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1959 BERKELEY B105
Country of origin: England
Years of production: 1959-1960
Number produced: ~170 (B95 & B105 combined)
Engine: Royal Enfield Constellation 692cc 4-stroke parallel twin
Cooling: Ambient air
Transmission: Sequential 4-speed w/ reverse
Starter: Electric Bendix starter
Electrical: 12V
Power: 51 hp
Top speed: ~105 mph
Dimensions (LxWxH): 124”x48”x42”
Weight: 870 pounds
Construction: Fiberglass monocoque w/ aluminum supports
Brakes: All-wheel hydraulic manual drum
Suspension: F & R coilover damper
Steering: Reduction box
Tire size: 145R12 (5.20-12 standard)
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Berkeley's B105 was a bit of a micro-muscle car, using the torquey Royal Enfield ‘Constellation’ motorbike engine; an air-cooled 4-stroke parallel twin that was actually the largest and most powerful on the market at the time, displacing 692cc and making 51 horsepower. With the lightweight fiberglass monocoque of the Berkeley and a 4-speed Albion gearbox, this proved to be a strong performer, giving a top speed of approximately 105 miles per hour. This top speed is where the model name ‘B105’ comes from.
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There was also a B95 (there is a white one in the collection), which was fitted with a more mildly tuned version of the 692cc twin, called the Super Meteor. This was good for 40 horsepower, and was advertised as more of the ‘street’ model, while the B105 would be the ideal candidate for the racing crowd (though the only difference between the two was the engine). Between both models, about 170 cars in total were produced (VERY few being sold in the US), with only a small percentage of them having survived.