The Bricklin SV-1

This picture represents a dream come true. The Bricklin was a shared vision between an overzealous and eccentric entrepreneur and a province desperate to stimulate growth during the 1970s recession. Prime Minister Hatfield and Malcolm Bricklin shared a common dream, but it ultimately became a nightmare for New Brunswick taxpayers, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars. 

Before the Bricklin project was introduced in New Brunswick in the 1970s, the unemployment rate in the province was already high. This was due to a number of factors, including the general economic recession and the decline of traditional industries such as fishing and forestry. In an effort to stimulate growth and create jobs, the government turned to new and innovative projects such as the Bricklin, with the hope of reducing unemployment and improving the overall economic situation in the province. 


"And he told me, 'Malcolm, I'll help fund your factory. And here's what I want to get out of it. I want publicity that New Brunswick is more than fishermen and loggers, that this is a progressive place and they're building this futuristic car. And if they can do that, they can do anything'," 

- Malcolm Bricklin


Malcolm Briklin and Richard Hatfield showcasing the Bricklin SV-1

The Premier

Richard Bennett Hatfield was a prominent politician in New Brunswick and held the position of Premier for a record 17 years from 1970 to 1987. He entered politics in 1961 when he was elected as an MLA for Carleton County for the Progressive Conservative Party. In 1969, after the 1967 general election, Hatfield was elected as the party leader. The following year he became the Premier of New Brunswick.

During his campaign, Hatfield traveled across the province in a helicopter and was seen as a new kind of politician. In the coming years, he evolved into one of the most popular Premiers in Canada, known for his bachelor lifestyle and frequent trips to major urban centers to partake in the nightlife. This fondness for metropolitan nightclubs earned him the nickname "Disco Dick". 


Premier Richard Hatfield aka "Disco Dick"

The visionary

Malcolm Bricklin is an American entrepreneur and businessman, best known for his role in founding the Bricklin Manufacturing Company and the creation of the Bricklin SV-1 sports car in the 1970s. Born on November 6, 1939, in New York City, Bricklin was known for his ambitious ventures and innovative ideas, but also for his tendency for taking on risky business ventures. At the height of his success, he owned a desert ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a 5,000-acre home in the Colorado Rockies with an indoor shooting range, a riverfront swimming pool, helipad, and pet camel. 


Malcolm Bricklin

Prior to founding the Bricklin Manufacturing Company, Bricklin had a successful career as a car importer and played a key role in bringing the Subaru brand to the United States. He founded Subaru of America in 1968 and was instrumental in establishing the automaker's first dealership network and building the brand's reputation for reliability and affordability. Despite his later business setbacks, Bricklin's role in bringing Subaru to the US remains an important part of the company's history. 



Bricklin SV-1 Technical Specifications:

Body and Chassis:

Powertrain:

Dimensions:


The two-seater sports car had a top speed of 178kph/111mph and could go from 0 to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds (automatic). When compared to other sports cars of its time such as the 1970 Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro, and Ford Mustang, the Bricklin was 3-4 seconds slower in acceleration from 0 to 60 mph. In comparison to today's standards, the Bricklin is slower than a Toyota Highlander, which typically has acceleration times ranging from 6.8-8.8 seconds. 


In a drag race that nobody wanted, the DeLorean and the Bricklin went head to head. Despite advertising itself as a "safe sports car", the Bricklin struggles to reach a speed that would make one feel unsafe to begin with. The DeLorean, which can barely reach 88 mph, has no problem outpacing the Bricklin.


Malcolm Bricklin was a savvy businessman, capable of maneuvering the intricate political and glitzy landscape of the automotive industry. Despite his business acumen, when it came to design and technical execution, his skills were comparable to Homer Simpson's creation of "The Homer". 

The Homer!

Problem Child

The Bricklin SV-1, promised to be a new kind of sports car that combined high performance with unparalleled safety features. However, the reality of the Bricklin was far from what was promised. Despite the marketing efforts, the car was plagued with a number of design problems that hindered its performance and overall appeal to customers. 

It was marketed as a sports car with a focus on safety, but despite these claims, the vehicle suffered from several critical design flaws that affected its performance and functionality. Here are some of the design flaws that contributed to the downfall of the Bricklin SV-1 sports car. 

Mechanical Issues:

Structural Issues:

Interior Issues:


Further difficulties arose during the production of the Bricklin SV-1. The cars were hand-built in New Brunswick, a province that was not known for its automotive industry. Instead, New Brunswick was primarily known for its natural resources, agriculture, lumber, and fishing. Building a car, especially one that was designed by someone with no prior experience in car design or factory building, was a highly skilled engineering task that was not well-suited for the region. 

Lotto 10/42

In 1971, the Unemployment Insurance reforms in Atlantic Canada led to significant changes in the system, making it more generous and accessible. As a result, the region experienced rapid growth in unemployment levels, a shortage of workers, increased seasonality, dependence on Unemployment Insurance, reduced private sector investment, and weak economic growth. Benefits were increased from 60% to 75% for those with dependents and 66% for those without. Qualification for UI was reduced from 24 weeks to just 8 weeks, which would qualify workers for 42 weeks of benefits in high unemployment regions. This led to the famous UI catchphrase "Lotto 8/42". Despite high unemployment rates in the 1970s and 1980s, there were reported labor shortages throughout the region. The minimum number of qualifying weeks was increased to 10 in 1977, resulting in a new catchphrase "Lotto 10-42". 

Malcolm Bricklin pointed out that the factories faced staffing difficulties due to the phenomenon of "Lotto 10-42". Despite being disputed by many, the rise in unemployment rates, coupled with the increase in job vacancies, made it difficult to retain workers for more than a couple of weeks, and this was just one of the several factors that caused production problems for the Bricklin. 

Despite starting production in mid-1974, the plant was only able to produce 2854 cars by late 1975, across three model years (1974, 1975, and 1976). This was significantly fewer than the estimated 1000 cars per month that Bricklin had intended to make in 1974, with only 780 cars produced that year. The cost of the Bricklin SV-1 was a major issue, with a final price tag of $9,980 ($50,593.97 inflation adj 2022) , which was approximately $3,300 higher than the cost of the Chevrolet C3 Corvette at the time. This put the Bricklin at a disadvantage in the market, making it one of the worst-selling sports cars of all time.  

From 1973 to 1976, New Brunswick invested an initial $4.5 million (equivalent to $116 million in 2022) into the Bricklin company. However, due to a lack of guaranteed government funding, the company went into receivership and left a lasting impact on the province. Regardless of the pride that locals still have for "Canada's Car" the term "It's just another Bricklin" still lingers as a reminder of government mistakes. The aftermath of the Bricklin venture saw Malcolm Bricklin try several different business endeavors with both success and failure. On the other hand, Richard Hatfield continued to serve as Premier for the next decade until he was unseated by the Liberal party in 1987. Despite all of this, taxpayers were left responsible for paying off the large amount of public debt accumulated. 

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