---
title: "This 1975 Bricklin is a Safe Investment"
description: "The short-lived Bricklin SV-1 was marketed as a safe vehicle, so it's fitting that pricing for this example in Maine is low-risk."
date: "2017-12-09"
modified: "2017-12-09"
authors:
  - name: "Joe D'Allegro"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joe-dallegro"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/16841/this-1975-bricklin-is-a-safe-investment"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "For Sale"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Bricklin SV-1"
  - "Malcolm Bricklin"
  - "rare cars"
  - "safety"
  - "Yugo"
---

# This 1975 Bricklin is a Safe Investment

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/12/1975-bricklin-sv-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A dealer in Arundel, Maine, has a rare 1975 Bricklin SV-1 [on sale](<https://motorlandamerica.com/gtcd/bricklin-sv-1/>) for what seems like the safe price of $13,995. Motorland Classic Cars says the car's 351-cubic inch Ford Windsor V8 is modified with an Edelbrock four-barrel carb and runs strong.

The gullwing-doored SV-1 was built in Canada by [Malcolm Bricklin](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Bricklin>), an American entrepreneur who had made his name bringing Subarus to our market. He later imported unreliable and rust-prone [Yugos](<https://www.librarypoint.org/yugo_vuic>), somewhat muddling his legacy.

Crafted in fiberglass and acrylic plastic, the SV-1 was designed to protect passengers—its name is an abbreviation of "safety vehicle-one". The car was sold in bright colors in order to be easily seen and was designed with substantial bumpers, an integrated roll cage, and side-impact beams. Rare for its day, the car also came without any ashtrays or cigarette lighters to reduce the risk of fire. The Bricklin was first sold in 1974 with a 360-cubic inch American Motors V8, though later cars made use of the Ford motor.

High production costs and low sales ([only 2,800](<https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/6060/how-many-of-these-obscure-gullwing-cars-do-you-know>) were produced) doomed the brand in short order. It fell into receivership in 1975, though a few 1976 models were built with leftover parts.

In [testing](<https://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/chevrolet-corvette-stingray-vs-bricklin-sv-1-comparison-test>) from 1975, *Car and Driver* noted that the Bricklin slightly out-cornered a contemporary Corvette, albeit conclusively slower. The Canadian reached the quarter mile in 16.6 seconds, half a second behind the American. Top speed was also lagging — 118 miles per hour for the Bricklin to the Chevy's 129. Perhaps more egregious was the [magazine's critique](<https://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/stingray-powertrain-page-3>) of the gullwing's cramped interior. "Every furnishing seems to work against basic comfort," it noted.

Still, the years have been reasonably kind to the SV-1. It still looks sharp and rarity helps keep pricing up. At less than $14,000, this is the cheapest Ford-equipped Bricklin currently listed by [Hemmings](<https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/bricklin>). It should make a good investment for a collector of more obscure marques. Plus, with a reliable engine and the safety of a roll cage, it might even work as a daily driver... one that you should have no problem finding in any parking lot.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JoeOfHappiness>)