklins for sale today at very reasonable prices.
I don't know if its an investment car, but with such limited numbers the Bricklin is a rare breed.
If I could get my hands on one...real cheap...I would seriously consider a restoration project of my own.
In the meantime, I will have to settle for a miniature paper version...KoolWheelz style.
As soon as I get it published, you'll find it in the Specialz - Road Cars section at my website.
