From time to time, I will randomly flip open the Auto-Parade 1960 that a generous reader sent me, just to see where it lands. Today it takes us to Biggleswade, Bedfordshire (UK), where the women are very strong indeed, or the men are just really good looking, and the cars are decidedly smaller than average.
The Berkeley Sport was one of the slightly more ambitious and relatively longer lived (1956 – 1961) micro-sports cars that emerged from numerous carriage houses in England during the fifties. Actually, it foreshadowed a veritable explosion of them based on Mini drive trains and other pieces after it appeared in 1960, as well as the Honda S360/500/600. As such, the Berkeley was relegated to using various motorcycle engines and chain drive, to the front wheels though. And it did sport a fiberglass body and swing-axle rear suspension. The full details are here, culled from my other bible, the Complete Encyclopedia of Motor Cars:
Good for 90 mph, with the right engine. In the hands of the right driver, of course. This one seems to have what it would take.
Very nice PHC reference.
PHC? *Googles*
Prairie Home Companion?
Anyway, back on topic. Am I the only one sufficiently unbeguiled by the bushy eyebrowed 60s “Bedfordshire Babe” to be baffled and intrigued by the two different front ends on the pictured cars? Is one a later model? What gives?
Yes, the Berkeley managed to earn a new front end in its latter years. It was not an insignificant car in its time; and may have contributed to the Austin Healey Sprite’s appearance two years after it first appeared. I suspect the Sprite also had something to do with its demise too.
The car with the high bonnet and square air intake has the 4 stroke Royal Enfield engine, which was much taller than the little two-stroke motors used in the other models. ( Two-strokes are like “flat-head” engines)
New car listing for 1960 show 5 Berkeley models, I presume B105 means Ford engine.
The B105 had a 50 BHP Royal Enfield engine, and was their most powerful model. They built two Ford engined cars ( badged as Bandits) but went under before they could start production.
A friend had one of the three-wheel two-stroke Berkeleys in the late 60s, I remember it as being extremely crude.
I remember reading somewhere that Sir Stirling Moss really liked the Berkeley Sport as it was so light weight, you go round corners flat out. It would be fun to have something like this in the garage, but driving such a vehicle in a wilderness full of multi-ton behemoth SUVs would make me nervous.
682 pounds got you a top o the range Berkeley.
My Hillman was 722 and a better carm and weapon of choice for rallys in the Subeam suit ,my car has endless tuning possibilities with in its family.
Carroll Shelby put a V8 Ford in a Hillman to make the Sunbeam Tiger so Ill stick with what I have for this era
It’s a MAN, BABY! – Austin Powers
I was thinking the same thing after getting a load of those eyebrows…sort of gives a new meaning to “care to drag?”
I’m glad someone finally appreciated that headline!
You could get a whole Ford Popular for 494 pounds brand new for a donor side valve power train all 10 hp of it.
The last time I went to the All British Field Meet in Portland there were a few Berkeleys, including one that had been re-powered with a Honda CB550 4 motorcycle engine complete with the original 4 carburetor intake setup. Apparently it was much quicker and didn’t leak oil.
Since putting this up, I’ve become aware of what a following they have, and how they’ve been re-powered with different motorcycle engines. Now I wish I’d done a more in-depth piece.
Write a Automotive History at some point. (No rush, Amigo, just an idea.)
I’ll add it to my mile-long list! Let’s just say CC has a long future, as long as I can put my near-infinite automotive interests into keystrokes.