Innovative Vehicle Ideas That Failed Immediately

Bricklin SV1

The Bricklin SV-1 was the brainchild of Malcolm Bricklin, founder of Subaru America, and was produced between 1974-1976. As well as incorporating a host of previously unseen features, the car was also intended to set a new standard in safety for a sports car, and in many ways it did. It incorporated a dent-resistant body, a full roll cage, and gull wing doors that, due to their position, allowed for better passenger protection in the event of a side-on collision.

Unfortunately, as is common when someone tries something new, there were teething troubles. Due to all these extra safety features, the car came in above the designed weight, which reduced performance and efficiency. There were also issues with insufficient cooling and the construction of the body panels, but what really stood out were how the doors—strengthened with a steel frame to improve safety—ended up weighing 100 pounds apiece and required a powered system to open and close. And while it no doubt looked pretty flash to open the door with the push of a button, if the power ever failed with you inside, the doors and windows would cease to operate—leaving you, at best, a laughing stock, and at worst, begging for help from window-smashing strangers in a remote location.