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13 Unique Bricklin Safety Car Unveiled to Public
NEW YORK--A uniquely designed, uniquely safe automobile bearing
the name Bricklin was introduced to the public today at a crowded luncheon in
Four Seasons restaurant.
On display for representatives of the nation's press and varied government and
business dignitaries were initial produced models of a two seat fastback with
revolutionary safety features.
The aerodynamically styled sportster is a secrecy shrouded development of
Phoenix, Ariz.-based General Vehicle Inc., first independent automaker to
invade the U.S. market in 28 years.
Billed as the safest and most advanced production car ever built, the V-8
powered, gullwing doored Bricklin contains unmatched guarantees of accident
protection like the following: Bricklin's unusual bumper system is designed to
withstand impacts in excess of Federal safety standards.
Perimeter box steel frame instead of the conventional U steel
frame, giving four sided energy absorption rather than three sided.
Unitized body of vacuum formed acrylic which, different from sheet metal, won't
crumple or radiate damage.
Integral roll cage protection.
Individually enclosed engine and fuel tank, isolating two accident danger areas
from the passenger compartment.
The car. which will sell in the $6,000 range, represents fruition of a dream
entertained since 1971 by Malcolm Bricklin at 35-year-old, western garbed
entrepreneur who became a selfmade millionaire in his early 20s.
Production is currently in progress in a modern, 130,000 square foot plant in
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, and the company expects to be producing at the
rate of 1000 cars a month by October 74. General Vehicle planning calls for
establishing a second production facility in the southwestern United States
next year.
Other novel Bricklin features include an engine placement 6 inches back of
standard front engine location, making for improved readability; no engine
grill, with air cooling accomplished by underbody spoilers; no exterior chrome,
breathable suede interior and European instrument panel.
Offered as standard equipment are air conditioning, AM-FM
stereo, power steering, power disc brakes, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass,
twin outside mirrors, deep pile carpeting, radial tires of 7.6 inch width and
mag wheels.
The car has a wheelbase of 96 inches, overall length of 178 inches, height of
48 inches and width of 67 inches. Performance of its 360 cubic inch V-8 engine
is enhanced by a four barrel carburetor. Transmission choices are automatic or
four speed manual.
Because of styling, spoilers and acrylic bodied weight of only 3,520 pounds,
gasoline mileage for average driving is reported to be nearly 20 miles per
gallon.
General Vehicle believes the acrylic Bricklin body may revolutionize
automaking. Besides its safety advantages, the pliable, color impregnated
material permits scratches to be buffed out by hand, is fade resistant and
won't flake, peel or corrode.
Original marketing of the car will be confined to 12 northeastern states, with
sales expanding nationwide as production increases. An opening dealer lineup
consists of 200 agencies which already sell other makes of cars, both domestic
and foreign.
According to General Vehicle, there is a large backlog of
Bricklin orders. The company hopes to produce 12,000 cars in the first year,
30,000 the second and 50,000 the third. Eventual goal is 100,000 Bricklins
annually.
The General Vehicle organizational structure includes four subsidiaries,
Bricklin Canada Ltd., Bricklin Vehicle Corp., Bricklin Northeast and FasTrack
International Speedway.
Bricklin Canada, in which the Province of New Brunswick is a 51% partner,
oversees Canadian operations. These comprise a body panel manufacturing plant
in Minto, New Brunswick, as well as the production facility in St. John.
Bricklin Vehicle is a national marketing arm. Bricklin Northeast is a marketing
entity for present dealerships.
FasTrack International Speedway is a major Southwest auto racing oval located
in Phoenix. Site of the Phoenix 150 and Arizona 150, it is also utilized for
Bricklin testing.
After conceiving the nationwide Handyman hardware store
franchise system in 1959, Malcolm Bricklin turned to automobiles in 1968,
introducing the Subaru to the United States. He gave up active operation of
Subaru of America Inc. in 1971 to devote full attention to creating his own
car.
A prototype Bricklin sportster was completed in 1972. Bricklin
then invited a group of veteran Detroit automobile executives to mastermind the
transforming of a personal dream into a production reality.
They agreed to participate in an exciting automaking adventure fraught with
risk. A General Vehicle research and development facility was founded in
Detroit in October 1972. Soon some 200 experienced automobile men from General
Motors, Ford, Chrysler, American Motors and Renault U.S.A. had joined in the
challenge.
Bricklin meanwhile set about raising necessary financing, which naggingly rose
to an unexpected $20 million. He succeeded against imposing odds, gaining
principal faith from First Pennsylvania Banking & Trust Co. of Philadelphia
and the Province of New Brunswick.
Richard Hatfield, New Brunswick premier, and John Bunting, First Pennsylvania
chairman and chief executive officer, were delighted onlookers at today's grand
unveiling. They expressed confidence that the public will flock to buy a unique
safety car.
Safety features, oddly, include no cigarette lighter. Nonsmoker Bricklin
ordains a lighter to be an accident hazard. Buyers of his car who smoke will be
given a Bricklin pocket lighter as part of the purchase package.
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