Team,
I have known Les Huckins ever since the Delorean/Bricklin meet in
2001. He did not own a Bricklin then. We hit it off instantly. His
first words to me were something about water leaks, and my retort was in
kind about the Delorean. We knew a friendship had begun that would be
lifelong, because we both had the ability to laugh at ourselves, and our
rides, all the while respecting each other.
I have seen the car referred to below, and was offered the availability
to use its many good parts. Les does not exaggerate with his
description of the severity of damage. It is the worst Bricklin wreck I
have seen in my 30 years. Having been in two accidents within the past
two years that totaled both of the cars I was in I know precisely what
Les speaks of. I am convinced that any lesser car than his Bricklin,
would have ended our active friendship.
Les is a tough ole X Marine who saw action at Iwo Gima during WW2 as a
teen. Any of the Bricklin guys I know would have let the doctors have a
look after the wreck, and let the insurance pay for the trip, but Les
remembers that a Marine never goes to Sick Bay. Never.
Ask any of the Bricklin shops, and they will confirm that the frame/bird
cage on the Bricklin is the best on the planet. Les drives his
Bricklins alternately on a daily basis for pleasure, but will regale his
many buddies at the drop of a hat about its safety features and his
miraculous experience.
So, own a Bricklin and drive it for life!
John Martin
Chairman Emeritus
Les Huckins wrote:
> In May it will be 2 years since I crash tested a '74 Bricklin. Impact
> was on the passenger side at a speed of 45 to 50 mph at time of
> collision. I could not have avoided the crash except to not have been
> there. Broadsided by a full size pickup just aft of center, he had
> not been watching the road on a foggy morning.
>
> The truck penetrated to about dead center, bent the frame, took out
> the door and the reinforcing, bent the roll cage, mangled the seat
> assembly, stopped at the center console. Car was spun and ended up in
> a field next to the road. Area was littered with what looked like
> confetti, lots and lots of debris. My door still worked, I got out
> and started to pick up the larger pieces to toss in the car. Cops
> could not believe that I was still be able to walk around, it was a
> very impressive hit.
>
> I'm alive today because I was not in one of my DeLoreans with it's X
> frame or in my little S-10 pickup, I simply could not have taken that
> kind of hit with a conventional vehicle.
>
> If I'm ever nailed again, I hope to be in a Bricklin. Of course I
> didn't get out of it without injury, It just can't be done with that
> kind of a hit. My back will never be the same but it's nothing that
> keeps me from doing what I've always done and I did not seek medical
> assistance of any kind.
>
> The bright side? The insurance company let my buy back the wreck for
> $200, what a treasure trove in parts, I currently have two 74's which
> have benefited from the donor car.
>
> I do a lot of Bricklin miles and look forward to the doing, I really
> enjoy the way they handle the road, so positively, so effortlessly
> which caused me to sell my two DeLoreans and I've never been sorry.
> Sometimes the weather is bad and I let them rest but still get in 400
> to 500 miles a month.
>
> Les
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