Under 2-Liter Grand Touring Cars – 2009 Market & Price Guide

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, and Triumph all designed 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 been steadily increasing in value.

The value today of an under-2-liter GT car is determined by many factors, including the car still having the unique competition features available on a race version that were not available on a production version, the quality of restoration, and a good provenance.

1959 Porsche 356A Carrera GT Coupe

The type 356 was the 356th design of the Porsche engineering and design group. It was also Porsche’s first foray into building a production car. Never to lose sight of their desire to give their customers a lightweight sports car for competition, Porsche developed a series of Carrera 356s, with mechanical components from their famous competition Spyders. They installed a type 692, 1600-cc, four-cam, four-cylinder Carrera engine producing 140 bhp, with special exhaust and carburetion, a close-ratio transmission with limited-slip differential, big 60-mm vented Spyder brakes, steel alloy wheels, and an 80-liter long-distance fuel tank with outside center-hood fill. The interior was lightened, void of sound deadening, with lightweight aluminum seat shells, and a wooden Nardi steering wheel. The body had aluminum doors, front and rear lids, and a bead around the bottom for rigidity. These cars were produced in very small numbers and are highly desirable today. They are an example of Porsche’s unique engineering skills and competitive philosophy.

1964 Porsche 904GTS

Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, was a small, yet exciting, company headed by father Dr. Ferdinand and later son Dr. Ferry Porsche. Porsche AG was known for its unique engineering talents and automotive designs.

Following its success with the 718 series, aluminum-bodied Spyders during the 1950s, the 904GTS was Porsche’s first fiberglass sports car. One hundred were necessary to be built for homologation into the Grand Touring category. It had a steel chassis, to which the fiberglass body was bonded. The engine was a 2.0-liter version of the four-cylinder, four-camshaft type-587 Carrera engine. A new five-speed, type-904 transmission was used. Suspension was fully independent with four-wheel disc brakes. Ten cars were retained by the factory and these cars used the type-771 eight-cylinder engine and the new type-901 six-cylinder engine. The 904 was very popular, so a second series of twenty cars was built with slight improvements.

It should also be noted that the factory built twelve cars with numbers 906-001 to 906-012. These cars used the 904 frame, but with the six-cylinder engine. Also, some were specially constructed Hill Climb Spyders. The 904 was the beginning of a series of lightweight fiberglass cars from Porsche. Today, the 904 is immensely popular, as it is a true dual-purpose sports and racing car eligible for so many 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.