Bond, Lawrie Bond: ’58 Berkeley SE328
Charles Panter and Lawrie Bond (originator of the Bond minicar, not James’ father) set out to build a small, inexpensive, light sports car that could compete successfully in the 750cc class. The result was the Berkeley Sports and it was introduced to the public at the 1956 Motor Show, a year ahead of the fiberglass monocoque Lotus of Colin Chapman. The little car was promoted as “a new, ultra-light, two seater of unorthodox design, in which plastics play a very large part.” After only 163 cars, the motor was changed for the Excelsior 328-cubic centimeter twin with three more horsepower for a total of 18, and the Sports now became the type SE328 like today’s featured car. The SE328 was built at Berkeley’s factory in Biggleswade, England, the site of many reunions of loyal Berkeley fans. This ’58 was found in a shed like so many other small micro-sports cars of the era. It was treated to an extensive and very complete restoration that produced one sweet looking little sports car. The seller does not clearly state that this particular Berkeley has a successful racing history only that Berkeley SE328s do have a racing history. You might want to clarify that with the seller. The car has been pretty popular. It won the “Peoples Choice Award at the 2012 Watkins Glen Vintage Weekend, Concours de Elegance and also won its class at Britain on the Green, in Washington, D.C. this year. It has been invited back to the Concours at Watkins Glen for 2013 so the new owner should keep those dates in September open. We really like this little car in racing livery. According to Hagerty’s Valuation Tools, Berkeleys are on a tear these past few years. Expect to pay top dollar for this one and that could be close to $20 large (couldn’t resist). Click here for the eBay auction.