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Post by matty101 on Jan 3, 2011 6:08:16 GMT -5
Hey guys id figure id go ahead and introduce myself and tell you a little about my Bradley GT. My name is Matt Garza and I live in Amarillo, Tx. I recently purchased a 73 Bradley GT. I purchased only the body and had a swing axle pan for it to be used as a donor pan. The fiberglass looks pretty good for the amount i paid for it, the interior was a little torn up, all the VDO gauges are still in their original spots, front windshield needs replaced, rear glass is in slightly rough shape, but everything is there. Seems like an awesome project that i want to dump some money into. There is only one person in the Texas panhandle that i know that has another Bradley GT besides myself, so up here they seem rare. I have done some research on the site before i joined and noticed there is a DVD i can buy that shows step by step of the building process that im going to eventually buy. I will put some pics of my GT up as soon as i get some to let you guys know what ive got. Looks like a great site and am very happy to join. Thanks, Matt
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Post by Jeff Troy on Jan 3, 2011 9:27:59 GMT -5
Hi, Matt,
Welcome. These cars are a lot of fun to work on, and even more -- to drive.
Keep your goals simple in the beginning. Get the car running first, then consider modifications after you understand what you have, what you want and what is really practical.
The "DVD" is not. It's a CD, and it has the complete assembly and wiring manuals and all the upgrades, as well as hundreds of images of the five rebuilds and one complete restoration of my own car, which now has more than 630,000 actual miles behind it since my original, new-kit build in 1976.
Good luck with your car, and warmest regards,
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Post by thehag71 on Jan 4, 2011 4:23:17 GMT -5
Welcome the the club. I wish you much fun with your new car.
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Post by matty101 on Jan 4, 2011 9:40:16 GMT -5
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 4, 2011 10:38:44 GMT -5
I guess the previous owners didn't want that windshield to come out huh? Yikes!
And I have never seen a column shift AND a floor shift. Wow...amazing how people can craft these things.
Looks like a solid start though. Good luck with it!
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Post by matty101 on Jan 4, 2011 10:58:22 GMT -5
I was accually told the steering column was out of a corvette. The cool part is its tilt steer, teloscoping steering wheel, and the column shifter accually is connected to a cable that works the head light covers up and down. Crazy concept but it works.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 4, 2011 11:16:31 GMT -5
I don't know of any Corvette that had a column shift so I think the person who told you that might be pulling your leg. I had a Corvette tilt/telescopic in my Manta and it was a nice feature.
Interesting use on the headlights though. A nice linear actuator and a simple switch would be just a tad cleaner in my opinion.
Creativity is never lost on these cars.
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Post by matty101 on Jan 4, 2011 14:03:58 GMT -5
Haha yeah I was thinking the same thing on the steering shaft. I am going to go a different route on the head light covers for sure. The vin # that was created for my bradley was accually stamped on the top of the steering shaft. The body is accually titled as a 1973 Bradley GT, and the pan im using is a totally differnt title as a 71 VW.  I have owned a few odd VW's and sand rails, but this project is definitly by far going to be the best one yet. I have been wanting A bradley for quite some time now and finally got my hands on one, and for cheap to boot.  |
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Post by smyrnaguy on Jan 4, 2011 14:19:51 GMT -5
Is that one of those newfangled RCA 8 track tape players? Sweet!
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Post by matty101 on Jan 4, 2011 14:23:35 GMT -5
Haha i guess im too young to even know how its spelt! Yes it came with an 8 track player ready to be plugged in. But i dont have any tapes laying around to play so something a little more modern will be installed.
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Post by bobevans on Jan 5, 2011 11:00:45 GMT -5
Great project...I'll assure you that there are many out there that started with way less car and more money....Being a couple of months away from 70, I have plenty of 8 track tapes laying around..will be glad to send you some...
bobevans
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Post by matty101 on Jan 5, 2011 12:03:13 GMT -5
Haha awesome! Let me see if it works first, if so I will be in touch. Ok for my question of the day... Is there a place on the internet who sells seat covers for bradley seats? Or anyone on the site willing to part with theirs? Or is there anyone online who makes the interior kits like headliners, dash mats, etc.? Thanks in advance. |
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 5, 2011 13:43:49 GMT -5
Nobody sells seats covers for the Bradley GT seats. You will need custom for everything. They can be made to look very nice:  And you don't have to cover the dash:  |
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Post by smyrnaguy on Jan 6, 2011 8:29:58 GMT -5
Most of my 8 track tapes now have the iron oxide falling off. Magnetic tape has a limited shelf life. How many folks remember the Playtape? It was the size of a cassette but a cartridge like an 8-track. I had a Blauplunkt unit in a bug that actually sounded ok. Unfortunately I was only ever able to find 2 tapes; Credence Clearwater Revival (cool) and a collection of Brahms by the Hamburg Orchestra (snoozer).
