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Post by mercer77 on Aug 21, 2011 6:46:45 GMT -5
Jeff's 625,000+ mile Bradley only counts as one. Even though it has more miles than all other Bradley's combined.  |
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 21, 2011 7:33:09 GMT -5
I do not think the GT1 is rare at all. They made 1000s of them. The GT2 is another story.
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Post by mercer77 on Aug 21, 2011 7:36:51 GMT -5
Yes, but how many are on the road? I have only seen one other one on the road. (and I own three of those 1000s of bodies.)
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 21, 2011 8:14:49 GMT -5
Just because you do not see them do not mean they are not there  . I would say I have seen dozens over the years. But its funny you mentioned how many are on the road. While we were priming my car yesterday we were wondering if any of the kit car companies in the 70s even expected that the cars would hold up for this many years |
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Post by Jeff Troy on Aug 21, 2011 8:30:37 GMT -5
Pretty hard to question the road worthiness of a Volkswagen Beetle when so many thousands are still on the road. If you doubt that, just check out some of the hundreds of VW shows around the U.S. and the rest of the world.
A newly completed Bradley was never really a new car. A Bradley is just a Beetle with a plastic body, and most of us know that gel-coated 1/4-3/8-inch-thick fiberglass can handle time and weather a lot better than today's car metal.
Take good care of the VW components, replace the cheezy Bradley fasteners with stainless fasteners, keep spare Plexiglas gulls and rear windows on hand, don't crash, and the car should last a very long time.
It's just a prettier, lighter and more aerodynamic Bug -- all improvements to an already near-perfect design.
I don't think that very many Bradley cars are still driving, but not because of any failure on Bradley's part. Many kits were either never started or completed, and of those that were, many were poorly assembled, poorly maintained or simply sold from one owner to the next and the next with no personal commitment beyond big dreams.
"Dream" Bradleys are the result of big ideas that are not backed by talent, cash, time and commitment. They often start out as decent cars, but are then disassembled, modified beyond their capacity, left unfiinished and sold when the dreamer's money or interest is gone.
Dream Bradleys that are successfully completed and driving are not what I'm telling you about here. Those cars are no longer dreams; they have become reality. Also, there are and have been many excellent projects completed by Bradley owners, and they represent most of those that are still bopping around like any good VW should.
Unfortunately, there are most likely many times more GTs rotting in fields, barns and garages than correctly assembled, properly maintained and scooting their owners across the neighborhood or even the country. Find one, back it with enough time and money to do it justice, and you can be rewarded with a lifelong, mechanical member of your family.
My 1976 original-owner/builder GT has been titled and registered in Pennsylvania twice, as well as Georgia, Virginia, Florida and New Jersey. It's East-Coasted the country from north to south at least a few dozen times, and as far west as Kansas City. Most trips were nonstop at 70+ on turnpikes and interstate highways.
More recently than in my old rock & roll touring days, I did a 3000-mile+ trip through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois a few years ago, and several even more recent trips to Ohio and Indiana, all starting from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, between Harrisburg and Philadelphia,
Bradley cars are fine. Their owners are the ones who should cause you a little concern.
Warmest...
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Post by kitcarguy on Aug 21, 2011 8:54:31 GMT -5
This is true Jeff.
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Post by jspbtown on Aug 21, 2011 9:03:48 GMT -5
I think those who complete any kit have really achieved a substantial goal. So "yes"...I think a completed bradley (or other kit) is rare.
Just read the forums...how many abandoned projects (both bought and sold) do you see?
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Post by Jeff Troy on Aug 21, 2011 9:28:38 GMT -5
Buying a completed Bradley cheats the owner out of the car's most rewarding gift.
Much like a Heathkit organ, a model kit or any DIY project, driving the car is just the final piece of the puzzle. The real fun, pride and accomplishment of building any kit car is the project itself.
If you built or ground-up restored your Bradley, you know what I mean. If you just bought it because it looks cool and you wanted one, you missed the whole point of the car - and the best part of ownership.
Warmest...
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Post by vdubjim on Aug 21, 2011 11:20:46 GMT -5
There are a few around here ive seen for sale, NEVER seen one driving, well except mine.
