- Weighty Entry Issues: The 41 kg gullwing doors posed a significant challenge. Although a hydraulic system was designed to help, it frequently malfunctioned, leaving owners stuck outside their $10,000 vehicle. On the bright side, this predicament was arguably safer than being trapped inside during a rollover crash.
- New Beginnings: Bricklin not only launched a car brand but also set up a factory in New Brunswick, Canada—a location that wasn’t exactly known for automotive expertise. This lack of experience resulted in a host of problems.
- Warping Panels: The SV-1 featured fiberglass panels that were notorious for warping, making them less than ideal for wet weather conditions.
- Unreliable Headlights: The pop-up headlights often failed, which made driving at night quite risky.
- Lackluster Performance: Even when everything was working, the SV-1 struggled with performance, which, ironically, made it safer by reducing the likelihood of high-speed crashes.
Bricklin initially aimed to produce 12,000 units a year, but the reality was far less—fewer than 3,000 units were made before bankruptcy hit. Ironically, this situation made the SV-1 the safest car of all—what could be safer than a car you simply can’t buy?
The 1974 Bricklin SV-1 was marketed as a groundbreaking sports car with a focus on safety. However, its legacy is marred by various design and manufacturing flaws, from cumbersome doors to unreliable components, which led to its infamous reputation as a “safe” car that you hardly ever drove or crashed. Ultimately, its limited production and the company's subsequent bankruptcy became its most effective safety feature.
