Photo: Vintage Velocity
Photo: Vintage Velocity

Under 2-Liter Grand Touring Cars – 2016 Market & Price Guide

The under two-liter Grand Touring (GT) cars have always had a place to compete within the ever changing regulations of international motorsports; the World Sports Car Championship from 1953-1961, the Speedworld Challenge in 1962-1963, the International Championship of Makes from 1964-1971 and the World Championship of Makes from 1972-1981. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the 24 Hours of  Le Mans, the 1000-kilometer rounds at the  Nürburgring, Spa and Monza, and the Targa Florio. Not to mention national races throughout Europe and SCCA races throughout the U.S. Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Porsche, Triumph all designed very lightweight successful competition cars. Abarth, an Italian specialty tuner, modified small-bore GT cars from Fiat and Simca, all with great success. These under two-liter GT cars filled up the racing grids on both sides of the Atlantic and provided some exciting automobile racing.

Today, under two-liter GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events worldwide, from the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to the Tour (de France) Auto because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. Due to their technology, great designs, eligibility and low production numbers, legitimate GT competition cars have steadily been increasing in value.

The value today of an under two-liter GT car is determined by many factors, including the car still having its unique competition features available on a race version that were not available on a production version, the quality of restoration and a good provenance.

MakeModelLevel IIILevel IILevel I
Abarth – Fiat750/850 Zagato$150,000$200,000$225,000
1000 Bialbero$40,000$70,000$100,000
Abarth-Simca1300 GT$150,000$200,000$250,000
2000 GT$325,000$400,000$450,000
ACBristol Coupe$125,000$150,000$200,000
Bristol Roadster$250,000$300,000$400,000
Alfa-RomeoGiulietta Sprint/ Spyder/Veloce$75,000$100,000$135,000
Giulietta Sprint/Lightweight$225,000$275,000$325,000
SVZ$325,000$425,000$500,000
SZ1/ SZ2$375,000$450,000$525,000
GTZ-1$1,000,000$1,300,000$1,500,000
GTZ-2$2,500,000$3,000,000$3,500,000
GTA 1600 Corsa$250,000$375,000$450,000
GTA Junior 1300$100,000$125,000$150,000
Alpine RenaultA110$75,000$125,000$175,000
Arnolt-BristolBolide$225,000$300,000$350,000
Austin-HealeySprite$15,000$25,000$35,000
DevinPorsche$30,000$40,000$55,000
ElvaCourier$20,000$35,000$45,000
Frazer NashLeMans$675,000$825,000$900,000
GinettaG4/G4R$50,000$75,000$125,000
LanciaAppia Zagato$50,000$60,000$75,000
B20 GT$150,000$175,000$225,000
Flaminia Sport Zagato$150,000$200,000$225,000
LotusElite$75,000$100,000$125,000
Super 7 S.1/S.2$25,000$35,000$45,000
26R$175,000$200,000$250,000
47$150,000$175,000$200,000
MaseratiA6G 2000$1,600,000$2,000,000$2,500,000
MGMGA Twincam$40,000$55,000$75,000
MGB$15,000$25,000$30,000
MorganPlus 4$60,000$75,000$100,000
OSCA1600 GTZ$300,000$400,000$500,000
Porsche356A Coupe$50,000$75,000$125,000
356A Speedster$150,000$175,000$200,000
356A/Carrera GT Coupe$800,000$900,000$1,100,000
356A/Carrera GT Speedster$1,000,000$1,200,000$1,400,000
356B Carrera GT$500,000$600,000$700,000
Abarth Carrera GTL$3,000,000$3,500,000$4,500,000
356B/C Carrera 2 GT$700,000$900,000$1,000,000
356B/C$40,000$55,000$75,000
904GTS$1,500,000$1,800,000$2,000,000
SunbeamAlpine$25,000$35,000$40,000
TriumphTR2/TR3$30,000$40,000$50,000
TR4A IRS$30,000$35,000$40,000

1964 Porsche 904GTS

Photo: Vintage Velocity

Following its success with the 718 series, aluminum-bodied Spyders during the 1950s, the 904GTS was Porsche’s first fiberglass sports car. One hundred were necessary to be built for homologation into the Grand Touring category. It had a steel chassis, to which the fiberglass body was bonded. The engine was a 2.0-liter version of the 4-cylinder, 4-camshaft type-587 Carrera engine. A new 5-speed, type-904 transmission was used. Suspension was fully independent with four-wheel disc brakes. Ten cars were retained by the factory, and these cars used the type-771, 8-cylinder engine and the new type-901, 6-cylinder engine. The 904 was very popular, so a second series of 20 cars was built with slight improvements.

It should also be noted that the factory built 12 cars with numbers 906-001 to 906-012. These cars used the 904 frame, but with the 6-cylinder engine. Also, some were specially constructed Hill Climb Spyders. The 904 was the beginning of a series of lightweight fiberglass cars from Porsche. Today, the 904 is immensely popular, as it is a true dual-purpose sports and racing car eligible for so many events.

AC Bristol Roadster

Photo: Vintage Velocity

AC cars, or AC Autocars, was established in 1904 in South London, England by engineer John Weller. The AC name was taken from the AC Autocarrier three-wheeler, the company produced. AC built a variety of different cars, but in 1954, created a beautiful aluminum-bodied two-seat roadster called the AC Ace and later Bristol Roadster. It had a tubular chassis and was powered by a 2.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine. Interestingly, the engine was a derivative of the BMW 328 pre-war design. All told, 686 AC Ace Roadsters were built until 1962. In 1956, the Bristol-powered version was introduced. These were stunning cars to look at with their hand-formed bodies and wire wheels.


Criteria Used For Assessing Valuations for this Guide:

  • Degree of Originality
  • Overall Condition, Restoration
  • Technology, Design, Coachbuilder
  • Production Numbers/Rarity
  • Competition History
  • Ownership History, Documentation
  • Modern Event Eligibility

Regional Variances

The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT. Most of the time, we are able to document known sales or closed escrows, as they say in real estate. When this is not possible, a logical estimate of the car’s value is given, based on its sales history and relationship to cars of its type.

The prices stated in this guide are based on U.S. values. The values of historic racing cars can vary as much as 25%-35% in other countries, depending on local market appeal, currency rates, import duties, and VAT.

LEVEL

VALUATION CATEGORIES

I

The best combination
of all criteria.

II

Satisfies mid-range
of criteria.

III

In need of restoration. Meets
only a few points of criteria