Hitler put a stop to the activities of Atalanta Motors, Ltd., who were producing some beautifully made high-performance vehicles in their small factory in Staines. The Atalanta was actually the first British car to be marketed with individual springing to each road wheel. Three engine sizes were available: a l.5-litre (69 x 100-mm.), a 2-litre (75 x 113-mm.), and a Vee-12 unit. Earlier power units employed three valves per cylinder, operated by o.h.c. t Originally produced with a driver-controlled installation with clutch drive.
The small engines (Gough-designed) were of the concern's own fabrication, whilst the latter was the well-tried Lincoln Zephyr power unit. Both 1.5-litre and 2-litre cars could be supplied as standard with Arnott vane-type superchargers, t blowing at from 5-10-lb. per sq. in. In unblown form the 1496-c.c. unit produced some 78 b.h.p., whilst the 2-litre engine pushed out 98 horses. Both power units were of the overhead camshaft type, and had fully counterbalanced Laystall crankshafts. Con. rods were of hiduminium, crankcase of electron, and the entire power unit was rubber-mounted at three points. It was often accused of a certain amount of roughness, and was, to a certain amount, noisier than most power units of the late 'thirties.
Performance was there, however; in fact, the highest speed for an un-supercharged car was recorded at Brooklands for production cars road- tested by The Light Car. A drop-head coupe reached a speed of nearly 90 m.p.h. The Atalanta chassis was of robust channel, 6-in. through center, coupled by cruciform section and large-diameter tubes. A low center of gravity was achieved, and ground clearance was a mere 7-in. Springing was by large double helical springs operating in hiduminium links of immense strength (R.R. 53 C.). Un-sprung weight was kept to a minimum by the use of electron for the 16-in. brake drums and the brake shoes.
A Cotal Magnetic or a Warner Synchromesh dual overdrive gearbox was an optional fitting; the latter incorporated a free-wheel. Coach- work was extremely good and was the last word in style and comfort. In fact, pre-war, the drop-head coupe was possibly the most beautiful example of the type that had yet been seen. It was indeed a pity that the makers saw fit to add unsightly outside exhaust pipes. These caused criticism in that the car was strangely like a smaller edition of a "Type 500" Mercedes. The large car had a performance in keeping with the tradition of the Railton and other special cars which used big American motors in light chassis.
The Vee-12 Zephyr pushed out 112 b.h.p. at 3,900 r.p.m., giving the light Atalanta astonishing acceleration and a maximum speed of 90-100 m.p.h. Body styles were extremely attractive and quite distinctive. The marque gained a certain amount of success in competitions, mostly in the hands of Miss Margaret Wilby, Miss Jean Brotchie, and Gordon Wilkins. A 14-litre two-seater showed a promising turn of speed at Le Mans, but the engine had not quite overcome its teething troubles. |
