The Future in 1974... [PIC]

Malcolm Bricklin's SV-1 (for Safety Vehicle) was a Canadian built two seat sports car heavily subsidized by the government of New Brunswick. Besides the gull wing doors, the car touted many safety features including shock absorbing bumpers, steel reinforced rollover protection. I guess, perhaps as another safety feature, the car came without cigarette lighter and ashtrays. There was also no provision for a spare tire. The 1974 model was powered by an AMC 360 V8 and, in 1975, with some substructure modifications, the 351 Windsor V8. Car and Driver rated its performance similar to the contemporary Corvette. The car was plagued with problems especially with the doors (battery and hydraulic pump failures) and the body work. The body was a fiberglass shell with colored acrylic (no need for paint) bonded to it. Heat and sunlight caused both delamination and the UV light that passed through the acrylic degraded the polyester fibers of the shell. With all these QC problems, production ended in late 1975.

This particular model is the "Chairman" with its signature gold trim and wheels that was to be an upscale limited edition with various upgrades including horsepower.  Only 3 prototypes were built and it never went into production.... but it does look pretty cool.