Bradley Automotive was in the kit car business throughout the 1970s. That’s when building dune buggies on Volkswagen chassis became popular. The GT was perhaps their most successful model and accounted for an estimated sales of 6,000 units in the decade. This example is said to be from 1982, the year after the company ceased operations. It can be found in Gardena, California, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,000.
When Bradley began operations in 1970, production was based out of Minnesota (odd place for a dune buggy, huh?). It grew out of an earlier business that one of the two original partners owned, a parts supplier. They would seemingly be successful through 1981, but financial issues and some questionable operating practices would be the outfit’s ultimate undoing. The GT was Bradley’s first product with a fiberglass body that you could mount on a Bug chassis yourself or buy the whole shebang directly from them.
Powered by the VW engine of your choice, the GT was nimble and fast for its weight, which was just 1,600 lbs. (less than the metal-bodied Beetle it was partly based upon). These “funmobiles” seated two passengers and had low, curved sides with no doors or windows. But they came with gullwing doors that provided some protection from the elements. The headlights were hidden and popped up, sort of like the Corvettes of the era. Oddly, their windshields came from 1964-67 ‘Vettes.
This car has been on sale for about two months, so either the right buyer hasn’t found it yet or the GT has been sold and the seller forgot to take the listing down (common on Marketplace). We’re told Bradley starts up but will need work to be a running weekender. Fortunately, they’re as easy to work on as Beetles are. The seller has run out of time and/or money to pursue the project further, so an opportunity awaits another GT fan.
Exotic no. Ugly, yes.
Exotic hahaha hahaha
About the only “exotic” you can work on blindfolded, and these were not uncommon back in the 70s at least here in the PNW. I’m not sure why the seller is having trouble fixing this unless the motor has serious issues.
OK maybe not exotic but ugly, no. For the right price this could be a fun project as the body looks intact. Like the article says VW easy to work on but I would factor an engine rebuild in. A rebuilt Subaru engine with a turbo would cost as much as the whole car but sure would be fun. I would worry about electrical. Gauges, lights, wipers (are there any?)
I personally love the kit cars, even though they are not viewed as “true classic cars” by most. I like this one, but my favorite is an aquila kit car. They are pretty rare, and only two have ever shown up on here, both too far away for me… Unfortunately.
gull wing v butterfly for dor style. Anyway…
I thought the B.gt from my past was less buggy (off rd) and more enclosed sports car. Memory’s poor I guess.
Thanks for bringin it
AND
writin it, Russ.
If you’ve ever driven one you’ll find they’re neither exotic or fun to drive.
Wash it and buff those Keystones, would look 1000% better.
That’s one mighty big stretch calling a Bradley an “exotic”! It would be far more desirable if it were still the Volkswagen it started life as.
I wonder how many of those 6000 sold are still in pieces, never built, in garages and barns somewhere.