Over 2-Liter Grand Touring Cars – 2013 Market & Price Guide

The over two-liter Grand Touring 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 1972-1981. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Nürburgring, Spa and Monza 1000 kilometers, and the Targa Florio.

Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and Ford, by backing Carroll Shelby with the Cobra, all designed very lightweight, successful competition cars to compete in the GT category. In the USA these cars raced in the SCCA and the USRRC.

Today GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events such as the Tour (de France) Auto, Tour of Spain and Targa Florio because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. They also qualify for the Le Mans 24 Hour Classic and, in the USA, the Monterey Motorsports Reunion and all other race events and tours. Due to their technology, great designs, event eligibility and low production numbers, GT cars have steadily been increasing in value.

Then there was the popular USA series for racing “Sedans,” the Trans-Am Championship, which started in 1966 and for the purposes of this guide goes through 1972. This was exciting racing with all of the big U.S. manufacturers involved.

Today, there is a Historic Trans-Am group that is always a crowd pleaser. These cars have also proven their worth and have been increasing in value with buyers paying a premium for team cars with history.

1955 Austin Healey 100M Le Mans

Donald Healey built this beautiful sports car in his Warwick factory and first introduced it to the world at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was built around Austin A90 mechanicals and so impressed Austin Managing Director Leonard Lord that he came to an agreement with Donald Healey to have the cars built in the Austin plant in Longbridge. Thus was the Austin-Healey 100 created. It was named the 100 because of its ability to reach 100 mph, and was the first of the big Healeys. For 1953, Healey built a modified car to be raced in the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The results were excellent with a 12th place overall. This was the first racecar long before the 100S. To commemorate the Le Mans race success, 640 cars were built with a variety of performance modifications by the factory and named the 100M Le Mans. These limited-production, factory-built high-performance sports cars had a 2.66-liter, inline 4-cylinder engine with high-compression pistons, special high-lift camshaft, 1-3/4-inch H6 SU carburetors, special inlet manifolds, cold air box and air tube, and special distributor, which increased bhp from 90 to 110. In addition, they had a race type anti-roll bar, stiffer suspension, disc brakes and a louvered hood with Le Mans regulation strap, and the front windscreen would lay down for better aero. The transmission was a 4-speed with overdrive.

The original build of these 640 cars can be verified by the British Motor Industries Heritage Trust and the 100M Le Mans registry. They are beautiful cars and could be described as an English Barchetta. Often available in two-tone paint schemes and with full road equipment, they are eligible for all historic rallies, races and are also just fun to drive in the spirit of 1950s motoring. The quality of restoration is very important, as is the verification of the car’s original build. The good cars are appreciating in value for the reasons stated above.

1971 Ferrari 365GTB4 Daytona Competition

Ferrari first introduced its new Pininfarina-designed and Scaglietti-built 365GTB4 Daytona at the 1968 Paris Motor Show. About 1400 cars were built from 1969-1973, of which 127 were Spiders. They were the last of the front-engine Ferrari sports cars for nearly 25 years, and named “Daytona” to honor Ferrari’s 1-2-3 finish in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. The Competition versions, of which just 15 were built in three series, were developed from the standard road cars. There were five first-series cars, built with full alloy bodies (1971), then five second-series cars with just alloy lids and doors but wider wheel arches and wheels (1972), and five third-series cars with just alloy lids but ever wider bodywork to accommodate wider wheels (1973). These cars were built by Ferrari’s competition department, but were sold to clients’ racing teams. They first had to run in Group 5, but were eventually homologated for Group 4, where they were quite competitive.

The Daytona was a tube frame chassis with fully independent suspension, disc brakes, a 5-speed gearbox and a 4.4-liter, 4-camshaft V12 engine putting out over 450 bhp in competition trim. The 365 stood for 365-cc per cylinder which, multiplied by 12 gave 4.4 liters, while GTB stood for Gran Touring Berlinetta. The engine performance was upgraded, the car lightened, the suspension improved, fuel tank capacity enlarged and various aero tweaks made to the body. These cars were quite successful in endurance racing due to both their power and their reliability. They had multiple class wins at the Le Mans 24 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours, not to mention numerous other FIA World Championship of Makes races. As late as 1979, one of the cars finished 2nd overall at the Daytona 24 Hours. Not bad for what many thought was an outdated design when other manufacturers were going to mid-engine.

Today, these great Ferrari racecars are highly sought after because of their technology, rarity, race success and historic race eligibility. They will continue to appreciate and to be enjoyed by all motorsports fans when viewed at great racing 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.