Rolling Bradley GT chassis - I dunno...free, beer money, what ya got fer trade yo?

This one is mine. It was part of my Christmas display last year. It has no title, it's a rolling chassis. Has transaxle, no engine. I really hate to get rid of it, but I need to.

I picked it out of some hillbilly's yard in NJ for basically beer money last year. It's been sitting outside since I've had it too. It'll roll free, so bring your trailer and come get her. If nobody has anything fun to trade or offers me zero cash, I'll give it away. But first I figured I'd have some fun with it and be "one of those guys" on CL asking for a trade. So whatcha got to trade, yo? I don't drink, so beer is out. Here's a link to my CL ad with photos.

http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/4445567352.html

Essentially a free Challenge car for somebody.

Somewhere, someone has a free Beetle with a good engine that a tree fell on. I just know it.

Who's good with air cools?

How about Subies? 2.0l Turbo. (Oh wait, that would be me!)

This has JThw8's name written all over it.

+adapter+rotary+snail+baja bug suspension=glorious rallycross car

SVreX wrote: Who's good with air cools? How about Subies? 2.0l Turbo. (Oh wait, that would be me!) This has JThw8's name written all over it.

Indeed, I recall the first time this was for sale when Klayfish bought it and I was avoiding it then for swap lunacy. You wouldn't even need a 2.0t (although I'd do it anyway) a 2.2 legacy motor would move that thing faster than you'd want to drive a fiberglass coffin. If some of my other projects were gone already I'd make something interesting out of it.

Lesse..a full bodied, full caged Wartburg ran 15.1 with a 2.2 and beetle transaxle. Whaddaya think that would do?

Yes, I've heard many a story about the Wartburg. With a 2.2, you're right it'd be scary fast. I don't know what it weighs, but it ain't much. With the 2 flat tires inflated, I can easily push it myself...even on the lawn.

I wanted one of these SO BADLY in my younger days!

A finished Bradley GT should weigh less than 1800 lbs.

On paper, that would mean it should be able to turn a 14.5 second 1/4 mile with a 135 hp 2.2L.

With a 230 hp 2.0T, that would be more like 12.1 seconds.

Keep in mind- there is no comparison in the handling dynamics between this and the Wartburg.

The Wartburg had a high center of gravity and a narrow track.

The Bradley has ALL it's weight down low, with a much wider track.

Uh, I've got a car with a very healthy VR6. Man, that would be a rocket.

If anyone is good at building air cooled engines, with the stock box you should be able to build one to about 250 up NA. MUCH more with a turbo.

It would be SHWEEET!

In reply to Klayfish:

Do you have the "doors" and the engine cover?

SVreX wrote: A finished Bradley GT should weigh less than 1800 lbs.

There are no finished Bradley GTs...

Theres one about 5 minutes away from me thats finished but just sits for sale, although Ive no idea how much the dude wants for it

Graefin10 wrote: In reply to Klayfish: Do you have the "doors" and the engine cover?

No on the doors. I have what I believe is the engine cover. It looks like it would have attached in that area somewhere, though it's not an exact fit. I think it didn't cover the whole thing? It's still painted in the original color I got the car...late '70's sparkling gold metallic.

Klayfish wrote:

Graefin10 wrote: In reply to Klayfish: Do you have the "doors" and the engine cover?

the original color I got the car...late '70's sparkling gold metallic.

Harvest gold metallic to match the kitchen appliances of the day

No doors kills it for me.

i'll leave this here...

edizzle89 wrote: i'll leave this here...

E36 M3 disturber

Does it have a title?

I wish that was closer...

SVreX wrote: No doors kills it for me.

If that's all that's stopping you I can enable you ;) Been off and on working with a buddy in the local VW club to take molds of the plexi doors which are rare rare rare, to make a fiberglass door with window inserts. We could accelerate that project and pull a few doors for you if needed :)

As for some of the other comments. Agreed it should mostly outhandle the wartburg easily except the front suspension is not very optimal in one of these but that's semi fixable on the cheap. You could also get the weight lower by ditching that rear window and making it a roadster (the window turns the car into an oven anyway)

If I was building for GRM Challenge I'd ditch the window, put fiberglass floors in and remove any weight I could find to compensate for a cage.

SVReX, not sure what you meant about building the "stock box" to 250 hp, if you mean building a T1 aircooled for 250 it could be done but why? You will be money and reliability ahead to chuck the subaru motor in it. T1 motors aren't that robust. A T4 can be built to stupid power if you have very deep pockets.

If we're talking transaxles the stocker should hold you up to 200-250 if you aren't too mean on your launches, but the CV joints will blow out pretty easy :)

Just to enable somebodyDo it!!

I have a brand new corvette windshield for a Bradley GT, and might have a set of doors still that I would contribute to a challenge car.

Also, at one time I single handedly loaded a Bradley GT body onto the top of the cab and topper of a full sized Dodge truck. They are not very heavy bodies.