Bricklin (Canada) - AllCarIndex

Bricklin Vehicle Corporation was a Canadian automotive manufacturer founded by Malcolm Bricklin in St. John, New Brunswick, in the early 1970s. The company operated from 1974 to 1975 and is best known for producing the Bricklin SV-1, a sports car that emphasized safety features. The project received significant financial backing from the Canadian government, amounting to $23 million, aimed at creating jobs in a region that required economic development.

The Bricklin SV-1 was notable for its distinctive gull-wing doors and a focus on safety, incorporating a large impact-resistant front bumper and various interior safety features. The car's body was constructed from a combination of acrylic and fiberglass, which was available in bright safety colors. However, the production faced challenges, including engineering issues with the gull-wing doors and overall quality control problems. These difficulties contributed to the project's rapid decline, as the cost of manufacturing each vehicle was reportedly double the retail price.

The SV-1 was powered by different engines throughout its production run; the 1974 models featured a 5.9-liter V8 engine from American Motors Corporation (AMC), while the 1975 models transitioned to Ford V8 engines. A total of 2,897 units of the Bricklin SV-1 were produced, with only 144 equipped with manual transmissions. Following the closure of Bricklin Vehicle Corporation, Malcolm Bricklin continued his career in the automotive industry by importing Fiat and Yugo vehicles into the United States.