But what about safety? Well, sure, it's important obviously, but if you want a safe car you'll buy a Volvo, right? And Volvo haven't made any swoopy, quick sports cars. The 480 and P1800ES do NOT count.
Malcolm Bricklin saw this gap in the sports car market in 1974 when he launched the Bricklin SV-1 (SV standing for "Safety Vehicle"). He set up as the importer of Subarus into the USA, and when he sold his share the money was put into his sports car project. It was manufactured in Canada and wasn't a great success, build quality problems and supply difficulties causing trouble for the fledgling company, and when sales ceased in 1976 just 2800 or so had been built.
I've never seen one, I barely know anything about them. But whilst visiting family last week in Pennsylvania, USA, imagine my surprise when I saw my first one, just parked up:
It looked fabulous from a distance, but get close up and the gullwing doors have an atrocious fit, shutlines are massive and uneven, and there's a distinct kit-car air to the whole vehicle.
Still cool though. Interestingly, Malcolm Bricklin was born in Philadelphia, not far at all from where I spotted his creation. If I'd known that at the time, I'd have waited around to see who the owner was, I'll never know who it could have been...
