In the realm of kit cars from the ’70s, Blakely is one of the lesser-known names, and there’s a good chance that not many were made nor survive to this day. In this case, it’s the first Bearcat that we have ever featured here on BarnFinds, and it’s available right now, here on eBay out of New London, Wisconsin. Join us as we look closer!
Blakely Auto Works was founded in 1972 by Dick Blakely, The following year, Dick had saved enough money to go out on his own and build a prototype for the first model, a Blakely Bantam, but a shop fire destroyed the car very shortly after. His former supervisor at a local fastener manufacturer, Dennis Myelle, loaned Dick some money and joined him in business later that same year. Their first two cars were ready by springtime 1975, and they got straight to work making and selling kits of the Bantam and Bearcat in a rented space in Loves Park, Illinois.
By 1976, the two men had some disagreements over business items, and by 1980, the whole operation was out of their hands. The company closed its doors completely sometime between then and 1990, when the whole thing went back to Dick as a result of a legal dispute. Dick passed away in 1995, but the Bantam, Bearcat, Breman/Bernardi, and Hawk that bear his name are proof that they made a good, solid kit car that would accept engines and drivetrains from Mustangs, Cougars, Pintos or Bobcats when many others were still tied up in Beetles.
We turn our attention now to the example presented. Its true date of assembly is unknown, and the seller doesn’t give us much to work with, other than the fact that it is titled as a 1972 Ford Pinto and is showing 36,000 miles on the odometer. Therefore, we have to do some looking, and we see a V6 under the hood with a manual transmission, dual exhaust, newer stereo, and cross-laced wheels. It definitely needs a good detailing. The dust, dirt, cobwebs and patina suggest that it has seen some miles but might have been off the road for a while. We’re not sure where the air cleaner or valve covers are.
As of the time I write this, the bid is under $2000 with only two days left, and for that kind of money, this might actually be a decent project for someone on a budget who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. Of course, we don’t know if it moves under its own power, but with the classic-car market the way it is now, something like this could be a good first step for someone new to the scene but can’t afford or doesn’t want something that a lot of other people have. That’s my take on it, what do YOU think? Let us know in the comments!
A trunk that looks like it’s been bombed and no valve covers protecting engine innerds leads me to believe this car has been run hard and put away wet. Buy it really cheap and your good, but I’d bet on a lot of work on this one.
And no air cleaner?
There is nothing about this that makes it a smart buy. The listing’s included inspection reports show that virtually everything is “in-op,” the trunk lid gaps scream quality control problems, and it’s probably a death trap if it ever got over 10 mph. But something about the potential fun for both the journey and the destination draws me. At this price, source a junkyard drive train (lots of options), a new wiring harness, get creative with the interior….
The good news: my life situation, including a sober-headed wife, keep me from the trap this almost certainly would be.
Whaddya ya mean first one on Barnfinds? Didn’t one of you guys own one?? Or is it a Hunter/Hathaway I’m thinking of??
You are correct, Josh had a Hawk a few years back.
This is the first Blakely Bearcat that we’ve ever featured.
Would valve covers be something available at a salvage yard? Or even new, for that matter? How to determine the engine make and model.
It is a Ford Cologne V6, either 2.6 or 2.8 displacement with an Offenhauser intake manifold and probably a Holley 390. Very popular set up on Capris and early Mustang IIs that used that engine.
How much lighter than a Capri were these? Could be a lot of fun
I guess that would depend on how rusty the Capri is!
How much lighter than a Capri were these? Could be a lot of fun
Wow I can’t believe no one mentioned the book written about one of these. It’s called The Car, by Gary Paulsen.
Hi,
I know that this has been up for a little over a year, but has this car sold yet? I see that the trunk is still located in the back of the car , the way my dad designed it. Is the body still fiberglass and a roll bar too? Just asking, even though it looks loved, I might be interested in seeing it.
Thank you,
Lynn Blakely – lynn.blakely@gmail.com if you would like to contact me.