Kit cars have always been a fascinating corner of the automotive hobby, and the Bradley GT is one of the better-known names from the era when “build-it-yourself” sports cars had their moment in the sun. This 1982 example, spotted for sale on Facebook and located in Carson, California, looks like the kind of project that has sat for years but still holds plenty of potential for someone willing to dig in.
The seller describes it as a “running project,” and the photos back up that assessment. The car is complete, but it wears decades of dust and grime both inside and out. The fiberglass body panels appear intact with no obvious cracks or breaks, but they’re crying out for a deep cleaning and some polishing to bring back their shine. On the inside, the story is similar: the interior is all there but clearly shows years of neglect, with worn surfaces and dirt that will need attention before this GT feels like a proper driver again.
Under the rear hatch, the engine bay also needs some TLC. While the car does reportedly run, it looks like it hasn’t been freshened in a long while. That’s not unexpected with a Bradley GT, since most of them were powered by Volkswagen’s air-cooled flat-four engine. Parts remain easy to find and relatively inexpensive, which makes reviving one of these kit cars far less intimidating than it might first appear. Cleaning up the engine compartment, checking the fuel system, and refreshing the basics would go a long way toward getting this one back on the road.
The Bradley GT isn’t just about function, it’s about fun. The gullwing-style doors, the swoopy fiberglass body, and the sheer character of a kit-built sports car make these unique conversation starters anywhere they appear. While they were never performance monsters, the lightweight bodies paired with VW mechanicals gave owners a sporty, low-slung ride that looked far more exotic than the humble Bug it was based on.
Cars like this tend to attract tinkerers, the kind of enthusiasts who enjoy making a project their own. Whether you’d restore it to period-correct condition or take it in a custom direction with new wheels, paint, and interior, this dusty 1982 Bradley GT has all the makings of a rewarding build.
What direction would you take this kit car, back to showroom shine or into a wild custom creation?
I’d like to own this, always loved the look of them. In reality it looks like a pretty easy project.
I’ve got one that’s on the “to do” list. Mine is a straight convertible, with a roll bar, this one has a roof… You would have thought, considering the open roof, that vent holes for draining water would have been on the list. Left outside in the rain the cars become kiddie pools… Mine needs the floor pans replaced which means a lot of stuff needs to be removed to get to the pans… PS the interior is all glued in place… Weeee
It’s $2,500, and has one sentence that contains nearly no information.
This will be a huge pass for mostly everyone.
To add to my other post that disappeared… You can barely see what’s behind you when driving. Changing lanes is a crap shoot…