Two-liter sports racing 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. There was even a European Championship of Makes for cars up to two 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 worlds greatest racing venues. There was great racing for cars of less than two liters. On the right circuit, these nimble cars could often get the best of their larger-engined competitors.
A World Championship of Makes held races at circuits such as Silverstone, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Monza, Daytona and Sebring. This resulted in an era of motorsports that may never happen again. Today, these historic cars are highly sought after by collectors, not just for the admiration of their technology, but also to participate in reenactments of those famous racing events.
Chevron B36
Derek Bennett’s Chevron Cars of Bolton, England, had great success in the European 2-liter sports car championship with the B16 and B19 in the early 1970s. The B36 was the ultimate evolution of the 2-liter sports racing car from Chevron. It featured a full monocoque chassis and more aerodynamic body, front splitter and rear wing, with power from much improved versions of the 2.0-liter BMW M12, Cosworth BDG or Chrysler Simca engines, all mated to Hewland FGA 5-speed gearboxes. Only 21 cars were built from 1976-’78. The debut race was on April 25, 1976, at the Monza Four-Hour WSC Race. The B36 won the 2-Liter class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years running, from 1977-1980. Today, as before, it remains a giant killer often beating larger displacement competitors. An exciting sports racing car for the money.
Porsche 550 Spyder
Dr. Ferdinand Porsche’s Porsche Engineering of Stuttgart, Germany, believed in the idea that a lightweight, good-handling, fuel-efficient sports racing car would become successful in endurance racing by stopping less for fuel, tires and brakes than its larger-displacement competitors. His first such masterpiece was the 550 Spyder, which had a tubular chassis and independent suspension, powered by a unique Ernst Fuhrman-designed 4-camshaft, 1500-cc mid-mounted engine mated to a 4-speed gearbox sitting to the rear. It was draped in a beautiful sleek aluminum body, a design that was years ahead of its time. In 1953, the first 550 was, in fact, a beautiful coupe. It had success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Carrera Panamericana. Ninety cars were built, and remain a fine early example of Porsche’s design and engineering excellence.
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 |
