1966 Costin-Nathan GT

HPC Classics are honoured to bring to market on behalf of Roger Nathan, the very first Costin-Nathan GT.

 

 

The very first car built by Frank Costin & Roger Nathan in preparation for the 1967 Olympia International Racing Car Show, where it landed to great acclaim. Restored to its former glory, with brand new FIA HTP papers and ready to conquer the circuits once again. The GTs were very impressive cars and at the helmsmanship of Roger Nathan himself, they set an astounding number of lap records, including at the Nürburgring 500km in 1968, where Roger finished 7th overall and 1st in class, such was the power to weight ratio and balance the car exuded.

 

 

The Costin-Nathans first ever outing was at Brands hatch in 1966 at a race weekend with the prototype / open top car, where on its maiden voyage it won an incredible five out of six races! All of that with only 998ccs of displacement, but that’s all it needed. With a super light and stiff tub and chassis made from Gaboon ply and spaceframes for the front and rear ends, the car weighed a paltry 350kg all told, added to that Frank Costin’s legendary aerodynamics made the body as slippery as humanly imaginable at the time, meaning the car didn’t suffer with grunt in the straights either – a serious bit of engineering. The GT isn’t much heavier at a weight of 400kg all in, a featherweight by any standard.

 

 

This car has been fully restored by marque expert Guy Sheppard of Rawlson Racing in Kent and is on the button and ready to race across the globe in the most prestigious of events. Being a ’66 built car this opens the possibility of the Goodwood Revival, Members meeting, Classic Le Mans as they ran there in period too and many more. This car is a very exciting and rare proposition that can be enjoyed as a work of art, as much as it can on track. Such a competitive car in its day, there’s no reason not to see it back at the front of the grid once again.

Fully restored by Guy Sheppard at Rawlson Racing, this car is in tip top condition and as new. The attention to detail is astounding, keeping the main tub as original as possible, thanks to the original build quality and a testament to the design, only minimal work was required on the tub. Retaining the original door channels and hinges too. Fitted with an Imp engine running 110bhp at 8,400 rpm, plus a newly rebuilt Jack Knight 5 speed transaxle Imp gearbox. That was the only item that was picked up in testing that needed any additional fettling, as per the nice write up on this exact car in the February 2024 edition of Octane Magazine.

 

 

 

The engine fires up with a crisp crack and revs to the moon, a super lightweight flywheel makes the car feel even more eager than its weight would have you believe, a brilliantly built and set up piece of machinery. The restoration was overseen by the current owner, original designer, racer and manufacturer, Roger Nathan himself, his exacting standards as a very highly decorated racing driver shining through, as you will note. The quality of the build, details, fit and finish are in a league of their own and we tip our hats to Rawlson Racing, as it is a true pleasure to look after a car this well prepped.

 

 

 

Roger has expressed an interest in being able to assist the new owner with advice and set up tricks and tips he learnt with the cars over his illustrious years racing them, to ensure hat you’re able to extract the very most from the car and to see it back at the front row of the grid. What more could you possibly ask for!

 

 

TRANSMISSION: 5 speed manual

Weight: 400kg

Engine: Imp: 998cc 4 cylinder

Power: 110 bhp

Top Speed: 167 mph

PRICE: £P.O.A.acebookTwitterMore