Alta (United Kingdom)

The Alta Car & Engineering Co. Ltd was a British manufacturer of sports cars based in Surbiton, Surrey, operational from 1931 to 1947. Founded by Geoffrey Taylor, the company was known for producing vehicles in very limited numbers, emphasizing high-quality engineering and performance. Taylor was a perfectionist who designed his own engines, notable for their aluminum blocks and hemispherical combustion chambers, as well as shaft-driven twin overhead camshafts.

The first model produced by Alta featured a 1074cc four-cylinder engine, capable of delivering 49 bhp in its unblown form or 76 bhp when equipped with a supercharger. Between 1931 and 1935, a total of 13 cars were manufactured, utilizing an A.B.C. frame initially, before switching to frames sourced from Rubery Owen for subsequent models. The early Alta cars offered a choice of either a four-speed non-synchromesh or a pre-selector gearbox.

From 1935 to 1939, the company produced an even more exclusive series of vehicles, with only six units made. These models were equipped with either 1496cc or 1961cc engines and featured chain drive to the overhead camshafts. By 1937, the introduction of coil independent front suspension further enhanced their performance. With the supercharger, these cars could achieve an impressive output of 150 bhp, allowing for top speeds of up to 120 mph (193 km/h), making them among the fastest pre-war sports cars, particularly in the 2-litre class. Of the 19 cars produced during this period, nine are known to have survived.

In 1947, Alta introduced an aerodynamic two-seater and a saloon model, although it is unlikely that any of these were actually built. Following World War II, Geoffrey Taylor shifted his focus to racing cars, notably developing a Formula 2 contender between 1951 and 1952.