Astra rnr1/Ardua Sports cars

[petestenning]

Continuing my research into British Sports Cars
which raced in the U K inthe late sixties and early seventies, I am looking for information on the following two cars;
Astra rnr1, built by Roger Nathan Racing hence
RNR ,
and the Ardua gt, driven by Les Aylott and entered by the R.A.F.M.S.A. in the seventies.

How many Astras were built etc, is the Ardua still in existance.

[ensign14]

Per ardua ad astra?

[Ted Walker]

Ive just supplied some photographs to Italy of one of the Ardua to help with its restoration.

[Andrew Kitson]

Hi Ted, will call you later re: historic show.

The Roger Nathan Astra RNR1 was one of my favourite cars in 1960s club racing. Roger Nathan financed a sports car project in 1966 designed by Frank Costin, The Costin-Nathan powered by 1-litre Imp engine. A coupe GT version was built in 1967 and a 2-litre BMW powered Nathan was raced in 1968. In all, 30 Nathans were built.

Roger re-designed the car for 1969 and named it the Astra RNR1. I believe this was the only one built. It still used the Costin concept of wooden monocoque with front and rear subframes. A 2-litre Coventry Climax FPF was fitted, but later was replaced by a 235bhp Cosworth FVA F2 engine. The car then became the 'RNR1A' and it won many races and set numerous GT lap records. It also raced in International events including 2nd in class in the 1969 Nurburgring 500kms.
A revised version was built for 1970, the RNR2 using an 1800cc Cosworth FVC.
Here is a photo, front cover of Autosport in September '69 of Roger in RNR1A at Crystal Palace.

[Dan Rear]

What was the Sportscar of this period that was based on a Chevron B8 but with open top ? Was this the Ardua maybe ?

[Jeremy Jackson]

That was the Gropa...

[petestenning]

The Gropa had something to do with Andrew Mylius
i believe, If memory serves my right. I am not sure but i think Allen Gibson the Chawston farmer may have had his Chevron B8 converted to a Gropa,
he was a regular at Snetterton in the seventies.

[mickj]

A photo of a Ardua appears on this site www.racing70s.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[petestenning]

Mickj,

Many thanks for the link above, this site has lots of photos of 70 s sports and saloon cars used in UK. This also confirms that the RAFMSA
built this car with aircraft technology for
Les Aylott, the picture is shown as an Ardua
mk5, as i only remember one car it must have been
upgraded as the seasons progressed.

Pete

[Jeremy Jackson]

Pete,

Roger Nathan's 1970 RNR2 was the "sixth out of eight RNR2s built so far" according to Autosport in May 1970, but I think that would be 8 Astars in total, not just RNR2s...

RNR1 chassis 3 was apparently used in WCM races from 1969-75; In 1969 by messrs. Selback/Theissen at the Nürburgring, and from 1972-75 was owned by Olaf Wijk.

That Ardua looks rather different to the one I saw Les Aylott race in the early 70s; photo attached from Autosport April 1972, (at Cadwell, leading Frank Aston's B19)

Andrew Mylius did do the Gropas, the "works" car was completely new I think, but various B8 owners had theirs converted from 70-72.

[driftwood]

I have Astra RNR1 for sale i await chassi number info
does anyone have more accurate info on the cars

[petestenning]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Jackson

Pete,

Roger Nathan's 1970 RNR2 was the "sixth out of eight RNR2s built so far" according to Autosport in May 1970, but I think that would be 8 Astars in total, not just RNR2s...

RNR1 chassis 3 was apparently used in WCM races from 1969-75; In 1969 by messrs. Selback/Theissen at the Nürburgring, and from 1972-75 was owned by Olaf Wijk.

That Ardua looks rather different to the one I saw Les Aylott race in the early 70s; photo attached from Autosport April 1972, (at Cadwell, leading Frank Aston's B19)

This is the more familiar version of the Ardua ,Jeremy, that i remember , but it did go through a few changes in shape later on so i believe that the other picture is a later version.

The only Astra i remember seeing regularly was the Minilite version of Jeremy Lord, as my interest started after Roger Nathan was seen only rarely .


Pete

[driftwood]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

The Roger Nathan Astra RNR1 was one of my favourite cars in 1960s club racing. Roger Nathan financed a sports car project in 1966 designed by Frank Costin, The Costin-Nathan powered by 1-litre Imp engine. A coupe GT version was built in 1967 and a 2-litre BMW powered Nathan was raced in 1968. In all, 30 Nathans were built.

Roger re-designed the car for 1969 and named it the Astra RNR1. I believe this was the only one built. It still used the Costin concept of wooden monocoque with front and rear subframes. A 2-litre Coventry Climax FPF was fitted, but later was replaced by a 235bhp Cosworth FVA F2 engine. The car then became the 'RNR1A' and it won many races and set numerous GT lap records. It also raced in International events including 2nd in class in the 1969 Nurburgring 500kms.
A revised version was built for 1970, the RNR2 using an 1800cc Cosworth FVC.
Here is a photo, front cover of Autosport in September '69 of Roger in RNR1A at Crystal Palace.
Jeremy Jackson said
Roger Nathan's 1970 RNR2 was the "sixth out of eight RNR2s built so far" according to Autosport in May 1970, but I think that would be 8 Astras in total, not just RNR2s...
RNR1 chassis 3 was apparently used in WCM races from 1969-75; In 1969 by messrs. Selback/Theissen at the Nürburgring, and from 1972-75 was owned by Olaf Wijk.

I believe this car is the car Roger used and is now in Germany still with FVC engine fitted- is this the RNR1A as mentioned above?
In theory 3 RNR1 cars and 5 RNR2 cars are built
2 RNR1 cars are known to exist at present is it possible that 1 became the 1st RNR2?
what is the difference between RNR1 & 2?
any photos?
i have a photo of the original brochure

[GTO Racing]

In 1970, the RNRII was a high technology car: The monocoque centre section is marine plywood to which steel space frames are attached at the front and rear. Some components were improved but the main difference came from the engine. Whereas the Astra RNR1 was fitted with the Ford Cosworth FVA engine, the RNR2 used the 1800 cc Ford Cosworth FVC engine.

[driftwood]

thanks for this useful info

[John Turner]

Those posts relevant to the Astra RNRs have been copied to the Archive here:-

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102983

[Graham Clayton]

The 1970 RNR2 with chassis number #38, which was driven by Roger Nathan, was put up for auction in 2012:

http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1056154

[landarman]

Just like to add that I have finally got around to scanning in my old cine films and whilst most of it covers my dad campaigning his Landar R6 in 1973 there is also some footage of Frank Aston who was my dad's business partner at the time competing in his Astra which he unfortunately later wrote off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MWKECVcWOk

[911thillclimber]

Fantastic to see those early runs at Loton Park hill climb.
I have been very involved with the venue and the Club for the last 25 years.
The track has barely changed, just a bit smarter now!

www.hdlcc.com if anyone is interested in the Hill today.