2019 Atalanta 'Bluebird' Roadster
Registration no. WX22 GJU
Chassis no. SA9RR4PNS16391003

Founded in 1936 and based in Middlesex, England, Atalanta Motors specialised in hand-built sports cars of advanced design, the exclusive and expensive Atalanta's being unique amongst British cars of their day in featuring all-independent suspension with numerous other innovative features considered desirable today.

Named after the beautiful Arcadian huntress and much revered Olympian of Greek Mythology ("Atalanta" derived from the Greek word atalantos meaning "equal in weight" or "un-swaying"), the 1937 motorcars effortlessly personified Atalanta's tenacious qualities of speed and beauty.

The original Atalanta design was led by Alfred Gough, formerly of Frazer Nash, employing the services of Aston Martin's A C Bertelli, and embraced the latest engineering thinking, exploited modern lightweight materials, and packaged their philosophies in a distinctive yet contemporary British sports car, creating arguably one of the most advanced thoroughbreds of the time.

Available in a variety of coach-built styles, yet always tailor-made for each customer, it is thought only 22 original cars were produced, with no two cars built to the same specification.

The chassis was a substantial, x-braced and tube affair fitted with hydraulic brakes, while the use of Hiduminium alloy for the suspension links and Elektron magnesium alloy for the huge (16"-diameter) brake drums helped keep un-sprung weight to a minimum. To further enhance handling and performance, Gough's engine of choice was the innovative lightweight, three valves per cylinder twin spark, four-cylinder unit evolved from his Frazer Nash days.

Of the circa 22 cars built before the war, approximately half utilised the expensive four cylinder 'Gough' engine. However, by 1938 finances dictated a cheaper power source, and the company launched the Lincoln Zephyr-powered 4.3-litre V12 model. As well as greater power, the American side valve V12 had the advantage of being available at a bargain price (£112 complete with three-speed synchromesh gearbox and ancillaries) thus enabling the 4.3 to be priced below the most expensive four-cylinder Atalanta sports cars.

The cars regularly appeared at Brooklands and achieved rallying success in both the 1939 Scottish Rally and the RAC Welsh Rally, where Atalanta took the manufacturers' team prize. However, with the outbreak of war, production of the promising innovative British sports cars ceased and never recommenced despite the company surviving and making industrial pumps for some decades after.

In 2009 Atalanta was resurrected under the stewardship of Martyn Corfield, an avid devotee from Staffordshire, who purchased an original car and then proceeded to acquire the licensing required to build a modern-day version. Using the original car as reference, every component was newly designed on CAD and engineered to the highest standard, employing the best materials, and using the finest craftsmen to ensure the best possible fit and fit finish.

After more than seven years of continuous engineering development and with a multi-million-pound expenditure in design, tooling, and testing, the first of only three Revival Atalanta sports cars was delivered in 2017.

Unlike many modern interpretations of pre-war era cars that generally utilise an earlier identity or alternative platform, the Atalanta Revival is very rare in being a completely new build and constructed by an original manufacturer.

Traditionally hand crafted from scratch, with modern day automotive advancements discretely packaged within the elegant lines of the original 1930's design, the Revival car remains true to the original design ethos. All round performance was assured through employing modern materials and technology only where appropriate, such as rack and pinion steering and disc brakes, to ensure reliability, safety, and compliance with modern vehicle legislation.

The new cars provided responsive performance and a comfortable ride, coupled with engaging yet benign handling, they reportedly deliver an exhilarating drive even at modest speeds.

Of the three Atalanta Revival cars produced, only one was finished in iconic Bluebird blue. The build started in 2017 with the approval of Gina Campbell and Don Wales to celebrate Donald Campbell's record-breaking heritage and to mark the 50th anniversary of the great man's death. Presented with a mahogany dash and removable stainless steel luggage rack, the car gives a gentle nod to the Campbell water speed tradition.

The Bluebird Atalanta Revival two-seater is powered (as Gough originally intended) by a lightweight 2.5-litre four-cylinder, Atalanta-developed engine, producing 214bhp and 198lb/ft of torque. The transmission is a manual five-speed Borg Warner unit with a revised and updated Atalanta aluminium casing.

Unlike other Vintage-style cars, almost everything on the Atalanta is bespoke. The new Atalanta is constructed of hand-beaten aluminium panels over an ash frame, with a claimed 90% of the components designed and engineered in-house. This car is one of only three new-build Atalanta and the only Bluebird car ever produced, with only test and delivery mileage recorded. Newly registered with the DVLA in 2022.