Subaru, Gull Wings & EVs - Malcolm Bricklin’s Empire (Part 1)

Our guest tonight began his career in the automotive industry in the early 1960s, when he started importing small cars from Europe and Japan to sell in the United States. In 1968, he founded Subaru of America and helped to introduce the Subaru 360 to the American market.

In the 1970s, Malcolm Bricklin turned his attention to creating his own sports car, the Bricklin SV-1. The car featured gull-wing doors and a fiberglass body, and was powered by a V8 engine. 2,854 units were sold and production ceased in 1975. 

Today, Malcolm remains an active and influential figure in the automotive industry, continuing to explore new ideas and business ventures in pursuit of his entrepreneurial vision. And he’s here to explain to us just exactly what he’s been up to! 

This episode is part of our ROAD TO SUCCESS SERIES - inspiring stories that help shape the future of the autosphere.

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00:00 Introduction to Break Fix Podcast

00:27 Malcolm Bricklin's Early Career

01:02 The Subaru 360 and Beyond

02:37 The C Box Machine Venture

05:30 The Scooter Dilemma

09:23 Breakthrough with the New York Police

12:04 The Scooter Rental Business

15:37 Importing Subaru to the USA

22:49 Challenges with Consumer Reports

26:40 Building the Bricklin SV-1

30:35 Collaboration with John DeLorean

33:53 The Cost of Innovation

34:29 Hiring Irv Bras: A Unique Encounter

36:02 The Inspiration Behind the SV-1's Gullwing Doors

37:16 Engineering Challenges and Breakthroughs

42:00 The Chairman's Car: A New Vision

43:03 Battles with the Big Three

48:02 The End of the Bricklin SV-1

50:28 Lessons Learned and Future Plans

55:14 From Electric Bikes to Hydrogen Cars

58:12 Closing Remarks and Future Episodes