I’ve always quietly admired VW-based kit cars like the Bradley GT, but my respect for them was rocked when I saw one in person locally: tiny, feeble, and hardly anything I’d call sporting, I felt like I’d been lied to. After all, every eBay listing in the world calls these things a sports car, but this was no sports car. Fortunately, the seller of this particular 1974 Bradley GT here on eBay has restored it the right way, which includes making some much-needed upgrades.
One of the first things you notice is the wheels. Now, normally, I am all about only putting wheels on a car that are period appropriate. The seller confirms these are from a contemporary Corvette ZR1, but for some reason, they just work. Now, I do believe there are better choices out there, but this view confirms for me that many of these Bradleys are riding around on wheels that are too small in diameter and narrow in contact patch to look good on a kit car like this.
Other things that have gone very right for this Bradley include an interior that isn’t in shambles, or filled with water due to bad seals on the gullwing doors. No, this cabin features deep sport bucket seats in excellent condition, along with door panels that haven’t been hacked up and a period-appropriate sport steering wheel. An Empi short-shifter and exhaust both help to liven up the car’s performance. The seller says this Bradley is weather-tight, good news considering how nice the cabin now is.
The engine is a rebuild dual port, fitted with dual carbs and that tasty Empi exhaust. Performance has been improved all around, with the aforementioned wheels and tires as well as disc brakes from a Karmann Ghia. The low weight should make the engine a good match for the kit car, and this Bradley is one of the few I’d consider owning thanks to at least one owner having the proper vision to make this slice of cheap exotica into an actual performer.
Yup, nicest Bradley I’ve ever seen.
When I read about this Bradley I was waiting for you to say that you also had a few in the collection for sale!
https://barnfinds.com/exclusive-round-three-at-the-georgia-collection/
These are fun cars. With a few suspension and drivetrain upgrades, they are a real blast. Had one, and would own another in a heartbeat.
I have one it needs electrical work bits runs great
So that’s what they’re supposed to look like. I want one even more now.
It’s a cool car, I’ve never had one but the question maybe someone could tell me is the headlights being recessed so far back in the body cut the night visibility down by not flaring the beam out towards the side of the road???
Its actually not to bad if you have the brights on
I saw these kits advertised in magazines back in the 70’s. The kit cost $1500 less drive train. That advertised the kit fit VW or Ford. I don’t know what Ford that would have been and have never seen one with Ford drivetrain. I like this one but would never buy it, just because of my great disdain for VW’s.
God bless America
I have a neighbor with a fiberglass MG replica on a Ford pinto frame!! I replaced the rear leaf springs for him cause the tires were rubbing on the body!! We know how good that is for fiberglass!! He let my wife and I take it to dinner when I finished it for him!! It was fun to drive and really smooth!! Automatic though which looked out of place on the floor!! Have no idea what the wheel base was but the car is similar in size to this one!!
Sold for $3949.
is it for sale?
Thats so funny, I built that car and won awards with it. I had to have those wheels, looking at the back to see wheel/engine/wheel was my favorites. It was defiantly a fun car but life got in the way and I had to let it go.
It’s funny to see the car that I build and won awards with here on barn finds.