From Don L. – Hi guys, I ran across a “fresh” ad for a lot full of old cars in Orange County. I was the first one there and managed to buy a few of the cars. One of them was this 1958 Berkeley that was buried under a lot of boxes and old car parts. I could only see the cowl and the British flag on the side, but decided to make an offer on it.
It is now at my facility along with the other autos purchased. It was modified at some time to take a 1095 cc. MG Midget type engine. Flares were added also.
The previous owner said that he had never driven it since it came over from England 15 years ago or so when he was importing some cars from there. I hope to get it on the road soon and prep it for vintage car racing.
Thanks for sharing your find with us Don! Good luck with the project and please keep us updated as it progresses. If you have a good find story of your own, please send it in!
Hey Don L.
I’m live in OC. Anything interesting left or did you buy it all?
Thx
Don E.
Cool car. What else did you buy?
Did it start out as a B105 witha Royal Enfield engine?
Imagine the pertformance with a moderm Hyabusa engine (or similar)
There are old garage find sportscars still hidden away in So Cal?
Who knew?
Dolphin?… as in a flipper ;-)
great find. i too would like to know what else this seller had and what else you bought. thanks for sharing.
Seems like it might be an alternative to a Cobra.
I saw Berkely at an autocross in Gainsville Florida back in the 60’s, it had three short exhaust pipes coming out where the grill used to be. The driver stalled it at the start line possibly possibly because he was intimidated by the previous car which was a 62 Ford Galaxie with a 406 that generated so much tire smoke on the course that it was invisible half the time.
Needs more Hayabusa engine.
Teeny tiny Cobra,It must go like a bat with an MG motor,Id make an offer too!
Hi Thanks for the comments. Also purchased a 1967 Lincoln Continental convertible, 1964 Ford Falcon Country Squire, 1963 Mercury Marauder S-55, 1964 Studebaker GT Hawk with a 383 Chrysler engine. Several more in the works. ;)
Congrats Don! Interesting and fun cars to play with :-) I also enjoy the full size muscle luxury types! Hope to see some of them in the local show circuit here in Socal!
Still got the really old English number plates on it. Great find !