Malcolm Bricklin and John DeLorean shared much in common. Both were involved with other vehicle manufacturers before setting up companies bearing their names using money from foreign governments. Both produced two-seat sports cars featuring distinctive gull-wing doors. And both went broke without building cars in serious numbers. Bricklin’s SV-1 differed from DeLorean’s in many ways, and our feature car rolled out of the factory in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1975. It has been part of a private collection for years but is now roadworthy and ready to drive off into the sunset with a new owner behind the wheel. It is listed here on eBay in New Baltimore, Michigan. Bidding has raced to $13,544 in a No Reserve auction.
Timing is everything, and Malcolm Bricklin’s could best be described as pretty lousy. The idea of bringing a V8-powered sports car to the market was initially sound, but the car appeared amid the Arab Oil Embargo and the resultant energy crisis. This caused Bricklin to rapidly rethink his marketing strategy, focusing on the safety features offered by the SV-1. This thinking extended to the color palette, with every paint shade prefaced by the word “Safety.” Our feature car wears Safety Orange, and the seller believes it is original and unrestored, apart from an older repaint of the front clip. It holds an impressive shine, although the seller admits a close inspection will reveal minor imperfections and “spider-webbing” around the windshield area. The panels are free from issues, and the underside shots confirm this classic is rust-free. The glass is spotless, and the SV-1 rolls on its original alloy wheels.
The drivetrain layout was one of the most significant differences between the SV-1 and John DeLorean’s classic. While DeLorean pursued the rear-engine route, Bricklin followed a more traditional front-engine/rear-drive architecture. Powering this Bricklin is Ford’s 351ci “Windsor” V8, which sends 175hp and 256 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. Early cars featured a 360ci AMC V8 and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The company never explained why it dumped the AMC powerplant in favor of the Ford unit, but rumors circulated at the time that the company had failed to pay AMC for its engines. Whether that is truth or an urban legend is a question that may never be answered. The seller claims this SV-1 spent many years in a private collection and was only recently liberated and returned to a roadworthy state. That would explain the extraordinarily low odometer reading of 23,000 miles, although there is no mention of verifying evidence. It runs and drives perfectly, with a smooth engine and no known problems. Potential buyers should consider it a turnkey classic.
The surprise packet with this Bricklin is its interior. The leather-wrapped wheel shows some deterioration that a high-quality conditioner might halt. Otherwise, there is little to criticize. The driver’s seat has slight stretching on the base, but the covers and other upholstered surfaces are free from wear and damage. The console and carpet are excellent, the gauges are crisp and clean, and there are no aftermarket additions. The new owner benefits from ice-cold air conditioning, power windows, and a Pioneer AM/FM stereo radio/cassette player.
Bricklin is believed to have produced around 3,000 examples of the SV-1 before the inevitable crash, and that approximately 1,700 still exist. Our feature car is a beauty and might be one of the best you will find. It has no apparent needs, and the fact it has attracted thirty-four bids suggests people like what they see. Values have recently bucked the market trend by rising significantly, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the price on this one tops $30,000. Would you be interested at that price, or would you prefer to sit back and remain a curious onlooker?
From what I’ve heard, the engine swap was due to ‘supply chain issues’. Ironic, as most of the mechanicals in a Brick are AMC sourced. Personally, I’d sooner have a 74 with the AMC 360-4.
I can believe that Bricklin didn’t pay AMC and they cut off the engine supply. He had a history of shady dealing and ducking out on his obligations.
Years ago i had a red 75, even in the winter the interior was mighty hot, you could bake cookies inside. This is in really nice shape, but it is not a rare exotic, very kit car like. They say it even has factory a/c, they all did.
Like the delorean and pantera , these cars begs to be modified bit this one being so original should be left alone
Always loved the look of all 3 but being an unconventional convertible lover , i could only have use for them in the fall !
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Bricklin at a car show 3 months ago in Indianatlantic Florida. He was showing off his new vehicle at the show. All electric three wheeler. Very intelligent human being!
