Berkeley SE492 Roadsters - Anyone any experience?

[UglyAmerican]

I'm bidding on this 1959 Berkeley SE492 four wheeler. Original model had a 492 cc 3-banger, this one has nothing in it at the moment.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1958-Ber ... 1e59392b02

 

Have done some research. Cool cars. 2 and 3 cyl from the factory, chain drive to power the front wheels. This one is minus engine and transmission. I'd probably drop in something from a ride-on lawnmower or ATV.

 

Original Berkeley roadsters had between 18 and 50 bhp. I'd be happy with something in that range, seeing as it weighs 300 kg/660 lbs.

 

Anyone have any experience with these? Obviously this one I'm looking at needs lots of work to get it in working condition. I'm not going for a concours car, or something appropriate for vintage racing. Just a microcar I can use once a week during the summer.

 

Assuming the glassfibre/aluminum body is solid, and it appears to be from talking to the owner, how much trouble would I be in trying to "restore" this thing to working order?

[barrett]

hhmmm thats interesting, i don't know anyone thats had one of these but being a bit of a microcar perv i've always liked berkeleys. They are very rare to find in original condition over here, even more so in the States i would imagine, most of the had mini engines and wide arches chucked on before they became really collectable. This one doesn't look too messed about with but it's a shame he's cut the valance off, as i reckon the glassfibre repair will be the most difficult thing to get right on these. of course that depends on what you want the finished car to look like, if you dont mind the body looking shabby then it's no worry but to get an even half-decent paint job on a 'glass car takes a lot of work. personally i'd roll it 'as is' and just get the mechanical side sorted but thats just me... In terms of everything else, i can't see it being too much of a challenge if all the parts are there (which they seem to be) as i think your biggest hassle would be getting bits for it. obviously you're not bothered about keeping it standard so i don't think you'll have a problem there. Bare in mind this is a very simple car, even compared to something like a frogeye sprite for example, and there isn't much to it, if you are a pretty capable mechanic yuo shouldn't have much of a problem i reckon. Also it has the proper wheels which i imagine are pretty hard to find, although i have a feeling they are a strange size and you might not be able to get tyres too easily....i don't really know.basically, go for it! if you can get it for under or near the reserve i reckon it'll be a worthwhile project, club support is pretty good as far as i know and you can drive it knowing you'll never see another on the road...!

[garethj]

That's quite a looker - most '50s fibreglass cars were a bit challenged in the aesthetics department

 

It shouldn't be too complicated to repair, apart from the parts being cheap back in the '50s, there aren't that many anyway!

 

Handy links here: http://www.1950sspecials.com/home.htm

 

And here: http://www.pearsy.co.uk/

 

These were made close to where Pog lives, it's almost like you'll be able to touch the hem of his cloak

[nigel bickle]

Yes-kinda.I've a modified Se328 in the barn. British Racing Green, its a small 4 wheeler, running gear's period Honda N600(aircooled twin) with Fiesta running gear. Works well, fits with hardly any wheelarch mods, sounds brilliant.I didn't do any of it- just bought it about 20 years back for a laugh.Did make it reliable though. One overseas trip with 5 standard Berkeleys (who all derided mine) saw 3 fail before Portsmouth, one on the boat, and the 'last' made it 10miles in-before seizing.I towed it home..Mine is an absolute blast. Its been to Le Mans twice, -attracting far more female attention than the 'poseurs'. Broadly as fast as an MG Midget-although it gets a little light at speeds.I've LOTS of silly stories there...Last driven around 2 years back-its surviving storage well.Gotta accept that I'm too old/lardy for it now-sadly.I'd upload pics if someone can tell me how to load old photos onto my computer/photobucket....Highly recommended-piss easytosort..

[michiel]

I like them Berkeleys, nothig useful to add though...Yours sounds like a real treasure Nigel, I hope someone can help with the pic question, would love to see it! Maybe something like that would be good for me, a weird non-practical little roadster to stick in a garage and drive when the sun's out... what year is it from? (just out of curiosity of course)

[ashmicro]

I like that a lot. Hyabusa conversion?

[michiel]

Death wish?

[nigel bickle]

1959-re registered in 1983. Retained its original number though-and its transferable..

[michiel]

Ooh, MOT exempt (well, it would be over here)! If you ever have to get rid of it... although I probably couldn't afford it.

[nigel bickle]

All Berkeleys are exempt Michiel, I think they curled up their toes in the early 60's.No plans to sell,but I'll certainly keep you in mind.

[nigel bickle]

Here it is,a year or 2 back:

 

[michiel]

Cheers! Tough little thing, very nice.

[bigstraight6]

Here it is,a year or 2 back:

 

These are great looking little cars, I'd love a drive of that MrB! though I feel it might be a bit of a challenge, a few years back a friend let me take his beautifully restored Fiat 500 out for a road run, the only way I could do this was to have the fabric roof open, I managed a few miles with my head sticking out over the roofline and my kneecaps around my ears, but I loved every minute of it

[pogweasel]

These were made close to where Pog lives, it's almost like you'll be able to touch the hem of his cloak

This part is true.

There is a road round t'corner called Berkeley Close or somesuch on the site of the old factory.

Father-in-law used to have a Berkeley shell as a 'garden ornament', though long since chucked out.

 

They often appear in the Poggleswade Chronical as local-history-interest fillers during slow a news week*.

 

 

 

*So that's quite often then, seeing as it rarely gets more exciting than someone losing their cat or an old lady making some nice jam...

[peter9000uk]

Ye Gods! That looks like an old Villers 2T engine in there

[dollywobbler]

I do know someone who rolled a Berkeley on the A38 many moons ago. Lucky to walk away from that one...Four wheels a much better bet! I'd quite like that Ebay one but I think one knackered plastic fairly obscure motor is enough.

[garethj]

I'd quite like that Ebay one but I think one knackered plastic fairly obscure motor is enough.

But yours is a modern one! You want one from the fifties really, back when they weren't quite sure how it should work

[UglyAmerican]

Thanks for the advice and ramblings, mates.

 

The one I was bidding on failed to make the owner's reserve of $1500, so he's relisted it with no reserve. I'm currently the leader at $2.25 (my bid was 75 just to get on the board).

 

Last time around the bidding topped out at $610. For me to buy it I'll need a one-way plane ticket to Texas and some kind of U-Haul to drive it home. All in it will probably cost nearer to a grand.

 

Tempting, still. There's a perfect spot for it, covered, behind my house, where I can "work" on it for the next 10-15 years.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1958-Ber ... 1e595e04cb

[barrett]

would it not be cheaper to go down with a borrowed trailer and bring it back? sorry i'm not sure where abouts in the states you are, but i'm guessing getting a plane + renting a u-haul would be pretty expensive? maybe not though, i seem to remember SFOI to Portland being cheaper the a rent-a-car.......reckon it'd fit nicely in one of those u-haul box trailers?

[garethj]

A few pages on the Berkley

 

 

 

 

[nigel bickle]

250544973748.550 euros, in rittany, British reg. Just a shame about the''styling''

[Cheggers]

250544973748.550 euros, in rittany, British reg. Just a shame about the''styling''

And the seller is called "Frogpoop"...sounds very much like a fellow shiter

[michiel]

Quatre-vingts chevaux? Crikey...