Motoring history is littered with examples of manufacturers that blazed brilliantly like automotive meteors before fading into oblivion. One such company was Berkeley, a British marque that produced a range of sports cars between 1956 and 1960. With a low production total, it’s not every day that an example of the 1958 Sport SE492 comes to market. This is your chance to own one that is a genuinely affordable project candidate. The seller has listed the Berkeley here on Facebook Marketplace in Santa Barbara, California. All you need to do is hand over $1,000, and you could take this cool British classic home.

Berkeley commenced vehicle production at its Biggleswade plant in 1956, releasing the Sport SE492 as its third model in October 1957. It, and the later three-wheel T60, accounted for the production of over 2,400 vehicles, forming the backbone of the company’s product range. The extensive use of fiberglass and aluminum resulted in a low curb weight, with the SE492 tipping the scales at under 700 lbs. The history of this 1958 model is unclear, although it will need plenty of work before it is ready to accept a fresh coat of paint. The fiberglass shows significant deterioration, the hood sports a gaping hole, and it is missing its windshield, grille, and distinctive headlamp covers. However, it isn’t a lost cause, because there is a strong owners’ club network in the home country, making sourcing the required parts possible. Otherwise, repairing the tired body should be possible, and sending the plated items for a refresh won’t pose many challenges.

The list of missing parts extends to this Berkeley’s interior, with the seats and other upholstered surfaces AWOL. The dash is missing its factory tachometer, and the wheel exhibits significant deterioration. However, since the SE492 wasn’t lavishly equipped, sourcing period-correct bucket seats and replacements for the other listed parts should be possible. The car’s drivetrain may pose a greater challenge. As the model designation suggests, the SE492 derived its power from a 492cc three-cylinder air-cooled “Excelsior” engine. It sent 30hp to the front wheels via a four-speed sequential manual transmission, and while the power figure sounds modest, the low curb weight allowed these classics to top 80mph. Sadly, this beauty is missing its motor and four-speed, and the buyer may struggle to locate suitable parts. Alternatively, a modern combination from a motorcycle could be a viable alternative that would boost power and improve parts availability for ongoing maintenance. It is an option worth serious consideration if authenticity isn’t a defining factor in this build.

Berkeley suffered the same fate as many startup vehicle manufacturers during the 1950s, collapsing into bankruptcy after only five years of production. Many of its models struggled to achieve two-digit sales totals, although approximately 666 buyers handed over their cash for a Sport SE492. That makes this a rare vehicle from a “big-picture” perspective, but scarcity doesn’t necessarily equate to a high potential value. I located a successful sale for a meticulously restored example from 2020, where the hammer fell at $35,200. However, this car requires a significant amount of work to reach that standard. Does the low asking price tempt you to pursue this beauty further, or doesn’t your sense of adventure stretch that far?