The Atalanta company was founded with the greatest of intentions, inspired by its leader, Alfred Gough, and his remarkable OHC engines. As advanced as the engine was, the chassis was even more so. The technically advanced suspension was fully independent, and exotic alloys were used, including Hiduminium for strength and Electron to save weight. All of this innovation came at a price: at £750, it was essentially double the price of a Jaguar SS100 or Riley Imp. The enterprise was initially well financed, however only about 20 Atalantas of all variants are thought to have been built, and possibly only two on the short chassis, including the car offered here.

This strikingly handsome and sporting 1938 Atalanta, chassis 1011, was initially the property of Violet “Midge” Wilby, who was one of the firm’s investors. Ms. Wilby was a proficient rally driver, who contested various events around Europe in the 1930s. Her team was rounded out by drivers Joan Brotchie and Gordon Wilkins, who went on to win the Manufacturer’s Team Prize at the Welsh Rally in this car. She would eventually own three Atalantas.

According to one account, this Atalanta has been enthusiast owned since 1945. In the custody of a later owner, Werner Oswald, it was the subject of a $250,000 restoration by TT Workshops of Wiltshire in the 1990s and won its class at the Louis Vuitton Concours d’Elegance at the Hurlingham Club in 1997.

Joining the current owner’s collection in 2020, the Atalanta was sent to the renowned Blakeney Motorsports Ltd. in Hertfordshire, UK, for a major mechanical overhaul. The Gough engine, installed upon its arrival, no. 1009, was found to be worn beyond repair and, in an extreme stroke of luck, a replacement unit no. 1012 was located, assembled with new internals, tested, and installed. One look underneath the car, and the beautifully finished 16” Lockheed brake drums and sophisticated suspension components are immediately revealed to show the same level of finish as the engine compartment. All told, the mechanical work performed by Blakeney Motorsports Ltd., which concluded in 2024 on this incredibly rare and exotic British sports car, totaled over £280,000.

Going the way of the Squire and Pegaso – among other short-lived marques that incorporated genuine advancements and sophisticated, cutting-edge designs into their handcrafted automobiles – the transition from development to series production proved impossible for the brilliantly engineered Atalanta. Fortunately, a handful of the original cars survive – perhaps as many as 10 – but it is likely that none of the others combine the short-chassis proportions, sporting lines, and mechanical preparation of this rakish Atalanta. Rare beyond measure, it represents a most appealing and intriguing opportunity.