F2 / Atlantic / FB Race Car – 2017 Market & Price Guide

From 1964-1978, a series of flat-bottomed, formula cars were manufactured to serve as a steppingstone to Formula One and the upper echelons of open-wheeled racing. In the late ’50s, F2 and F3 were consolidated into Formula Jr., however with that category’s demise at the end of ’63, F2 was reformed utilizing highly developed 1000-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 U.S., many of the same chassis were being outfitted with Lotus twin-cam engines for what was known as Formula B. By 1972, F2 graduated up to 2-liter displacement, with engines being manufactured by firms such as Cosworth, Hart and BMW. During this same period, Formula Atlantic replaced FB, both in the U.S. and overseas, with similar chassis to the F2 cars but running the 1600-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.

1966 Brabham BT18

For the last year of the 1000-cc Formula Two, Ron Tauranc modified an existing design.  His cars were very attractive, had a tubular chassis and outboard suspension. Although 46 BT18s were built, including Formula Three and B specifications, only six were works Formula Two cars. These F2 cars had slight advantages in frame design, were powered by the four-cylinder 1000-cc Honda engine, and had a Hewland Mark 5, 5-speed gearbox. They were immensely successful, capturing the F2 title for Jack Brabham, the same year he won the F1 title in his BT19. Brabham and his teammate Denny Hulme won 12 of 15 races and finished 1st and 2nd six times. Brabham is the only man to win championships driving cars in F1 and F2 carrying his name.

1971 Lotus 69

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 four of 10 races in 1970, with Fittipaldi winning three European Trophy races in 1971.  The 69 Formula Two car raced in the very competitive 1600-cc F2 series with great success. It is another example of Lotus 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.