Berkeley and Bugeye

[healeynut]

Very cool indeed.

I'd say the Berkeley probably looks a little "cooler" for what that's worth but at the end of the day the Bugeye is a far more substantial car and far better built. A guy here in HK has a Berkeley and it is good fun but it is a pretty cheaply built car. Doesn't mean I don't like them though!

Of course, the Honda S800 is a different beast all together. very nicely built and exceptionally high technical standards, it is really a miniature Formula 1 car, not a car with a motorcycle engine like the Berkeley. If Honda had built the car on an proper aluminum body / tube frame chassis, it would have been a giant killer.

 

[billspohn]

Of course, the Honda S800 is a different beast all together. very nicely built and exceptionally high technical standards, it is really a miniature Formula 1 car, not a car with a motorcycle engine like the Berkeley.

Actually, that is exactly what the Honda <span style="text-decoration: underline">IS</span>, a motorcycle engined car. Very basic suspension on them and chain drive part way on the S600 version.

They just did a better job than Berkeley did.

 

[Tullamore]

They just did a better job than Berkeley did.

Thats not fair, they did it ten years later than Berkeley did.

 

[JamesWilson]

They just did a better job than Berkeley did.

Thats not fair, they did it ten years later than Berkeley did.

Honda benefited from their greater engineering capability and the massive economies of scale and more sophisticated technology in the motorcycle engine production.

Years ago there was Berkeley T60 three wheeler near where my in-laws lived. It was a cute little thing but seemed fragile. It'd be a lot of fun on the Welsh country roads, but in traffic... I think I'd be a bit paranoid.

I've seen a Honda up close too and it seemed much more solid and well constructed, though comparing that restored car at a show to a somewhat neglected and tatty driver may not be entirely fair.

 

[RonMacPherson]

Billspohn,

Are we remembering the same car?? I worked at a Honda dealership and on a number of 600's. Those did come with a front wheel drive motorcycle based motor. Which by the way had a really interesting brake hydraulic hookup..

The S600 I remember trying to find the battery for was watercooled dohc 4 cyl rear wheel drive. It was imported by a serviceman as they were not sold in this country then... It kinda like the early version of todays Honda sportscar.

 

[coldplugs]

...
They just did a better job than Berkeley did.

I agree. During the same period, a similar things was happening with Japanese motorcycles vs British bikes.


Remember "You meet the nicest people on a Honda"?

 

[aeronca65t]

This one is a regular at our VRG small-bore vintage races.
With 800 ccs, it murders my 1500 cc racer.
Makes an ear-splitting racket too. These pictures were taken at the Pittsburgh Vintage.

 

[billspohn]

Billspohn,

Are we remembering the same car?? I worked at a Honda dealership and on a number of 600's. Those did come with a front wheel drive motorcycle based motor. Which by the way had a really interesting brake hydraulic hookup..

The S600 I remember trying to find the battery for was watercooled dohc 4 cyl rear wheel drive. It was imported by a serviceman as they were not sold in this country then... It kinda like the early version of todays Honda sportscar.

Not sure what the front drive would be - possibly a N600 small sedan or one of the many utility vehicles not usually exported.

I am talking about the S600, same body as the S800, just a little different in some aspects, including the final drive and possibly brakes. Samer engine as the S800 though.

 

[healeynut]

I'm telling you, they sound like a miniature F1 car!