1953 RGS Atalanta Roadster

This RGS Atalanta is equipped with a dual overhead camshaft 6-cylinder engine (a Jaguar XK120 unit) with three SU carburetors, a 3,442cc displacement size, and delivered 160 horsepower at 5,500 RPM. It has a four-speed manual transmission, independent suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes. t wears aluminum coachwork built by John Griffiths, a former Vickers Aircraft engineer and car builder.

It is believed that this RGS was ordered in 1953 and is the third RGS Atalanta built at the Brookside garage. It was first road registered by Dick Shattock for David Smallwood in 1955 as UKL 852. It had a full windscreen, top, and side screens which made it suitable as a touring car. There are some unique racing features that indicated that Smallwood may have raced the car before it was road registered, including a 16-quarter engine sump, alloy rear differential, a cylinder head with larger valves, and Alfin aluminum brake drums.

In the 1970s, the car was imported to the United States by Sam Tayloe in Tennessee. At some point prior to Mr. Tayloe's ownership, much of the car's road equipment was removed and it was converted to a sports racing car, complete with a single Brooklands windscreen and painted white with a green stripe. While its racing history remains a mystery, Mr. Tayloe did receive a number of trophies and ribbons from the car's previous owner. Those items were later lost in a house fire. It is believed that Mr. Tayloe used the car in a few vintage race events.

Mr. Tayloe retained the car until 1988 when it was acquired by its current caretaker. It was given a cosmetic refurbishment and put on static display.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021