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Post by Charles Thomas on Aug 21, 2011 12:43:04 GMT -5
I've seen about three in my area, all in yards, and one or two disassembled back home, but other than my own, I have only ever seen 1 on the road, and it was at a car show.
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Post by centralvalleygter on Aug 21, 2011 22:21:53 GMT -5
Mine is my daily driver (well, until today - see post elsewhere). I know of one other in my town, it is not far from roadworthy, but needs to be painted and has not been registered for the road for lots of years. Owner got a little enthusiastic when he saw me driving mine around, but, when it was going to cost him about $2000 to be painted, he got discouraged.
Warmest,
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Eric A
Full Member
It's an obsession not an investment!
Posts: 223
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Post by Eric A on Aug 22, 2011 7:46:27 GMT -5
Mine was a daily driver for years. I put well over 70k miles on it. It is in my garage now and does not get driven that much due to the fact it is not car seat friendly. But it is still in very drivable condition. It just needs a new brake light switch. I still have a nagging problem that I have had for years that it runs fine till it gets hot and then it either quits or once you shut I off it will not restart for an hour or so. I have tried everything to fix it and no luck.
Eric A
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Post by leonardabell on Aug 22, 2011 8:52:07 GMT -5
Mine is road worthy but not used all that much. My wife won't ride in it, so only tool around town a couple times a month. I have driven it to Carlyle Penn. a couple of times, from Illinois. That is the furthest I've driven it at one time.
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Post by mwilson on Aug 22, 2011 12:29:21 GMT -5
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Post by Tony O. on Aug 22, 2011 18:24:11 GMT -5
I just tried the jaxed site mwilson mentioned and there are only 2 listed for the North East. One of them is mine.
I guess rarity is a matter of location.
Tony O.
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stevevw
Full Member
Part VW part Porsche , all Bradley
Posts: 117
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Post by stevevw on Aug 22, 2011 20:37:24 GMT -5
We are about to take a 150 mile trip to Canada in our Twoie .
For the GCVWS mine is definitly road worthy ,but not very weatherproof .
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Post by Dan MacMillan on Aug 22, 2011 21:04:49 GMT -5
We are about to take a 150 mile trip to Canada in our Twoie . For the GCVWS mine is definitly road worthy ,but not very weatherproof . Where in Canada? |
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JohnDriver
Junior Member
life is what happens while you make other plans
Posts: 63
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Post by JohnDriver on Aug 24, 2011 16:04:07 GMT -5
love the link!! gave you a karma.lol THANKS |
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Post by dragonblunt on Aug 28, 2011 10:39:36 GMT -5
stevevw part porsche what part can i put a 911 engine in my gt2 willit bolt up to the vw trans or should i just put the posche engine and tranny in as one unit thanks john
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Post by superdave008 on Aug 29, 2011 0:02:46 GMT -5
I live in denver , Co. I know of at least 2 bradley's on the road . I saw one about a year ago . a GT-2
The other ? What a story! I called a guy about an engine for sale . When I went to buy it , he had 3 vw's all running with many modifications . and in the back of the driveway a beautiful GT-2 completely finished with A/c , beautiful yellow with black accent stripes with mags and light brown Bradley interior. He bought it a year before for $3500 and got his license suspended for a year racing it on the street.
He had to ride a bicycle to work and was hurting for cash . sold me a 1600 dual port for $250 just to maintain his storage bill. When we went over to his storage to pick it up it was loaded with vw parts. addicted to VW's . I got the engine home and it ran perfect. started right up. good oil pressure , no smoke.
I'm still working on mine " very slowly " lot of fun. I'll ad it to the street ASAP.
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Post by 48flatbed on Aug 31, 2011 4:07:20 GMT -5
I drive mine frequently during the warm months not much in winter. I bought it 2 years ago with the 'Dream' of restoring it, but started driving it and havent taken it off the road since. Faded body, torn seats, ragged out carpet but still a ton-o-fun to drive! Jon |
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. I would say I have seen dozens over the years. But its funny you mentioned how many are on the road. While we were priming my car yesterday we were wondering if any of the kit car companies in the 70s even expected that the cars would hold up for this many years
