Atalanta RGS Roadster
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Car producer : |
Atalanta |
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Model: |
RGS Roadster |
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Year: |
1950-1958 |
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Type: |
Roadster |
The Atalanta was an English automobile manufactured from 1937 until 1939 by Atalanta Motors Ltd in Staines, Middlesex. Two models were made.
The 1937 car used Albert Gough's somewhat erratic 4-cylinder overhead-cam 1496 cc 78 bhp and 1996 cc 98 bhp engines with three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder which had been previously fitted to some Frazer Nashes where Gough had worked. An Arnott supercharged version was also available. Three or four-speed gearboxes were offered. The car had a tubular steel chassis and all round independent suspension using coil springs. The channel-section steel chassis was a substantial, X-braced affair, while the use of Hiduminium alloy for the suspension links and Elektron magnesium alloy for the huge (16"-diameter) Lockheed hydraulically operated brake drums helped keep un-sprung weight to a minimum. Two-seat open sports and two-seat drophead coupé bodies built by Abbott were available.
From 1938 the car could be had with a 4·3-litre V-12 Lincoln-Zephyr engine giving 112 bhp which proved to be the more popular. The car had a 3-speed gearbox. A four-seat version on a slightly longer chassis was made as well as the two-seaters.
A 1496cc version raced in the 1938 Le Mans 24 hour race driven by Charles Morrison & Neil Watson (one of the company founders). The car retired with a broken driveshaft.
The cars were very expensive and the outbreak of war stopped production after only about 20 cars were made. The company continued in existence making pumps and becoming Atalanta Engineering Ltd.
After WW2 the Atalanta Car company was acquired by Major Richard (Dick) G. Shattock, a retired member of the British Army and former tank driver. Dick was an ardent Motorsport enthusiast, who campaigned an Austin Ulster before the war. After the war, Dick purchased the Atalanta motor company. Then, he began building his first special. It is believed that Dick built 11 complete cars and sold numerous suspension units, and fiberglass bodies or parts kits for enthusiasts like himself to build their own racing cars until 1958. Lea-Francis, Ford and Jaguar engines were used, at least 1 car was equipped with an Aston Martin DB2/4 2.6 L or 3 L triple SU H6 carburettor engine. Also a smaller-engined open sports version using an OHV engine with a blower. These cars were remarkably advanced for their time. Dick himself campaigned his first RGS Atalanta with a great deal of success and even gave Jaguar factory C and D types a serious run for their money. On a few occasions he even beat them. The best showing being the British Empire Trophy in 1955 when Dick Shattock in his RGS Atalanta was victorious.
