Cut short by WWII, British carmaker Atalanta is priming its first vehicle since 1939

By Andrew Hard September 4, 2014

Atalanta Sports Tourer — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In 1936, British carmaker Atalanta was set to take the sports car world by storm, using an innovative approach to manufacturing that included varied body styles, bespoke construction, and advanced, lightweight designs. Then, in 1939, the world got turned upside down.

World War II wrought havoc on the automotive industry in Europe (among other things), and the conflict’s high demand for raw materials left automakers rummaging for scraps. Without the ability to construct, market, and sell vehicles during the 1930s and 1940s, many companies simply went under, and others lay dormant.

Thankfully, Atalanta is one of the latter, and the classic carmaker is finally ready for its triumphant return to the automotive stage.

The British classic manufacturer is readying its first production car since 1939, an updated version of its 1937 Sports Tourer. It will be shown at the International Concours of Elegance, which begins September 5^th.

Related: This resto-modded Jaguar Mark 2 seamlessly blends old and new

According to Atalanta, 90 percent of the vehicle’s components were engineered in house, including the castings, fabrications, forgings, and the traditional hand-built aluminum-over-ash structure.

“Staying true to the original Atalanta design principles, we have enhanced the positive and enjoyable characteristics of vintage motoring in a style that is relevant and exciting today,” said Martyn Corfield, Managing Director at Atalanta Motors.

Atalanta Sports Tourer — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“As in the 1930’s, Atalanta Motors provides the opportunity to commission an individual driving machine to exacting requirements,” he continued. “The new sports car readily offers an exhilarating drive with assured handling and a supremely comfortable ride.”

The Morgan-rivaling Sports Tourer will be shown alongside a 1937 vintage model for comparisons sake, one that garnered ‘Best in Show’ at the 2007 Cartier et Luxe Concours at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Welcome back, Atalanta. The International Concours of Elegance will be held at the Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, U.K.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Cars

The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is one of the best-looking EVs yet

Front of the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Maserati is adopting electrified vehicles with open arms, and while that could potentially signal an identity crisis for the luxury Italian brand, that’s probably a good thing in the long run.

The company recently took the wraps off of the new Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, which is essentially a convertible version of its already released GranTurismo Folgore electric car. The new EV is its third go at electrified vehicles so far, and it flew us out to Rimini, Italy, to witness the big reveal in person.

Cars

EV warranties aren’t like those for non-electric cars. Here’s what you should know

Close up of the Hybrid car electric charger station with power supply plugged into an electric car being charged.

EVs are on the rise. With awesome new models finally rolling out and charging networks rapidly expanding, it feels like we're at the tipping point of electric cars being as mainstream as non-electric vehicles. But with a whole new type of vehicle come new challenges. One challenge is adapting to charging times. Another is paying closer to attention to range. And another, as some drivers are finding out, has to do with electric car warranties.

Turns out, the warranty that comes with electric cars isn't necessarily quite the same as the one that you might get with your non-electric car. If you really think about it, that's probably not all that surprising -- after all, while they can look the same, electric cars have a completely different makeup under the hood compared to their gas-powered cousins. But understanding an EV warranty could be the difference between winding up having to pay thousands for a battery replacement, or getting one repaired on the house.
It's not all new
Before diving into things like battery warranties, it's worth doing a quick primer on car warranties in general. EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles usually come with two different warranties -- at least when they're bought new. First, there's the basic warranty (also known as bumper-to-bumper warranty), which covers every part of a car except for basic maintenance, usually for up to three years or 36,000 miles.