In the realm of kit cars from the ’70s, Blakely is one of the lesser-known names, and there’s a good chance that not many were made nor survive to this day. In this case, it’s the first Bearcat that we have ever featured here on BarnFinds, and it’s available right now, here on eBay out of  New London, Wisconsin.  Join us as we look closer!

Blakely Auto Works was founded in 1972 by Dick Blakely,  The following year, Dick had saved enough money to go out on his own and build a prototype for the first model, a Blakely Bantam, but a shop fire destroyed the car very shortly after. His former supervisor at a local fastener manufacturer, Dennis Myelle, loaned Dick some money and joined him in business later that same year. Their first two cars were ready by springtime 1975, and they got straight to work making and selling kits of the Bantam and Bearcat in a rented space in Loves Park, Illinois.

By 1976, the two men had some disagreements over business items, and by 1980, the whole operation was out of their hands. The company closed its doors completely sometime between then and 1990, when the whole thing went back to Dick as a result of a legal dispute. Dick passed away in 1995, but the Bantam, Bearcat, Breman/Bernardi, and Hawk that bear his name are proof that they made a good, solid kit car that would accept engines and drivetrains from Mustangs, Cougars, Pintos or Bobcats when many others were still tied up in Beetles.

We turn our attention now to the example presented. Its true date of assembly is unknown, and the seller doesn’t give us much to work with, other than the fact that it is titled as a 1972 Ford Pinto and is showing 36,000 miles on the odometer. Therefore, we have to do some looking, and we see a V6 under the hood with a manual transmission, dual exhaust, newer stereo, and cross-laced wheels. It definitely needs a good detailing. The dust, dirt, cobwebs and patina suggest that it has seen some miles but might have been off the road for a while. We’re not sure where the air cleaner or valve covers are.

As of the time I write this, the bid is under $2000 with only two days left, and for that kind of money, this might actually be a decent project for someone on a budget who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty. Of course, we don’t know if it moves under its own power, but with the classic-car market the way it is now, something like this could be a good first step for someone new to the scene but can’t afford or doesn’t want something that a lot of other people have. That’s my take on it, what do YOU think? Let us know in the comments!