Seven Wannabe: 1975 Blakely Bantam
Buying a kit car is can offer entry to a few different layers of the automotive hobby. For one, there’s other kit car enthusiasts; for another, there’s the fiberglass crowd that keeps track of all the various oddball creations out there. But kit cars can also offer entry into competitive circles where lightweight Caterham and Lotus 7 tribute cars like this Blakely Bantam can turn even the most average driver into an autocross course savage. This ’75 Bantam listed here on eBay looks like it was a fun driver until it was flooded out in Hurricane Ian, and it’s now being sold as a non-running project with no reserve.
You can see all the tell-tale signs off flood damage, like the light coating of grime still residing on the cloth racing buckets. To me, one of the more challenging aspects of owning a flood car is wondering just how bad it got: was it completely submerged? Was the previous owner’s house located near a water treatment plant? Or did it just get soaked by a few inches of salt water and then dry out fairly quickly? There’s really know way of knowing unless the previous owner posted photos of the aftermath on a social media page, so it’s a pretty clear roll of the dice to take on a project like this. The dash and steering wheel still look good, however.
The Bantam was the brainchild of Dick Blakely who came up with a few different models while in business, including the Bernardi, which is probably the second-most recognized model behind the Bantam. The Bantam, like so many other Lotus 7 replicas, utilizes a Ford powerplant to provide the scoot, and its low curb weight certainly makes the most of its relatively humble horsepower. Engines were typically sourced from the Pinto or the Bobcat, but I love the idea of a Cologne V6 in one of these. The seller confirms that he has not attempted to spin the motor or really done any further analysis of the extent of the storm damage, aside from noting the steering is locked in place despite the key still turning in the ignition.
With the Grassroots Motorsports stickers on the side, it seems likely that this Blakely was used for autocross events down in the Sunshine State, where the seller is located. However, those tires look quite basic in terms of performance capabilities, so it’s hard to say for sure how it was previously used. And check out those taillights – can you place which domestic model those were found on? The flood damage is a shame, but as far as rebuilds go, this is likely one of the easiest ones to pull off thanks to its Lego-like construction and cheap replacement drivetrains still widely available.
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Comments
When I turn the photo I see 70’s Ford truck taillights.🤔
I owned a Blakley Bernardi. Mine had the 2.4 Ford 4cyl backed up with a standard 4 spd. The rear end was out of a 1974 Ford Pinto wagon ( as was all the power equipment) it had the Mustang 2 rack& pinion set up with 4 wheel discs on it,
This little car was one of most awesome , fun and affordable cars I have ever owned. After doing some research over the last 16 years I have found my old Bernardi! The new owner put 17” wheels on it so when you turn or hit a bump it grinds on the frame and body. He has taken out the pinto seats and put seate out of a 1985 Mustang GT in it. Rather uncomfortable for the car. My car was done in a factory red gel coat . It was faded to pink but the new owner says he buffered the gel coat for over 1200 hours, not 12 hours or 120 hours, yes he said 1200 hours of buffing and I thought that the exaggeration was a little extreme. Anyway he wants to sell it back to me for $18000.00. I have offered him $7,000.00 and we both left laughing! Great cars not hard to work on my daughter did the points, plugs, new distributor, new coil and made all custom accel wires for it! That was when she was 13 years old! She even set the timing!!! If you want a well built fiberglass car the Blakley line is the way to go! Shame they went out of business!
I would tend to agree with you that 1200 hours is a very great exaggeration. Think of it this way….he’s saying he spent 40 hours a week for 30 weeks just buffing the car. There wouldn’t be any paint left on that poor car!
Reminds me of the time a guy told me he had 80,000 hours in a car restoration. Do the math on that one.
Looks like it was a fun driver. As low as this car is, I would bet it was almost completely submerged. With the open element air filter covered in rust, I would be afraid to pull the dipstick. Every system needs a rebuild.
What is the sale price? I am hoping that it is not too much! It could cost upwards $9500.00 to repair correctly. Then we have a branded title, and transportation
Yes i know they are on the small side, but the photos of this make it look like a pedal car.
Used to autocross against several of the various brands in the D Mod class. They are very fast and handle like they are on rails. Did well against them but margins were in the seconds for times. Regardless of what you do with them they are really fun cars.
E-bay price is at $3550. right now. One day and 11 hours to go.
I wonder where it actually came from. Lutz is well out of the range of Ian flooding, so it likely came from Charlotte, Lee, Collier county originally. Another statistic.
It’s the least of the issues with this poor car, but whitewalls?!
Correction- rims made to look like whitewalls! But I shouldn’t be surprised- it’s from Florida.
Are those pinto or maverick tail lights?
Those look like Pinto Station Wagon tail lights turned sideways
That’s salt water damage which is the worst. With the amount of rust on every surface I’d assume this poor car is a total loss. I think the seller who purchased it from the owner knows that. Good on him for including all those photos. Sad
With a kit car, there’s really no such thing as original, so I wouldn’t try to put it back the way it was. I’d find a later model donor and replace everything that may have been damaged. A turbocharged 4, and a 5 or 6 speed manual would make a fun car.
I see a lot of work here, even the Frame has rust in places, could be a good rebuild ,but its going to cost many $ .