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Post by matty101 on Jan 6, 2011 10:09:55 GMT -5
I really like those seat covers. I even like the dash, I may have to do it that way just a different paint scheme.
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Post by darrenz on Jan 13, 2011 13:30:20 GMT -5
hey, what did it cost to recover seats?trying to decide if i going to buy new ones or recover. thanks
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 13, 2011 14:41:10 GMT -5
Sorry...I don't know what it cost. I gave the project back to the owner with the bare shells and he had them covered.
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Post by brianboggs on Jan 13, 2011 15:50:12 GMT -5
I had a local Hotrod shop uphosterer look at the photos last year and quoted me about $125 per seat.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 13, 2011 15:53:45 GMT -5
For $250 a pair I would do that in a second! I never asked the guy but they sure did look nice.
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Post by darrenz on Jan 15, 2011 11:11:06 GMT -5
i just wasted my time and took my seats to the local auto upholstery shop and he told me 1000 to do both seats plain black, and nowhere near the stitch pattern of those orange and black ones(i showed guy pic) wtf!!!! for all that i am orering the 269 pr of reclining,sliding w/brackets from jcwhitney.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 15, 2011 11:46:06 GMT -5
Darren....
Be careful...they are most likely too wide and too tall.
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Post by darrenz on Jan 15, 2011 14:27:11 GMT -5
ya thanks. i am going to take some measurements first and check theirs. i would like to be able to recline but if i have to im just going to order the plastic racing buckets similar to what i have now. thanks
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 15, 2011 14:33:39 GMT -5
Have you tried getting yoboy to give you a quote? www.yoboyinc.com/The only reason I ask is that the seats you have, when done right, are the best you can really get for a Bradley. The headrest provides some nice support for the laid back seating position. Those plastic racing seats are going to be very upright in the Bradley. Lay yours on the floor and check their maximum height. Then compare that to what you want to buy. And remember....reclining a seat isn't the answer. Go try it in your regular car. Lay the seat way back and drive it around for a while...it isn't fun. |
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Post by darrenz on Jan 16, 2011 7:02:24 GMT -5
no, i havnt but with shipping both ways probaly wouldnt be feasable.i do have some wedges that mount on sliders that came with originals to pitch back some. when i say reclinining....they are not permanently reclined. they are adjustable to adjust pitch to your liking. but not sure if they will fit yet.for you tall guys....the guy i got car from was pretty tall so he took some full back computer chairs,unbolted from bottom of seat pad, then bolted the angled bracket to the floor to mount the backrest,then set seat pad on floor. they do look really good, but not adjustable. he also made a nice solid aluminum steering wheel spacer thats pretty cool also.
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Post by jspbtown on Jan 16, 2011 15:04:27 GMT -5
When you go to check measurements you will need:
1. Height of seat base off floor
2. Height of back of seat
3. width of base of seat
4. Width of back of seat.
Also, I know what you are saying about reclining. But...a standard seat is designed to support your head in pretty much an upright position. Your waist, back, neck & head are pretty much in alignment. When you get to the extremes of reclining, your back is not in line with your hips, and your neck is thingyed to keep your head facing forward. This might seem fine for the 5 minutes you sit in the car and go "vrooom vroom" but after a few minutes driving, your back and neck will bother you.
The Bradley seat, while by far not perfectly ergonomic, provides a support to your head in that laid back position. None of those tuner seats are designed for that.
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Post by centralvalleygter on Jan 16, 2011 15:08:25 GMT -5
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Post by darrenz on Jan 17, 2011 20:16:08 GMT -5
says nothing at that link, but im doing my homework.if i have to im just going to get 2 plastic racing buckets w/covers like i had in my chevelle. i checked those and they will fit. i have to call to get measurements for the adjustable ones cause dont show measurements on site.how much were the ones you bought?
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Post by centralvalleygter on Jan 18, 2011 12:09:30 GMT -5
Don't know why the link didn't get you there, I have included a screen shot of page, for info sake.  The seats were in the car when I bought it. The price was $279 each at one time, though I see it is higher now. Warmest, Steven |
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Post by brianboggs on Jan 18, 2011 12:56:40 GMT -5
Maybe the seat discussion should be in its own thread seeing as this thread is about Matty's car.
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Post by matty101 on Jan 18, 2011 17:38:00 GMT -5
its all good Brian, im enjoying the info about the seats because thats one of my soon to be concerns.
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I have owned a few odd VW's and sand rails, but this project is definitly by far going to be the best one yet. I have been wanting A bradley for quite some time now and finally got my hands on one, and for cheap to boot. 