That’s what the Premier of New Brunswick thought too……
Looks like it’s eating an 8-track.
I never liked the front bumper, and the rear side windows look a little awkward to me, but I like the overall shape of the car.
Great looking example of a rare car. AMC 360 was withheld after the first year and there was no choice but to change to the 351 Windsor. Love to know the last 4 digits of the VIN. Somebody is going to get a very good car.
I have read that AMC didn’t want to sell Bricklin any more engines due to manufacturing capacity. Despite this, most of the car’s underpinnings and even some interior pieces were still pulled directly from the AMC Hornet. (I have a PDF Bricklin parts catalog and the suspension pieces are pure 1970s AMC.)
There is no such thing as a turnkey Bricklin, they always need something.
After a closer look l realize it is an automatic. My bad.
SV-1 stood for Safety Vehicle One
I wrote a term paper in Automotive Marketing class at Michigan on the failure of the Bricklin in 1980 I’ll have to dig it out!
The Bricklin fan club would love to read your paper. We are great fans of the history and always like to see a new angle. Would you share it to one of the Bricklin Facebook pages?
Cheers
JoeC
Joe B, what Facebook group? I look and there are a lot of them! Remember this paper was written in 1980 with a perspective of that time
Northwood institute?Midlands Michigan?
NADA school 4 yr automotive marketing degree?
I went there too
The doors on at least the early ones were hydraulic and could leak fluid all over the rear , I once sold one to a customer and the lady who drove it to deliver had the battery fail on the highway and couldn’t get the doors to open and later threatened to sue me for the trauma. !
All the doors were hydraulic, they were very slow and yes could leak and make a huge mess, so most of them were changed over to a pricey air system.
I read of an owner whose Bricklin battery ran down and the only way to get out was via the hatchback.
Considering many of the various mechanicals are known to be junk.
I’d retro mod this well-known stinker.
Bad boy the engine suspension brakes etc
Go wild with a wrap & add twin Vulcan Cannon mini guns into headlight assembly
Then it’d be ready for the coming collapse
Or maybe not 😜😅😅
Did the seller change from an automatic to a manual? If so it wasn’t mentioned in the ad .
A regular customer at my restaurant
had 2 of these. Helped him get his
roof fixed after hurricane Charlie came through in ’04. This old man
was really sharp and could tell you
most anything you wanted to know
about these cars and we became
close friends until I retired in 2009
after 20 years with the company.
14 years later, I wonder if he and his
wife are still with us. BTW, did
Bricklin ever make a 3-wheeled car?
I recently saw one while Door Dashing
in Melbourne Florida a month ago.
I grew in Scottsdale and remember when he donated 6 to the Scottsdale PD, numerous times someone had to come and get an officer out of the car.
I remember that and it was 1974.
What’s going on with the gas pedal? And whatever is under it looks rusty. I’d want to examine this car very closely if I were interested in buying it.
I thought they all had body colored GM sport mirrors.
Amazing the door tops on the roof & hood are not buckling/wavy by now.
Odd the steering wheel is the only part that looks somewhat worn.
If you want a laugh? Look up Vice Grip Garage on You Tube, when he tried to resurrect one of these beauties.
I’ll check it out. If my admittedly faulty memory serves, the same guy appears on Roadworthy Rescues on the Motor Trend channel.
Yep. Same guy. Derrick Beri
Sold $19,615, 49 bids.
Watch Jay Leno’s test drive in one on youtube – he likes it.
The safety green color is not a great shade of green – very surprised there was no blue shade offered besides/instead.
Mighty LONG aftmkt radio here. Might be hard to find a MECHANICAL! digital factory one. Amazing how short & light & much more powerful & much less expensive(<$20!) an FM USB radio costs that you can buy on ebay today, using a micro mini flash drive & its capacity – if only they had those in the '70-'90s. I must have had over 100 troublesome cumbersome mixed cassette tapes & countless mechanical decks that all broke.
I would convert the hydraulic powered doors here asap to air assist before they start leaking/fail.