1938 Atalanta 4.3-Litre V12 Drophead Coupé
Coachwork by Abbott of Farnham
Registration no. EJB 540
Chassis no. L1010

A short-lived but highly regarded manufacturer, Atalanta Motors of Staines, Middlesex was the brainchild of Alfred Gough (designer of the overhead-camshaft Frazer Nash engine) and undergraduate Peter Whitehead, who provided the financial backing. The marque took its name from the eponymous heroine of Greek mythology, who was notably fleet of foot.

Founded in 1937, the firm specialised in hand built sports cars of advanced design; the exclusive and expensive Atalantas being unique among British cars of their day in featuring all-independent coil-sprung suspension. The tubular steel chassis was a substantial, X-braced affair fitted with hydraulic brakes, while the use of Hiduminium alloy for the suspension links and Elektron magnesium alloy for the huge (16"-diameter) hydraulically operated brake drums helped keep un-sprung weight to a minimum.

Gough four-cylinder engines powered the majority of Atalantas, not that there were many; indeed, it is estimated that no more than 20 cars of all types were built. The Gough engine was available in two capacities: 1.6 (78bhp) and 2.0 litres (98bhp), while in 1938 the company added a Lincoln Zephyr V12-powered 4.3-litre model to the range. Whatever the engine, the Atlanta's performance was excellent, thanks in no small part to its lightweight construction, and many of the cars enjoyed successful competition careers. Most were bodied by Atalanta's neighbours, E D Abbott of Farnham. Sadly, the outbreak of WW2 curtained development of these exciting designs, and the Atalanta marque was not revived after the war's end. Survivors are exceedingly rare.

A Mr James purchased this Atalanta in pieces from the factory around 1939, but that is all that is known of its pre-war history. The car was put on the road around 1946 and sold around 1952. Its colour was changed from black to two-tone blue during the 1970s. 'EJB 540' appears to have been owned, in order, by Howard Miller, Gavin Dawson, Peter Garrod, and Mark Joseland before 1998, which is when Keith Wheeler purchased it at Brooks' Beaulieu auction July of that year. Keith Wheeler then spent thousands of pounds restoring the car, including installing the present V12 engine (complete with Schneider racing camshaft) and Ford gearbox. He sold the Atalanta via a UK auction to Robert Garcia, who exported the car to Houston, USA but did not drive it. Barry Ward purchased 'EJB 540' in 2012 and brought the car back to UK where it returned to the road in 2013. Various works were undertaken between 2013 and 2021 when ownership passed to Marion Jane Ward.

An older restoration, 'EJB 540' would benefit from some cosmetic refurbishment but otherwise is described by the vendor as in good mechanical condition (the engine starts and runs well). Accompanying paperwork includes a V5C registration document, Atalanta book, and MoTs showing the recorded mileage increasing from 84 in 1995 to 5,485 in 2013. An Atalanta key fob and two keys come with the car also.

Exotic, advanced, and exceedingly rare, the mythical Atalanta is rightfully considered by many enthusiasts to be the 'Holy Grail' among British pre-war sports cars.