As the seller points out, Blakely Auto Works made various kit cars for a few decades and operated under the name Bernardi at some point. Today’s feature car is a 1978 model and supposedly is made to be a larger, more street-friendly version of the Blakely Bantam, which was a Lotus 7 replica. It’s a nice looking car, but has one fatal flaw if it’s to be a Lotus – it has an automatic transmission behind its Pinto-based 2.3-liter four cylinder.
This car appears to be in great shape and the seller claims about 18K miles. The auto means this is no track toy, but it might be a cool cruiser for someone with leg problems – assuming someone with leg problems can get into this car.
Note that these kit cars used unique frames, but donor Pintos provided suspension and steering parts, as well as the engine.
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Parkland, CA
$8,000
This car has a classic sports car profile.
With it parked next to a small crossover (GLK), you get a sense of scale.
Rear and shows modern bumper, but is a good look, overall. It looks like the seller has some other toys, too.
Yes, it has a top!
We’re not sure about the towel, but the interior looks good and the seats appear to have nice bolstering. If those are speakers, audiophiles won’t like the imaging.
Here’s the 2.3-liter four. This should be a remarkably reliable powertrain and should move this tiny car with authority, especially with the mods mentioned by the seller.
Ad text:
Rare Blakely Bearcat S Only 48 factory cars built, this is #19 with 18,000 miles, this car is thought to have been the factory demo. Sold to a Doctor in La Crosse who bought it in 1989. Recent carbuerator rebuild and tune-up.
This is not a MG replica. it was designed to be a street version of the Lotus 7, with working doors and a usible trunk. Dick Blakely started to offer 1957 Lotus 7-style kit cars, called the Bantam, in 1972 in Love Park, Illinois, and in 1975 began offering a more civilized version called the Bearcat
A significant feature was that the fiberglass body and fenders used a PVC foam core sandwich type of construction that added considerably to overall strength and ruggedness of the Blakley car.
It has Fiberglass body on a specially built frame of box steel tubing. Custom front suspension.
Ford 2.3 liter OHV. motor with custom header, chrome valve cover and air cleaner, a 390 CFM Holley 4 bbl with a Offenhauser dual plane manifold.
Automatic transmission, Ford differential, rack and pinion steering with front disc brakes.
Newer tires with less than 100 miles on silver turbine alloy wheels. .
Red with tan interior and white convertible top with soft side windows, back window and sides are plastic and in like new condition, also has full cockpit tonneau cover, with head rest pockets.
AM/FM CD with built in speakers, tilt wheel. The seats and wheels on the car were a upgraded “factory option”
Brand new radiator and hoses.
One of it’s greatest attributes is the leg room, a six foot tall man, 225Lbs can fit and drive it comfortably. Only 3 models were made with fiberglass bodies & separate steel tube frames (as this one is).
Car has seat belts – Turn signals – Pioneer radio with cassette player & two speakers two speed wipers (3 blades) – Halogen headlights, Leather wrapped steering wheel,
The Bearcat. has a unique appearance, not closely modeled on any of the classic sports cars usually providing inspiration to kit car designers. It is much better suited to regular street use by virtue of its more spacious cab, adjustable seats, doors, soft-top, and rear trunk.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blakely Auto Works (also called Bernardi Auto Works in later years) was a manufacturer of automobiles and of kit cars, working from premises located in a series of US midwest communities including Princeton, Wisconsin in the 1970s and 1980s. Blakely produced several kit car models, the Bantam, Bearcat, and Bernardi.
Please no emails, don’t have to sell it, I don’t bite, if interested call me