Tag Archives: Berkeley

Classic Clubs – Silverstone Classic

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Today’s blog is dedicated to all the hundreds of car clubs and thousands of classic car enthusiasts who brought classic cars along to Silvertone Classic as we take a look at some of the clubs present.

Aston Martin Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

No less than three, from a total production of 100, of the 2002 limited edition Aston Martin DB7 Zagato’s headed the Aston Martin Owners Club parade.

Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, Silverstone Classic,

Celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary in style was the Berkeley Enthusiasts Club, above a Berkeley Foursome and B105 lap the Silverstone Circuit.

BMW Car Club, Silverstone Classic,

Complementing the 40 metre BMW wheel and Village Green the BMW Car Club was out in strength, above a Z3 and Z1 lap the circuit during one of the parades.

Classic Corvette Club UK, Silverstone Classic

Classic Corvette Club UK was celebrating it’s 35th anniversary, the ’78 Indy 500 Pace Car Limited Edition above was built a year before the formation of the club. This one has the desirable 220hp L82 motor option, the 1978 Indy 500 was won by Al Unser in his Cosworth DFX powered Lola T500.

Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club always have a fine display of SP250s at this event and this year was no exception.

Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain, Silverstone Classic

The Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pony Car, above a ’70 convertible stands next to a ’69 Shelby GT 500.

Ginetta Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of the Ginetta G33, one day when I’m in a position to buy one I’ll become a member of the Ginetta Owners’ Club.

Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Club, Silverstone Classic

John James of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club was able to help me out with an Otter Switch for GALPOT’s most famous XK140 owner Geoffrey Horton in California.

Lamborghini Club UK, Silverstone Classic

The original competition spec prototype Lamborghini Muira Jota burned to the ground on the, unopened, Brescia ring road in April 1971, a member of Lamborghini Club UK has built this wonderful replica of the Prototype originally built by Bob Wallace.

Mercedes Benz Club, Silverstone Classic

Amongst the Mercedes Benz Club members vehicles was this imperiously tailfined 1967 Mercedes Benz 200.

Morgan Sports Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Wecoming Morganeers was the Morgan Sports Car Club with 5,000 owners world wide.

Piper Sports And Racing Car Club, Silverstone Classic

Catering for just 80 examples ever built is the Piper Sports And Racing Car Club which is primarily concerned with preserving the marque for whom Tony Hilder designed the 30″ GT’s first seen in 1968.

Porsche Club Great Britain, Silverstone Classic


Porsche Club Great Britain is the UK’s only officially recognised club for the marque and has close links with Porsche AG and the marques official importer Porsche Cars Great Britain.

Stag Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

Driven by a zest for life for those united by a common interest in the Triumph Stag classic car is the Stag Owners Club.

Karmann Ghia Owners Club, Silverstone Classic

The Karmann Ghia Owners Club attempts to support all aspects of ‘KG’ ownership from purists who want to see original cars to those whose interests include customisation, lowering and performance modifications.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Classic Clubs’ edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Americana Thursday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Excelsior Twin Carb – Berkeley Sports SE328 Deluxe

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Berkeley was Europe’s leading manufacturer of fiber glass caravans when it diversified into car manufacture in 1956 to fill seasonal gaps in it’s manufacturing capacity.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel By The Sea, Concours On The Avenue

The first Berkeley sports car was the SA322 designed by Lawrence “Lawrie” Bond featured an all fiber glass shell and body beating the Lotus Elite which used similar technology to market by a full year.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel By The Sea, Concours On The Avenue

After 163 SA322’s had been built the original 11 hp 322cc/19.65 British Anzani motorcycle engine was replaced by a 18hp 328cc / 20 cui Excelsior motorcycle engine of the type seen above. Today’s featured car is a Delux version distinguished by the twin carburetors. The two stroke motor is started with the aid of a Dynastart electric motor that also served to charge the battery once the 2 stroke motor was set in motion.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel By The Sea, Concours On The Avenue

Fuel gauges were optional extra’s on Berkeley sports cars however the Deluxe models were fitted with tachometers and a fuel gauges as standard. Early Berkeleys were fitted with a column shift for the chain driven three speed gearbox that drives the front wheels.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel By The Sea, Concours On The Avenue

Stirling Moss’s sister Pat drove a Berkeley Sports SE328 in the 1958 Liége-Brescia-Liége Rally as part of a six car works team and was leading as far Slovinia before the heat on the Italian hills took it’s toll and resulted in her being towed by another team car.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel By The Sea, Concours On The Avenue

The diminutive chrome hub caps fitted with ‘spinners’ were another standard feature of the SE328 Deluxe. In all around 1259 SE 328’s that were capable of 70 mph accelerating from rest to 50 mph in just over 30 seconds while achieving over 50 mpg are thought to have been built.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs that were taken at last years Concours on the Avenue at Carmel by the Sea.

Thanks for joining me on this “Excelsior Twin Carb” edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Continental Curiosities – Carmel By The Sea Concour’s d’Elegance

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Today’s continental curiosities came courtesy of photographs by Geoffrey Horton taken at the recent Carmel by the Sea Concour’s d’Elegance.

Messerschmitt KR 200, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

First up a Messerscmitt KR200 of the type I looked at a couple of weeks ago.

BMW Isetta 300, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

I’ve yet to cover the BMW Isetta 300, in this photo you can see how entry is effected through the front door which has the steering column attached to it.

Peel Trident, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

Described by one of the Top Gear wags as looking like something straight out of the Jetson’s is the Peel Trident one of just 45 built on the Isle of Man from 1965 to 1966. For some reason Monster Garage host Jesse James had a replica built which he allegedly subsequently destroyed with a single shot from a .50 snipper rifle !

Citroen Ami 6, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

Above is the saloon / sedan version of the Citroen Ami 6 with it’s distinctive, but by no means unique, reverse angled rear window.

Citroen 2CV, Fourgonette, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

If I’d not grown to be 6′ plus I would almost certainly have bought one of these Citroen 2CV Fourgonette’s many years ago, they made for a great little RV long before the term became popular. This one appears to date from the late 50’s / early 1960’s.

Citroen 2CV, Charleston, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

The Citroen 2CV Charleston special editions, born out of a limited edition first seen in 1980, were offered with three different two tone paint schemes in 1981.

Berkeley SE328, Carmel by the Sea Concours d'Elegance

This 18hp 328cc / 20 cui 2 stroke Excelsior motorcycle engine can power the little Berkeley SE328 to just over 62 miles an hour with the aid of a three speed gear box and chain that drives the front wheels.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Continental Curiosity” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be returning to Carmel by the Sea for a look at some Trans Am racers. Don’t forget to come back now !

01/09/14 Eratta it has come to my attention that these images were actually taken at The Little Car Show held in the City of Marina which lays to the north of Carmel and Monterey. Apologies for any confusion.

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