Back to back: Berkeley or Tornado?

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Brightwells has managed to find another 80-odd classics for their sale at Bicester on the 10th of April (full catalogue here). We pick out two gems in GRP. These are perhaps not the fastests sports car classics in the world, but we adore both of them and find it hard to choose a winner.

First is a Tornado Typhoon that comes with a 933cc Ford sidevalve engine. The car was first registered in June 1962 although it is likely to have been a 1958 model. “A four seater only by name, with two seats and space behind a couple of toddlers or your coats!”, writes the auctioneer. The car stood on the top of a restaurant roof for many years, before it was brought down in 1990 and fully restored years later. And they didn’t take half measures, or so it seems. The body was re gel coated and the interior retrimmed. The chassis was rewelded and the mechanicals renovated or renewed. The car certainly seems to be period correct and the vendor says that in excess of £7000 was spent on the restoration. It is estimated to sell at £12- to £15,000.

Slightly less extravagant and cheaper is lot number 47 on offer: a 1956 Berkeley SA322. Powered by a (correct) 322cc Anzani twin-cylinder two-stroke it is smaller in every respect also, but certainly no less sporty. Interestingly, with chassis number 0010 this car is the oldest road-worthy Berkeley in the world now, having been delivered to its first owner in September 1959. It differs slightly from the production models in having a Smiths speedo and 3-speed gearbox with column gear-change. As the Tornado, this car was fully-restored in the 1990s and has been used regularly by its owner. It is also in its original specification with no fuel gauge. Oh, and it seats more than two also. From the auctioneer: “A lift-out panel behind the seats eveals a cavity large enough to take some luggage or a small child (although the child would have to be willing).”

Your choice?

(Words editor, pictures Brightwells auctioneers)

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