The Berkeley
Enthusiasts Club
The Berkeley
Enthusiasts Club
A Short History of Berkeley Cars
BERKELEY CARS were produced between October 1956 and December 1960 by Berkeley Coachworks at their Hitchin Street, Biggleswade factory in Bedfordshire.
Designed by Laurie Bond
of Bond minicar fame, the original Berkeley “sports” introduced in 1956 was a
lightweight two-seat sports car powered by a 322cc Anzani two-stroke twin
producing 15 bhp. Initial difficulties with supply and performance resulted in a
change in January 1957 to the Excelsior Talisman Twin two-stroke of 328cc, with
a 20% increase in power to 18 bhp.
The car was unique at the time of its launch in that it employed not only a transverse engine and front wheel drive, but a complete fiberglass monocoque hull reinforced locally by lightweight aluminum sections.
Its all independent suspension, low centre of gravity, and powerful brakes provided superb handling and road holding. This helped fuel public demand, particularly from America, for a more powerful engine. The Excelsior Motor-Cycle company attempted to meet this demand with a 492cc three cylinder version of the Talisman. With over 30 bhp available to propel 6 ˝ cwt, performance now matched the looks of the car, and it could cover the quarter mile in 22.4 seconds.
A lengthened four-seat version of the basic shell, called the Foursome,
was the introduced in an attempt to expand
the appeal of the Berkeley . Although powered by the same 492cc
engine which was proving very popular, the Foursome failed to attract the buyers
and fewer than 20 were built.
In terms of out and out
performance the Royal Enfield powered B95 and B105 cars, introduced in 1959,
were the best yet. Producing over 40 bhp (and 50 bhp for the B105) and bags of
torque, the twin cylinder four strokes could rocket the Berkeley to over 100 mph
if the intrepid driver had the nerve. In October 1959 the rarest of the
production cars were launched—the “Q” cars. These were Q and QB versions of the
B95 and B105. These larger bodied cars were commensurate with the 1958 Foursome
bodies. The Q models were occasional four-seaters, the QB models were described
as “roomy two-seaters” with extra luggage capacity.
Although around 2,500
four-wheeled Berkeleys were produced, by far the best remembered and now most
common version was the three wheeled T60. Conceived as a basic model and
employing the 328cc Talisman twin engine, the T60 was an overnight success and
held great appeal for the ex-motorcyclist looking for car type transport powered
by an engine/transmission he was familiar with. A 2+2 version, the T60/4, was
developed for the small family and was launched in September 1960.
Throughout their short career Berkeleys built up an enviable reputation in the field of competition. On rallies, driving tests and full blown racing circuits the little Berkeleys defied all attempts by the handicappers to keep them from the front. Superb brakes, leech-like roadholding and chuckable handling ensured what they lost on the straights was rapidly made up on the corners. International recognition came from the string of successes achieved by Count “Johnny” Lurani’s team of 492cc cars at Verona and Monza.
Financial pressure from
unsympathetic banks, economic unease and credit restrictions were to combine to
bring this once highly successful caravan concern to an end. The Bandit, an
altogether more conventional vehicle employing a steel chassis and a Ford Anglia
engine but retaining all of Berkeley’s reputation for performance pointed the
way for the future. Sadly it came too late to save the firm. Only two prototypes
were produced of a car which, give a little time and development, could have
assured continuing success for Berkeley cars.