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UPDATE: Bailey Blade prototype expected in October

Chris Tutor — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Etc., Videos

Remember the Bailey Blade coupe being created by Neal Bailey in his Texas garage? Not only is Neal still at it, but he tells us he'll have at least one, possibly three, prototypes ready for testing in October. That's a big change in status from the last time we checked in on Neal in November. Back then he was having serious funding problems but was keeping the dream alive by soliciting small investments from enthusiasts.

Seven months later, things are much sunnier for what's now known as BXR Motors. Neal has moved the project out of his garage to a much larger facility at MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas; hired a consultant to help work out a business plan; and, most importantly, attracted a private investor, which has allowed Neal to focus on the car's development full-time.

"Getting an investor has not changed development process of the Blade at all," Neal told us via email. "However, developing a business plan and strategy has greatly educated us in the world of business and venture capital investments. There is a great deal to learn as developing a business plan like this is almost as difficult as developing the car itself. The business plan and marketing strategy has helped us to focus on making sure that we succeed. It forces you to take a deeper look into the project and apply real numbers to see if this dream will produce real profits. As for pressure from our investor, there has been little involvement. The investor has seen our plan and the engineering behind it and simply wants us to succeed."

Neal says with the investor's funding, he has confidence he'll have at least one -- hopefully three -- Blade prototypes ready by October for road testing. Neal has stayed true to the original design, applying just a few tweaks to update the look.

Click through the jump to read much more about the Blade's development.

Gallery: UPDATE: Bailey Blade prototype expected in October 2009

Gallery: Original Baileyspeed Blade

Continue reading UPDATE: Bailey Blade prototype expected in October

UPDATE: Bailey Blade prototype expected in October originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 May 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Bailey Blade hit hard in bad economy, adds green options

Chris Tutor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Supercars

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bailey Blade

For all of you who have kept up with Neal Bailey's quest to build his dream car, the man with the big plans has hit a snag. The very same snag that's hit the world's established automakers, along with the rest of us. The economy has tanked, and funding has dried up.

But anyone crazy enough to build their very own supercar better have the tenacity to stick with it through even the worst of times. And it seems Neal has just what it takes. Instead of throwing in the shop towel, Neal is innovating. And no, that doesn't mean he flew his corporate jet to DC for a government handout. Instead, he's asking for donations to keep the dream alive, as well as taking the project in some new, greener directions.

Visitors to the Bailey Blade website can keep help Neal with a little cash while reading about the newest trim levels of the exotic Blade. If all goes as planned, Neal hopes to not only offer the Blade XTR, a 750 hp, 5.4L, Roush-powered supercar, but also the Blade EVR and Blade HDR.

The EVR is an all-electric version of the Blade with dual electric motors feeding off lithium ion phosphate batteries. Neal claims "big block performance but all electric." The HDR would be a 600 hp Roush supercharged V8 with an on-demand hydrogen system. Theoretically, owners would see a 20% fuel-savings over a gasoline-only engine.

Donors to the Blade project will get their names posted on the Baily Blade Web site, as well as on displays accompanying the car at shows. They'll also be added to a newsletter list to get the latest news on the project's progress.

Gallery: Update: Baileyspeed Blade redesign

Gallery: Original Baileyspeed Blade

Update: Bailey Blade hit hard in bad economy, adds green options originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO UPDATE: Bailey Blade progressing

Chris Tutor — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Etc., Videos, Supercars

Building the Bailey Blade!

Just the other day I said to myself, "I should write Neal Bailey at Bailey Speed and see how he's coming on the Blade." Last time we heard from him was back in March, which is like 20 blog years. But before I could fire off a "wassup" to Mr. Bailey, I got a message from him with a set of new videos, one of which you see above, and two more after the jump. They look to record about five or six days of work in Neal's garage.

