birkley

[MazdaManiac1136]

Any body know of a car named a birkley, its uses a motorcycle engine and a fibre glass body?

[MagicRat]

Yes, Birkleys were made in England in the 1950's. It was an effort to cash in on the '50's sports car craze, but make an even cheaper and more affordable vehicle than the Triumph TR2 or the Healey Sprite. They were similar to the Crosley Hotshot.

They were REALLY small, although they were 2 seaters. They used a 400cc (I think) 2 cyl aircooled motorcycle engine and trans in the front, and swing axles in back. They were actually seriously raced at the time in sports car events with some success.

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

They were similar to the Crosley Hotshot.

In the way that they both had wheels.
The Crosley used a four cylinder water cooled engine, and was rear wheel drive.
The Berkeley used two and three cylinder air cooled engines, driving the front wheels, and had fiberglass bodies.
Unfortunately, Berkeley went bust in 1960.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by 2strokebloke

In the way that they both had wheels.
:

No, bloke, your (sarcastic) assesment is not correct.

Details about their mechanical layout are trifling in comparison to all the features both cars had in common:

They were both tiny, rat sized, bare bones little sports cars, similar in size, appearance and price, chasing the same market demographic at a similar time. They also raced in the same sports car classes and both were known for their unconventional, simple engineering

IMHO that makes them 'similar' as I had posted.

[MazdaManiac1136]

any who do you know where to get stock parts for them?

[MagicRat]

Chances are the engines and transmissions use the motorcycle parts that they were based on. As for the rest......usually with someting this obscure, you look for car clubs that are interested in these.
No clubs turned up for Birkleys, but often, clubs that are interested in other brands of old micro-cars (Crosley, King Midget, Eschelmann, Isetta, Messchescmidtt) will have members that know about Birkleys.

[2strokebloke]

I don't know. It's like saying a Renault Dauphine and a VW Bug are similiar - okay so they're both rear engined, and foriegn, but one has a watercooled inline 4 engine, and four doors, while the other has an air cooled horizontally opposed 4, and is a two door. And they look nothing alike, but I suppose if you were to push it, you could say they're similiar.