The under-2-liter Grand Touring (GT) 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. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the Le Mans 24-Hours, Nürburgring, Spa and Monza 1000Km and the Targa Florio. Not to mention national races throughout Europe and SCCA races throughout the U.S. Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Porsche, Triumph all designed very lightweight, successful competition cars. Abarth, an Italian specialty tuner, modified small-bore GT cars from FIAT and SIMCA all with great success. These under-2-liter GT cars filled up the racing grids on both sides of the Atlantic and provided some exciting automobile racing.
Today under-2-liter GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events worldwide from the Monterey Historics to the Tour (de France) Auto because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. Due to their technology, great designs, eligibility and low production numbers, legitimate GT competition cars have steadily been increasing in value.
The value today of an under-2-liter GT car is determined by many factors including, the car still having its unique competition features available on a race version which were not available on a production version, the quality of restoration and a good provenance.
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| Abarth – Fiat | 750/850 Zagato | $25,000 | $35,000 | $50,000 |
| 1000 Bialbero | $40,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | |
| 1300/2000 OT | $125,000 | $150,000 | $175,000 | |
| Abarth-Simca | 1300 GT | $75,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
| 2000 GT | $175,000 | $225,000 | $250,000 | |
| AC | Bristol Coupe | $60,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
| Bristol Roadster | $160,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| Alfa-Romeo | Giulietta Sprint/ Spyder/Veloce | $35,000 | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| Giulietta Sprint/Lightweight | $70,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | |
| SVZ | $110,000 | $130,000 | $150,000 | |
| SZ1/ SZ2 | $175,000 | $200,000 | $225,000 | |
| GTZ-1 | $400,000 | $450,000 | $500,000 | |
| GTZ-2 | $1,500,000 | $1,800,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| GTA 1600 Corsa | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
| GTA Junior 1300 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 | |
| Alpine Renault | A110 | $50,000 | $65,000 | $75,000 |
| Arnolt-Bristol | $60,000 | $70,000 | $85,000 | |
| Austin-Healey | Sprite | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| Devin | Porsche | $25,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| Elva | Courier | $20,000 | $35,000 | $45,000 |
| Frazer Nash | LeMans | $350,000 | $375,000 | $400,000 |
| Lancia | Appia Zagato | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| B20 GT | $70,000 | $85,000 | $100,000 | |
| Flaminia Sport Zagato | $60,000 | $80,000 | $90,000 | |
| Lotus | Elite | $35,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 |
| Super 7 S.1/S.2 | $25,000 | $35,000 | $45,000 | |
| 26R | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
| 47 | $80,000 | $90,000 | $110,000 | |
| Maserati | A6G 2000 | $575,000 | $650,000 | $750,000 |
| MG | MGA Twincam | $30,000 | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| MGB | $20,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | |
| Morgan | Plus 4 | $30,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 |
| OSCA | 1600 GT | $150,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 |
| Porsche | 356A Coupe | $40,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 |
| 356A Speedster | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
| 356A/Carrera GT Coupe | $250,000 | $275,000 | $300,000 | |
| 356A/Carrera GT Speedster | $300,000 | $325,000 | $375,000 | |
| Abarth Carrera GTL | $950,000 | $1,100,000 | $1,200,000 | |
| 356B/C Carrera 2 Coupe | $175,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | |
| 356B/C | $35,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | |
| 904GTS | $600,000 | $750,000 | $950,000 | |
| Sunbeam | Alpine | $10,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Triumph | TR2/TR3 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| TR4A IRS | $15,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
Elva Courier
Frank Nichols’ Elva Car Company in Rye, Sussex, was known for its purpose-built single-seater and sports racing cars and yet they took on the task of producing a road-going, race-worthy, easy-to-maintain sports car which Elva felt would be quite sellable to enthusiasts. Frank Nichols and Peter Noit designed a ladder-frame, fiberglass-bodied vehicle. It was a lightweight, attractive, open, two-seater sports car using a 1,500-cc MGA engine and 4-speed gearbox. The first car was seen in early 1958.
Over the years, the power changed to 1,622-cc MGA and 1,800-cc MGB engines. Wheels went from 15-inches to 13-inches and production went up with around 60 people at Elva producing three cars per week. The U.S. importer was Carl Haas in Chicago, Illinois. The cars were very popular in the United States with a young Mark Donohue racing one early in his career. There was indeed a market for this unique car. Elva, which is taken from “elle va” meaning “she goes,” was eventually purchased by Trojan/McLaren. Courier production stopped in the mid-1960s when the McLaren customer racing cars began being built in the facility. The little Courier had about 8 years of success and is still a very popular car today at the historic races.
Lotus 26R
Colin Chapman’s Lotus Cars designed the Elan or Type 26 to replace the very successful Elite. The first Elan was introduced in October of 1962. The competition version was the Series One 26R, a more nimble, lighter and powerful version of the street car. It had a 1,600 Lotus twin-cam, 4-cylinder engine with Weber carburetors mated to a 4-speed gearbox off a rear drive and a limited slip differential. Light-weight, magnesium knock-off wheels and a thin fiberglass body brought the weight to 1,288-lbs making the factory racing Elan typical of Lotus cars and a giant killer, albeit fragile. Fifty-two Series One cars were built. In November of 1964, the first of 45 Series Two cars were built for a total of 97 26Rs. One of the most famous of the cars was the Ian Walker-run, John Whitmore and Jim Clark-driven “Gold Bug.” Today a 26R is still an exciting car to watch at the races, especially on tight circuits.
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 |
