Under 2-Liter Grand Touring Cars – 2008 Market & Price Guide

The under 2-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 from 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 Le Mans 24-Hours, Nürburgring, Spa and Monza 1000Km 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 2-liter GT cars filled up the racing grids on both sides of the Atlantic and provided some exciting automobile racing.

Today under 2-liter GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events worldwide from the Monterey Historics 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 2-liter GT car is determined by many factors including, the car still having its unique competition features available on a race version which were not available on a production version, the quality of restoration and a good provenance.

1964 Alfa Romeo GTZ1 1600

Alfa Romeo has always been known for its design and engineering excellence. The Giulia Tubolare Zagato was the result of a series of studies carried out by the Milanese manufacturer over many years. It was also an evolution of the SZ1 and SZ2 series cars. It is an example of Alfa Romeo’s ability to create a purpose-built sports car with the latest in technological innovations. Alfa Romeo had amassed a talented design team with, amongst others, Giuessppe Busso, Ercole Spada, and Carlo Chiti.

The GTZ1 stood for a Giulia series car, with a tubular chassis and a Zagato body. The tubular chassis was lightweight but rigid; the Zagato body was aluminum and not only beautiful, but lightweight and aerodynamic incorporating the “Coda Tronca” or Kamm tail design. The engine was an in-line, four-cylinder, 1600-cc with twin Weber carburetors mated to a five-speed close-ratio gearbox and a limited slip differential. One hundred cars were needed for homologation; 112 GTZ1 chassis were eventually produced. This included the special-bodied cars and the chassis used for the TZ2. There were some differences between the factory competition cars and the customer cars. At the GTZ1’s debut race, the Monza Fisa Cup in 1963, Lorenzo Bandini won and GTZ1s took the first four places.

The GTZ1 had racing success in Europe winning its class at the Le Mans 24 Hour and in the United States at the Sebring 12 hour and other events. Today, these cars are highly sought after for use in a variety of historic events.

1964 Porsche 904GTS

Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, was a small, yet exciting, company headed by father Dr. Ferdinand and later son Dr. Ferry Porsche. Porsche AG was known for its unique engineering talents and automotive designs.

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 four-cylinder, four-camshaft type-587 Carrera engine. A new five-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 eight-cylinder engine and the new type-901 six-cylinder engine. The 904 was very popular, so a second series of twenty cars were built with slight improvements.

It should also be noted that the factory built twelve cars with numbers 906-001 to 906-012. These cars used the 904 frame but with the six-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.

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.