How to build a Berkeley

I recently put a "CKD Manual" on my Berkeley site (hosted by Basil here on BCF) - this was a manual produced by the factory that describes building a complete car from a kit. Many manufacturers shipped major components to other countries (as "CKD kits") for assembly and sale in those locations.

Apparently, Berkeley intended to do this also but I'm not aware of any actually built outside of England.

I think it's interesting that it's so <span style="font-style: italic">simple</span> - it looks more like the directions for an old Merit plastic car model. Nothing complicated like torque specs on the fasteners etc.

It's available as a PDF at https://www.coldplugs.com/berktechindex.htm . Click the link on the lower left. It's a large file so give it a minute.

(I hope this doesn't blow my bandwidth quota for the month...)

Just sucked it down. Took less than a "nunce".

Your Pond Road neighbor will be heading back up there in a week or so. Make an effort this year?

We ain't gettin' any younger, y'know.

DrEntropy said:

...
We ain't gettin' any younger, y'know.

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Sadly true. We're on the road again for June so maybe later in the summer. I'll contact you for info when we return - we travel Pond Rd frequently but don't know where he's located.

Know of the old Cobbossee Marina?

Great document, I could have used this last year when I was restoring mine.

Tullamore said:

Great document, I could have used this last year when I was restoring mine.

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It's good for fastener info, but your resto doesn't look like it suffered much for not having the book.


To Doc: I ~thought~ I knew where the marina was but it wasn't on Pond Rd. I'll try to find someone older than I am and ask them.

Quite interesting. Always find the cutaway and exploded diagrams fascinating.

Almost bought a new one in 1957 at a dealer in Kansas City. I think the price was around a $1,000, can't remember for sure. It was just too darn small! Two people and a bag of chips and the car was full!

PAUL161 said:

Almost bought a new one in 1957 at a dealer in Kansas City. I think the price was around a $1,000, can't remember for sure. It was just too darn small! Two people and a bag of chips and the car was full!

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Probably Isetta of K.C. on Broadway or Perry Motor Imports on McGee Trafficway. List price then was about $1695. Shortly after that, you could have bought a Sprite for $1795. (Can't <span style="font-style: italic">imagine</span> why more Berks weren't sold....)

Cold,

It was Isetta of KC, down on Broadway, as I remember, at about Westport Rd. I drove a Berkeley there too, as well as the Isettas. I think at the time, I had a '59 Volvo 544

I lived in KC from 1948 - 1973 during my "formative" years. Went to Shawnee Mission and graduated in '58.

Those were the good old days. Been back to KC a LOT since then, but it's not the same. Ya can't go back.

Have you ever seen Keith Turk's 253+ MPH So-Al Special Berkeley ?

Sure you have.... We did almost this exact same thread back at the end of February. My mind is goooiiiinnnngggg..............

Tim

We did indeed. Amazing how many Berk shells were used as LSR cars.