Under 2-Liter Sports Racers – 2019 Market & Price Guide

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 Championships 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 world’s greatest racing venues. There was great racing in the under-2.0-liter class. On the right circuit, these nimble cars could often get the best of their larger competitors. A World Champion-ship of Makes with race circuits such as Silverstone, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Monza, Daytona and Sebring 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 to also participate in reenactments of these famous racing events.

Lotus 23

Colin Chapman was a young English engineer whose career started by modifying an Austin Seven for trials events in 1948. By the early 1960’s Lotus cars had become famous for well-engineered, lightweight, excellent handling, single-seater and sports racing cars. Lotus had won sports car and Formula One races and Chapman’s designs coupled with young Jim Clark’s driving skills was to make a mark in the racing history books. For 1962 Chapman chose to widen the chassis of the successful Lotus 22 Formula Junior single-seater and built the Lotus 23 sports racing car. The suspension remained similar, outboard with A-arms, coil springs and disc brakes. The engine choices were Coventry Climax and Ford-based 4-cylinder 1097cc units mated to either a Renault or VW-based 4-speed gearbox. Thirteen inch wheels were used allowing a low sleek body with open two-seat cockpit. In the works was a Lotus modified 1.5 liter version of the Ford 109E engine. This twin-cam engine with a 5-speed Hewland gearbox would prove successful. Clark debuted this car at the June 1962 Nurburgring 1000km race and led the race in the rain by up to 2 minutes — this over the might of Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche. At the Le Mans 24 Hour, a dispute with the French organizers over the number of wheel studs caused the entry to be declined and Chapman vowed never to race at Le Mans again. None the less, the Lotus 23 had been recognized as a race-winning car and sales took off. 131 cars were built and would see success in Europe and across the USA. The Lotus twin-cam was the engine of choice but success also came in cars with Porsche and BMW power. George Follmer won the 1965 USRRC Championship driving a Porsche-powered Lotus 23. Today the 23 continues to race in historic competition in a category for under 2 liter 1961-1965 sports racing cars.

Cooper Monaco

By 1960, the Cooper Car Company of Surrey, England was well known for building successful single-seater and sports racing cars. This included winning the Grand Prix World Championship in 1959 and 1960 with the T51 and T53 Grand Prix cars. These designs were the basis for the “Monaco” sports racing car. It was essentially a widened single-seater, featuring a sturdy tube frame design powered by 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5-liter Coventry Climax engines mated to a Jack Knight modified Citroen-Ersa 4-speed transaxle.  Suspension in front was by double wishbones and coil spring damper units, while the rear had a transverse leaf spring with single lower wishbone, until 1961, when coil springs were mounted. These cars were quite successful, driven by the likes of Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori. Today, in the 1960 and older historic race group, they are a front runner.

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.