Roger Nathan is both a racer and a tuner. He made a name for himself in the early sixties racing Lotus Elites and then set up in business developing tuning kits for Imps
Willy Griffiths joined Roger Nathan Racing after being a racing mechanic with Team Lotus. He was specifically in charge of Imp development. The Coventry Climax knowledge he gained with the Lotus cars came in very usefull. (Griffiths then went on to Paul Emery Cars, to a similar position, until setting up business on his own account)
It all started in the summer of 1963 when a considerate Rootes dealer brought one of the very first Imps to his tuning shop. The idea was that since Roger Nathan had a known proficiency with Climax-powered racing cars and the Imp's engine may be considered an offshoot of Climax, he might well be the man to make an Imp go.
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Nathan saw a chance to steal a march on other tuning specialists. Imps in those early months were not easy to get and the dealer gave him a free hand.
Willy Griffiths, head man at Nathan Racing, was responsible for most of the detail development work on the Nathan Imp.
The Rootes Group bought an Imp from him for development analysis and they saw the 110mph Nathan Imp in action during a private Goodwood demonstration session.
Moto Baldet set up a selling organisation for Nathan conversions in Northampton.
September 1964
Acre Lane
London
December 1966:
Roger Nathan Racing Ltd.
Lynton Garage
Fortis Green
London N.2.
A move to new and larger premises, anounced in CCC April 1969:
8 Minerva Road
North Acton
London, N.W.10
Swiss Mountain Grand Prix
Hill Climb - Ollon-Villars
27 August 1967
13th round of the 1967 World Championship
source
Pos. NO Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Group Practice
In entry list only:
152 Charles Graemiger / CH Costin-Nathan Hillman GT Charles Graemiger S1.3
GP Mugello
Circuito del Mugello
23 July 1967
9th round of the 1967 World Championship
source
Pos. NO Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Group Practice
Did not finish:
39 Albert Powell / GB Costin-Nathan Hillman GT 0 P1.0
Norman Abbott / GB
1000 km Monza
Race: 10,100 km * 100 laps = 1010,000 km
25 April 1968
4th round of the 1968 World Championship
source
35 Roger Nathan / GB Costin-Nathan Hillman GT Roger Nathan P1.0
Frank Ruata / F
1000 km Monza
Race: 10,100 km * 100 laps = 1010,000 km
25 April 1969
4th round of the 1969 World Championship
source
31 Jacques Bigrat / F Costin-Nathan GT Hillman Jacques Bigrat P1.0
Targa Florio
Race: 72,000 km * 10 laps = 720,000 km
4 May 1969
5th round of the 1969 World Championship
source
46. 206 John Markey / GB Costin-Nathan GT Hillman Falken Racing 5 Gearbox P1.0 48:07,600
Terry Hunter / GB
Meet Impudence, the 110mph Hillman : the hot Imps are coming; 1. - Roger Nathan's 110mph Imp / photography Farrokh Dhalla. - Small Car 1964, September. - p.12-14
[Anti-Mini lineup] Setting the saloon-racing world on fire, it's the 110mph Roger Nathan Cooper-looper fireball performance from a teeny 875cc
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