Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2008 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 the admiration of their technology, but also to participate in reenactments of these famous racing events. Most historic groups, both in Europe and the U.S., break the categories down into pre-1960, 1960–1965, 1966–1970, and 1971–1978.

1956 Lotus Eleven

Colin Chapman started Lotus cars in humble surroundings on Tottenham Lane in North London. However, the designs that rolled out of that little shop were quite remarkable. Chapman was a design genius and with the assistance of a talented group of individuals, which included aerodynamist Frank Costin, Lotus cars set a standard of building innovative, lightweight, aerodynamic sports racing cars. The Lotus Eleven was a new design drawn from scratch. It used a tubular space frame with stressed aluminum panels. Power came from a Coventry Climax FWA 4-cylinder engine, which was mated to a 4-speed BMC gearbox. It was covered in a stunning Frank Costin–designed, all aluminum, aerodynamic body.

Lotus cars were scientifically designed, as Chapman’s philosophy was to engineer a lightweight, well-balanced, efficient car where every component’s function was thought out. The Lotus Eleven won its class at Le Mans and Sebring and set a world-class speed record. Today, these sports racing cars are very popular with collectors who race them in the pre-1960 race group.

1960 Lola Mark I

Eric Broadley had started modifying and tuning sports cars, or specials, in the 1950s, with his cousin Graham, but founded Lola cars in 1959 in Surrey, England. The first successful sports racing car was the Lola Mark 1. It was a lightweight, tubular space frame, open two-seater, front-engine design. It was powered by a Coventry Climax, FWA, 1,098-cc 4-cylinder engine mated to a BMC 4-speed gearbox. With four-wheel independent suspension and big Alfin drum brakes, it not only handled well, but it stopped in a very short distance. This good-looking Lola racing car put Eric Broadley’s company on the map, winning races in the small displacement category. The Lola Mark 1 was exported to the United States and also had success in the SCCA. Today, a Lola Mark 1 is a front-running car in the pre-1960s, front-engine, drum-brake category for sports racing cars.

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.

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.