Two-liter sports racing cars have always had a place to compete within the ever-changing regulations of international motorsport: 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 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.
1963 Elva Mark 7 Sports Racing Car
Frank Nicholas founded Elva cars in 1954 in sleepy, little, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England, not far from the Goodwood circuit. Elva sports cars were quite successful and found their way to America sold by distributor Carl Haas in Chicago, Illinois. The Mark 7 was designed by Keith Marsden in 1963. It had a tubular space frame, four-wheel disc brakes a Hewland gear box, and was powered by a variety of engines, 1100-cc Ford pushrod and Coventry Climax, 1500-cc Lotus twincam, 1800-cc BMW and even 1700-cc Porsche 4 cam. Sixty-nine cars were built between 1963 and 1964; 19 had Porsche power (the Elva Porsches,) and 10 had BMW power. The 7S was quite an improvement over the 7, with larger wheels, bigger uprights, Girling AR brake calipers, larger radiators and a strengthened frame. The 7Ss were powered by the new BMW engine and were very successful, winning SCCA titles in America. “Road and Track” magazine, in a 1963 track test when asked to say whether the Elva or Lotus 23 was the better car said, “it is six of one and a half dozen of the other, both are winners,” but the Elva, a direct competitor with the Lotus 23, was certainly better looking. Elva cars were later sold to Trojan, the customer arm of McLaren cars, and in 1966 their 12-year run of great sports cars ended.
1962 Lotus 23 Sports Racing Car
Colin Chapman first built and raced a car by the Lotus name in 1948. By the mid 1950s, at a little factory in Hornsey, England, he was designing and selling custom racing cars. Chapman proved to be quite the genius and also had a talented group around him. The 23 sports racing car, of which 131 were built from 1962–1966, was an evolution of the 22 Formula Junior. It was first powered by Ford pushrod and Coventry Climax 1100-cc engines, mated to a four-speed Renault gearbox. This tubular space frame car with disc brakes was quite successful. Soon the 23B had the prototype 4-cylinder Lotus twin-cam engine with a 1498-cc capacity, based on the Ford 116E block and mated to a Hewland five-speed gear box. This combination enabled the 23 to win the 2.0-liter class in Europe, which it did in SCCA competition, as well. The 23 had another place in Lotus racing history; at the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours the French scrutineers rejected the 23s over the design of the wheel studs. Even though Chapman conformed to what the French said was correct, they still did not allow the cars to race. Popular opinion is that this occurred so the French entrants Rene Bonnet and Panhard could win the index of performance. Chapman never raced at Le Mans again.
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 |
