History never repeats. Lightning doesn’t strike twice. Both of these expressions might seem true, but they aren’t necessarily accurate in the automotive world. One only has to look at the Bricklin SV-1 and the DeLorean to realize this. Both were conceived as sports cars. Both featured gullwing doors. Both featured bodies made from interesting materials. Both were sales failures. Finally, some private investors sank their money into Bricklin and later committed the same mistake with DeLorean! This 1975 Bricklin SV-1 is one of the nicest that we’ve seen for a while, and I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting it for us. Located in North Port, Florida, you will find the Bricklin listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding is sitting at $8,700, and the reserve has been met.

While it was initially conceived as a sports car, Malcolm Bricklin decided that the vehicle that now bore his name should be marketed as a safety vehicle. It was for this reason that it received the “SV-1” designation, which stood for “Safety Vehicle 1.” It also helps to explain the fact that every shade in the color palette bore the safety name. In this case, this SV-1 is finished in Safety White. You could also choose from Safety Red, Safety Orange, Safety Suntan…I think that you’re getting the picture. It was designed with some interesting features, including gullwing doors, energy-absorbing bumpers, and concealed headlights. The body was constructed of a composite of fiberglass and acrylic resin. The color was impregnated into the resin, making for a hard-wearing finish and panels that weren’t going to rust. The appearance of this vehicle is generally excellent, with no evidence of any prior damage. The owner states that there has been no prior accident damage, which is easy to believe when you look at the overall condition. The doors work as they should, although the driver’s door will require a new lift support. The pop-up headlights also function, although they are slightly slow.

It is this shot that tells the real story of this Bricklin. While panel rust is never an issue. The frame can be prone to problems over time. This is especially true where the body mounts to the frame, but this one looks exceptional. There is barely a mark underneath, and not even any evidence of surface corrosion. I would want to get a closer look, but what we can see looks pretty exceptional for a Bricklin.

While cars built in 1974 featured an AMC 360ci V8 and the choice of a manual or an automatic transmission, those made during 1975 were available with the Ford 351ci Windsor V8 and a 3-speed automatic transmission. This engine change resulted in a notable drop in power because while the AMC unit pumped out 220hp, the Windsor was pegged at 175hp. This resulted in a ¼ mile ET of 16.8 seconds, which was hardly in muscle car territory. However, the company was not marketing the SV-1 as a sports car but more as a safety-oriented grand tourer. The owner states that the Bricklin has a genuine 24,000 miles showing on its odometer, and while he doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to back this claim, the overall condition tends to suggest that the claim is plausible. He does indicate that the car runs and drives well, and given the bulletproof nature of the drivetrain, it should have plenty of life left in it.

One of the most significant weaknesses of the SV-1 was the interior. The fit and finish weren’t impressive when the car was new, and it was prone to deteriorating pretty rapidly. One of the aspects that copped its share of criticism was the number of exposed screws and fasteners, which motoring journalists felt was out of place in a car of this type. I think that I need to come to Bricklin’s defense on this point because while it might not have produced an interior to rival a Ferrari, the quality of these fasteners meant that they weren’t prone to deteriorating or corroding. This interior is a surprise packet because it presents far better than we might expect. There are no significant issues or problems, and even the outer edges of the seats have avoided significant wear. It’s nice to see that the original AM/FM radio with its integrated digital clock is still intact, while the car also scores ice-cold air conditioning.

Although they were different cars built in different countries, the Bricklin SV-1 and the DeLorean could so easily have been cousins. Both shared many design features, and both held a lot of promise. Sadly, both were also a failure in the market. It is believed that Bricklin produced around 3,000 examples of the SV-1, but it isn’t clear how many have survived. The SV-1 hasn’t achieved the cult status of the DeLorean, but then again, only one of them starred in a movie franchise. However, it is worth noting that they are now finding their feet in the classic market. It isn’t unusual to see good examples selling for more than $20,000, while pristine cars will top $30,000. This one appears to be an unmolested survivor whose condition is above average. That makes me think that there still might be a little way to go before this listing ends. If the price doesn’t go much higher, it is possible that someone might be getting themselves a pretty canny buy. Is it one that you might be tempted to bid on?