Kit cars have been around for a really long time, with a few of the earliest examples dating back to around the turn of the twentieth century.  But it seems like the interest sort of skyrocketed in the fifties and continued to grow into the sixties and seventies, with the VW chassis becoming one of the more popular choices for a body swap due to its relatively low price and ease of removing the old sheet metal.  One of the well-known manufacturers was Bradley, such as this example here on Craigslist built on a 1971 Super Beetle frame, so if you’ve been longing for a hand-built blast from the past this one’s probably worth considering.  It’s located in Claremont, California, with the asking price set at what feels like a realistic $4,200.  Thanks, Pat L., for the great tip here!

The only specific information provided about this one is that the seller purchased it from an estate, and the Bradley was just one of several cars in a collection that was said to have been stored since 2003.  There’s no information regarding any other vehicles in the fleet, or whether or not any more kit cars were a part of it.  However, the seller does state that this one is very original and also very complete, with the body showing a few scrapes here and there plus one significant crack in an area above the passenger side wheel well, but otherwise, the body is described as being in overall excellent shape.

The Bradley is powered by a 1600cc Volkswagen engine, which is stated to be running very well although there’s no word on whether or not it’s ever had an overhaul.  But it does have a new carburetor and the oil was just changed, so hopefully, the motor is ready to get the car rolling dependably for the next owner.  The manual transmission and clutch are also stated to be in good working order, but a new gas tank and some brake work will be needed to get the car fully roadworthy.

Although the interior looks great for a hipster or young person, I’m guessing the comfort of those seats doesn’t last very long for us older folks, but the whole point is for some fun cruising and not long-distance travel.  With the exception of the fuel monitor, all of the gauges are functioning, and things inside seem to be at an acceptable level for a driver.  Of course, this one has a limited audience, but at only a little over 4 grand this Bradley GT may be a good value if you’re just looking for a knockabout car or something attention-getting to drive around on the weekends.  What do you think?