The British Car
Company Reborn After 75 Years
Atalanta Motors is a
new British car company created in 2011 by Martyn Corfield to
relaunch the dormant 1930s Atalanta which stopped production due to
the war after a production run of only 21 cars.
Initially announcing
the rebirth of the marque in 2012 with the retro-designed Sports
Tourer, Atlanta Motors displayed another car at the 2014 Concours of
Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, but production models have yet to
be announced.
(149 kW; 203 PS
Atalanta car
company reborn after 75 years
The car company that
faded into existence during World War Two is finally revived
One investor is
trying to change the perception that the days of British motor
engineering are long gone.
Martyn Corfield has
brought Atalanta, a motor company that stopped producing cars during
World War Two, back to life.
The car manufacturer
was founded in 1936 and was the most technically-advanced vehicle of
its time, Mr Corfield said.
"It's a British
motor company with good heritage that's been lost in the years",
he said.
Mr Corfield enquired
about the dormant company in 2006 and has since brought it to new
glory.
Atalanta
Atalanta Motors
today brings its original vintage sports car up to date.
Acknowledging over 75 years of automotive evolution, yet remaining
true in spirit and sympathetic to the style and function of the
original Atalanta sports car design.
Established in
December 1936 and based in Staines Middlesex, Atalanta Motors Ltd
designed and produced innovative and exciting sports cars for just
over two years before the outbreak of war halted development and
production after only about 22 cars were made.
Atalanta Motors were
the only pre-war British car manufacturer that instigated and brought
together innovative design features that included fully independent
coil spring suspension; adjustable damping front and rear; full
hydraulic brakes; electric operated pre-selector gearbox (an early
semi-automatic!); three valve twin spark cylinder head, and made use
of lightweight materials such as electron, duralumin and hiduminium
for many of its castings. Initially the Atalanta was offered with
Alfred Gough’s aluminium 1½-litre 78 bhp and 2-litre 98 bhp four
cylinder engines initially developed for Fraser Nash cars. A
supercharged option was also available and later in 1938 a more
reliable 4·3 litre V-12 Lincoln Zephyr engine producing 112 bhp was
introduced.
Atalanta cars were
available in a variety of configurations including an open two seat
sports car, two door saloon and a drop head coupe; these advanced and
expensive sporting cars were regularly tested by both their owners
and the works in various competitive events with some success in the
late 1930’s. All Atalanta models benefited from a lightweight
construction that contributed to delivering excellent performance and
coupled with revolutionary road holding (that was reviewed in a 1939
road test as “beyond criticism; rough, almost colonial sections can
be treated like main roads. The Atalanta has the tenacious quality of
a racing car when cornering, and it is nearly impossible to cause the
tyres to squeal”) the cars gave great traction and high levels of
grip.
Atalanta’s
original design philosophy of producing a performance sports car with
lightweight construction and reduced un-sprung weight coupled with a
light but powerful four cylinder engine is still embraced today.
Our objective is
again to provide discerning owners with a stylish, exhilarating
drive, with easily accessible ‘torque derived’ performance; a
comfortable ride with assured traction yet engaging handling that
delivers driver satisfaction even at modest speeds.
Remaining true to
the original design ethos, delivering sporting performance by
employing modern materials and technology, today’s car enhances the
positive and enjoyable characteristics of vintage motoring in a
reliable and usable package that is relevant to today’s driving
environment.
Atalanta Motors
today offers a unique opportunity to experience a truly exclusive new
British built sports car.
Each car is built to
order. Traditionally hand crafted from scratch, with automotive
advancements discretely packaged within the elegant lines of the
original 1930’s design.
The New Atalanta is
neither a recreation nor a facsimile of any other motor car from a
bygone era. It is the perpetuation of an original exquisitely
crafted sports car, that provides prospective owners with an
authentic opportunity to demonstrate truly individual style and good
taste.
Responsive
performance and a comfortable ride, coupled with engaging yet benign
handling, delivers an exhilarating drive even at modest speeds.
Remaining true to
the original design and hand crafted ethos, all round performance is
assured through employing modern materials and technology only where
appropriate.
As a result, todays
Atalanta enhances the positive and more enjoyable characteristics of
vintage motoring whilst providing the much improved performance,
reliability and safety so relevant to today’s driving environment.
As befitting a
traditional coach built car, our clients are engaged in the creative
process, defining their Atalanta’s style and final appearance.
Infinite
possibilities are available from specification of any paint and trim
combination, to influencing the more subtle and individual points of
finish and fine detailing.
Not just an
individual statement, at its core the new Atalanta will always be an
authentic and impeccably British sports car rarity.
Based at Bicester
Heritage, we enjoy good links from London via road, rail and the
major airports. Full co-ordinates can be supplied for Bicester
Heritage’s on site landing facilities.
Bicester Heritage
Buckingham Road
Bicester
Oxfordshire
England
By Telephone
If you are
interested in coming to talk to us please telephone to make an
appointment.
+44 (0)1869 242200
.
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