From 1964 to 1978, a series of flat-bottomed formula cars were manufactured to serve as a steppingstone to Formula One and the upper echelons of open-wheel racing. In the late ’50s, F2 and F3 were consolidated into Formula Junior. However, with that category’s demise at the end of 1963, F2 was reformed, utilizing highly developed 1,000-cc, fuel-injected engines until 1966. From 1967 to 1971, racecars manufactured for F2 were equipped with a more powerful gear-driven Cosworth FVA engine, while in the United States many of the same chassis were being outfitted with Lotus twin-cam engines for what was known as FB. By 1972, F2 graduated to 2-liter displacement, with engines being manufactured by firms such as Cosworth, Hart and BMW. During this same period, Formula Atlantic replaced FB, in both the United States and Canada as well as overseas, with similar chassis to the F2 cars, but running the 1,600-cc Cosworth BDA or BDD engine.
Though various models were sold in both F2 and Atlantic form, the F2 cars today command a much higher value due to their more sophisticated and expensive engines. The value of these F2 variants is also bolstered by the fact that they were usually driven by some of the greatest, current or up-and-coming F1 drivers of the day, names such as Jackie Stewart, Jochen Rindt, Niki Lauda, Emerson Fittipaldi, and the like.
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| Brabham | BT10 | $40,000 | $45,000 | $50,000 |
| BT16 | $40,000 | $45,000 | $55,000 | |
| BT18 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | |
| BT21 | $55,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 | |
| BT23C F2 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $115,000 | |
| BT29 FB | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| BT30 F2 | $90,000 | $110,000 | $125,000 | |
| BT35 FB/FA | $55,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 | |
| BT36 F2 | $90,000 | $110,000 | $125,000 | |
| BT38/BT40 F2 | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| Chevron | B15B | $60,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 |
| B17B | $60,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 | |
| B18 | $55,000 | $65,000 | $75,000 | |
| B20 | $60,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 | |
| B27/B29 FA | $45,000 | $50,000 | $55,000 | |
| B34 FA | $45,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
| B35 F2 | $60,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 | |
| B40 F2/B42 F2 | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| Lola | T60/61/62 | $45,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 |
| T100/102 | $45,000 | $55,000 | $60,000 | |
| T360 FA | $45,000 | $50,000 | $55,000 | |
| T460 FA | $35,000 | $40,000 | $45,000 | |
| Lotus | 32 | $50,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 |
| 41B | $50,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
| 48 F2 | $90,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 | |
| 59B | $55,000 | $65,000 | $75,000 | |
| 69 FB | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| 69 F2 | $90,000 | $110,000 | $125,000 | |
| March | 712 F2 | $85,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
| 722 F2 | $60,000 | $70,000 | $75,000 | |
| 762 F2 | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| 772/782 F2 | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 | |
| 75B/76B | $45,000 | $55,000 | $65,000 | |
| 77B/78B | $55,000 | $60,000 | $65,000 | |
| Martini | MK19/22 F2 | $65,000 | $75,000 | $85,000 |
| McLaren | M4 FB | $70,000 | $80,000 | $90,000 |
| M4 F2 | $90,000 | $100,000 | $115,000 | |
| Merlyn | Mk7/9 | $40,000 | $45,000 | $50,000 |
| Ralt | RT1 Atlantic | $50,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 |
| Surtees | TS10 | $65,000 | $70,000 | $80,000 |
| TS15 | $55,000 | $65,000 | $75,000 |
1969 Brabham BT30 Formula 2
This tube-frame Formula 2 version of the F3 BT28 was designed by the famed Ron Tauranac and featured a 1600-cc Cosworth FVA engine coupled with a Hewland FT200 gearbox. Raced throughout the 1969–1971 F2 seasons, BT30s were campaigned by such notable drivers as Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Jo Bonnier, Piers Courage, Peter Westbury, and Derek Bell who was the championship runner-up in 1970. Brabham cars were known for being sturdy, excellent-handling, successful racing cars. The 1600-cc Formula 2 was an ultra-competitive series then. Today, it is perhaps the best “bang for the buck” in single-seater historic racing.
1971 Lotus 69 Formula 2
The 69 designation was given to a series of four different Lotus Formula cars in 1971. Sold in F2, F3, Formula B/Atlantic, and Formula Ford configurations, the F2 and FB/Atlantic variants featured a Dave Baldwin–designed monocoque construction using either 1600-cc Cosworth FVA (F2) or Lotus Twin-Cam/Cosworth BDA engines (FB/Atlantic). The F3/Formula Ford cars had a square-tube space frame design. Both future Lotus Formula One World Champions, Jochen Rindt and Emerson Fittipaldi, raced 69s in F2 for private entrants. Rindt won 4 of 10 races in 1970, with Fittipaldi winning 3 European Trophy races in 1971. The 69 Formula 2 car raced in the very competitive 1600-cc F2 series with great success. It is yet another example of Lotus Cars’s brilliance in single-seater racecar design.
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 |