The first time-lapse vid shows Neal hard at work on his second Blade wooden buck using an updated design. The second and third videos document he and a friend during the foaming process. At about 5:56 during Part 3, the time-lapse gives way to Neal's commentary on plans for the car including carbon fiber belly pans, radiators behind the functional hood scoops, and why he decided to make, as he says, "another car with side vents." He then gives us a quick tour of his garage including the obligatory beer fridge but no-so-common T56 transmission waiting to be installed in the developing musclecar. For those at work, be warned that the beginning of both videos on the jump have sound that could greatly annoy co-workers not accustomed to garage work. Just drop the volume until you see the action slow to real-time.

At about 13:45 of the third video, we get a quick tour of the car's interior, which for now is nothing more than a couple of unanchored Corbeau racing seats. But Neal tells us that he's built the car to fit his 6'4" frame, so he says potential buyers in the NBA hopefully won't look like contortionists in the car.

Neal tells us he still plans to have a rolling prototype by the end of the year, but major chassis design changes have pushed the production back to the first or second quarter of 2009.

Thanks for the update, Neal. Let us know when it's our turn for some seat time.

Gallery: Update: Baileyspeed Blade redesign

[Videos hosted at Streetfire.net]

Continue reading VIDEO UPDATE: Bailey Blade progressing

VIDEO UPDATE: Bailey Blade progressing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Baileyspeed Blade gets makeover, pricing

Chris Tutor — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Supercars

Back in November, we brought you the story of a real-life dream-to-reality car story. It was the tale of Neal Bailey, who was taking the best details of the cars he loved and creating his dream car.

Neal emailed us last week to say he had done some work on his self-branded supercar, the Bailey Blade, and was getting closer to putting it into limited production. The latest design changes were necessary to meet European headlight-height regulations with Viper-like, fender-hugging lamps in front. Neal took advantage of the required changes to incorporate some other design mods as well, like the slotted front intakes where the old headlights once were and the hood scoops now are covered instead of open. The car is also getting a newly redesigned front and rear independent suspension.

The leg-sizzling chrome sidepipes are, thankfully, still there, as are the Vette-like rear haunches and the 500-hp Roush V8 planned for the prototype.

Neal says he hopes to have a rolling prototype by the middle of this year with sales starting sometime next year, sooner if he can find an investor. As you have probably already guessed, Neal is hoping to sell a few in Europe, and he says he has designed the Blade to be easily constructed as a right-hand drive car.

If you want a Bailey Blade, Neal says plan on spending between $50,000 and $80,000 depending on options like the prototype's Roush 400IR, an $18,000 option.

Gallery: Update: Baileyspeed Blade redesign

Gallery: Original Baileyspeed Blade

Update: Baileyspeed Blade gets makeover, pricing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

Chris Tutor — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Performance

How many times have you been stuck in traffic and let your mind wander, dreaming of your personally designed supercar? Take the beltline of that, the fenders of this, those headlights and whatever engine that is you can hear three cars over. Few of us have the resources, talent or time to make it a reality, but Neal Bailey apparently has all three, and the rendering you see above is what his mental wandering came up with: the Baileyspeed Blade.

Sure, you're thinking, "Yeah, nice computer model. Anybody with a mouse can do that." But check out the second picture. Yep, that's Neal Bailey sitting in the Blade as it's being mocked up in Baileyspeed's top-secret workshop (a.k.a. Bailey's garage).

The car's stats are as impressive as its looks, too. A Roush 353 with 480 HP. Fiberglass over box steel frame with a target weight of 2,200 pounds. Four-wheel independent suspension and six-way adjustable shocks and adjustable coil-overs. Price? Bailey only says he hopes to make it "affordable", a truly relative term if you ask someone on a blogger's income.

Bailey tells us that he hopes to have a for-sale version by the end of 2008 depending on how development goes. We asked him a few questions about the project, and you can read the interview after the jump. Be sure to check out our gallery for a few select photos of the Blade's development, and if you want more, there are literally hundreds on Baileyspeed's website.

Gallery: Original Baileyspeed Blade

Continue reading Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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