21 replies to this topic

[Barry Boor]

Bit of a long shot, this one.

About 3 years ago, I was staggered to learn that the extremely well-known (well, at the time and in the U.K, anyway) British sports car driver Roger Nathan was living and working with 5 miles of where I live in north west Wales.

A mutual friend introduced me to him and I have since spent a few very interesting evenings talking racing with him.

He has moved his business base now, to a 4x4 Sales Emporium in the tiny village of Pen-y-Groes, where, co-incidentally, my wife comes from and my Mother-in-Law still lives.

I just wondered if any of the older Nostalgiateers have any particular memories or stories that they might share with the rest of us, and that I might pass on to Roger when next we meet.

I have been searching the web to see how many of the Costin Nathan or Nathan Astra sports/G.T. cars have survived. So far, the total is only about 5, and none of those are owned by the man himself.

[Impspeed Gerry]

If you find anything out Barry, let me know. My friends and I race Imp powered vehicles, and one of my mates is writing a book about Imp engined specials - any info on Roger Nathan would be really useful

[Barry Boor]

Gerry, if you would care to send me a P.M with some details and a contact number, I will let Roger know and if he has any interest in the book, I'm sure he will contact you.

[valmy]

Hello
A friend to me possede a Costin Nathan of 1969, she(it) participates in journey(running) in Group 4 in France and in Europe:
http://www.equipeeurope.com

By

[David Beard]

Not exactly a Roger Nathan story, but I thought this thread would be a good place to post this extract fom the Racing Car Show catalogue, 1967. (Olympia)...

[sterling49]

I remember seeing the Costin Nathans at Brands, they were superb and usually won the class everytime, the 2 litre was the Astra I believe? Again a very pretty car and very effective. The "Impudence" range were pretty effective to, I think there was Impudence 1,2 and 3 IIRC. Is my memory deserting me or were they all finished in a dark mettallic blue and Orange? The Nathans also ran Minilite wheels, super memories!


Sterling

[bradbury west]

And Paul Hawkins had 2 lockups at the front of Lynton Garage with GT40s.

Roger Lund.

[cosworth bdg]

Originally posted by David Beard
Not exactly a Roger Nathan story, but I thought this thread would be a good place to post this extract fom the Racing Car Show catalogue, 1967. (Olympia)...

Very interesting you bring up this thread ,as in 1965/66 the then Chrysler Australia Ltd imported 2 Group Two Nathan Imps for racing evaluation in Australia one of which was driven by Norm Beechey. One of these Imps is now owned by a very good friend of mine, it is going through a full restoration at the moment , it still has the original documentation....

[llmaurice]

Maybe we should remember too that much of Nathans success was due to the late lamented Willie Griffiths and his work on the Imp motors.

[bradbury west]

Originally posted by llmaurice
Maybe we should remember too that much of Nathans success was due to the late lamented Willie Griffiths and his work on the Imp motors.

With you all the way on that one, Maurice. There is a lot which has not been told yet.

Roger Lund.

[David Beard]

Originally posted by bradbury west


With you all the way on that one, Maurice. There is a lot which has not been told yet.

Roger Lund.

I don't have the Roger Nathan book, but I'd be suprised if he if fails to mention Willie Griffiths. We talked about Willie when he came to one of our Northern TNF gatherings.

[gerard BARATHIEU]

Shot with HP Scanjet 3800 at 2007-08-07

Here a COSTIN NATHAN at the trials of LE MANS in APRIL.

I don't remember the year : perhaps in 1970 or 1969 ?

the car didn't participate at the race in JUNE.

[gerard BARATHIEU]

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[r.atlos]

Very interesting; are there pictures which go with it ??

[r.atlos]

Is this the photo you wanted to show ?

[r.atlos]

I don't know but that thing does not look a Nathan GT to me. Costin Amigo I would say - but have they ever engaged one for Le Mans ????

[r.atlos]

Ok, I was not mistaken: We're in 1971 (18/04/1971 to be precise) and it was, indeed, a Costin Amigo, entered by Paul Pycroft for Brian Hart.

[gerard BARATHIEU]

thank you very much Rudi for all this help !!!

[richie]

An Adventurous Life: The Costin-Nathan Story by Roger Nathan and Stephanie Gutzwiller (Paperback - 27 Aug 2006

This is the book I must buy.

[limjamrace]

An Adventurous Life: The Costin-Nathan Story by Roger Nathan and Stephanie Gutzwiller (Paperback - 27 Aug 2006

This is the book I must buy.

Thought i would mention that i have the copies of the book An Adventurous Life by Roger Nathan in the post according to Mr Roger's Missus .
Would the interested ...Some 10 personel please personal email me soon for details of payment and re-posting to yourselves!

Yours David Llewellyn (limjamrace)

[Giraffe]

Here is Roger pictured dicing in somewhat exhaulted company in the Guards Trophy at Brands Hatch in 1964....


By giraffe138 at 2011-09-28

Photo courtesy of Ron Bennett.

[Barry Boor]

Yes, I'm sure Denny and Jim would have been proud to be on the same piece of track as R.N.