Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2010 Market & Price Guide

Two-liter sports racing cars have always had a place to compete within the ever-changing regulations of international motor sports: 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. There was even a European Championship of Makes for cars up to 2 liters from 1970–1975. This allowed manufacturers to showcase their design and engineering excellence by producing a limited number of purpose-built racing cars to compete at the world’s greatest racing venues including Silverstone, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Monza, Daytona, and Sebring. On the right circuit, these nimble cars could often get the better of their larger competitors. Today, these historic cars are highly sought after by collectors, not just for admiration of their technology, but also to participate in reenactments of these famous racing events. Most historic groups, both in Europe and the United States, break the categories down into pre-1960, 1960–1965, 1966–1970, and 1971–1978.

1956 Osca MT4 TN 1500

The Maserati brothers, Alfieri, Bindo, Ernesto, and Ettore were well known for building racing cars with their name on them before WWII. By 1947 they split with Adolfo Orsi who owned Maserati and started Officina Specializzata Costruzioni Automobili or OSCA in Bologna. They were dedicated to the design and build of some small-displacement sports cars. They had success with engines rangine from 750-cc 4-cylinders to 2000-cc 6-cylinders. These cars were driven by stars such as Stirling Moss who with Bill Lloyd won the Sebring 12-hour race in 1954 in an OSCA MT4. What was unique about the OSCA was that the car was entirely designed and built by the brothers. The 1956 OSCA MT4 1500 “TN”. The M was for Maserati, the T was for Tipo and 4 was for the number of cylinders. The TN stands for “Tipo Nuevo,” the last evolution of the MT4 design. About 13 were built, with the 1491-cc twin-cam 4-cylinder engine with the Twin Spark cylinder head that produced 135 bhp. It was mated to a ZF 4-speed gearbox and a revised tubular chassis with coil-spring rear suspension. These beautiful little cars are highly sought after today. They are eligible to be used in the Mille Miglia and other historic races.

1968 Chevron B8

Chevron Cars was founded by Derek Bennett in Bolton, Lancashire, in the early 1960s. Bennett was a self-taught engineer, designer, mechanic, and racecar driver. His small company was to build some very successful single-seater, GT, and Sports Racing cars. One of his early designs, the B3-B6 that would evolve into the B8, was to put Chevron Cars on the map. It would have race success at the club, national, and international levels. It was a tubular chassis design, with an attractive fiberglass body. Power was provided by a 2-liter BMW M10 engine, or a Cosworth FVA or FVC. The gearbox was a sturdy Hewland FT200, and Chevron built 44 B8s. Many drivers got their start in a Chevron B8. John Lepp and John Bridges will be forever connected to Chevron cars, as will Brian Redman. Today Chevron cars are highly sought after to race in various historic series. The B8 is one of the most popular.

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.