Over 2-Liter Grand Touring Cars – 2005 Market & Price Guide

The over 2-liter Grand Touring 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 1972–1981. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Nürburgring, Spa and Monza 1,000 km and the Targa Florio. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and Ford (by backing Carroll Shelby with the Cobra), all designed very lightweight, successful competition cars to compete in the GT category. In the USA these cars raced in the SCCA and the USRRC.

Today GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events such as the Tour (de France) Auto, Tour of Spain and Targa Florio because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. They also qualify for the Le Mans 24 Hour Classic and, in the USA, the Monterey Historics and all other race events and tours. Due to their technology, great designs, event eligibility and low production numbers, GT cars have been steadily increasing in value.

Additionally, there was also the popular American series for racing “Sedans”, the Trans-Am Championship, which started in 1966 and for the purposes of this guide goes through 1972. This was exciting racing with all of the big American manufacturers involved.

Today, there is a historic Trans-Am group that is always a crowd pleaser. These cars have also proved their worth and have been increasing in value with buyers paying a premium for team cars with history.

1963 Jaguar “Lightweight” E-type

Briggs Cunningham had raced an E-type coupe at Le Mans in 1962 to a 4th place overall, but despite other production E-types being raced that year, Ferrari went on to win the World Manufacturers Championship in the Grand Touring category with its 250 GTO. As a result, Jaguar decided to produce a true lightweight competition GT car based on the E-type. The first project was the 1962 low drag coupe, for it was clear that a coupe was aerodynamically superior to a roadster.

Based on the success of this design, Jaguar engineers produced 12 competition lightweights, which were sold to customers during 1963. Everything was done to lighten these cars. A special lightweight aluminum monocoque, an aluminum body shell and roof were utilized. Magnesium wheels and special brakes were combined with a 3.8-liter engine with special cylinder head and alloy block that produced 340 bhp.

These cars were driven by the likes of Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Roy Salvadori. They were entered in races in England, such as Goodwood, and on the European continent at the Nürburgring and Le Mans. In the USA cars were raced in the Sebring 12 Hours.

Shelby GT 350 “R” Model Mustang

In order to bolster the performance image of the new Mustang, Carroll Shelby was asked by Ford to develop a high-performance version. He chose the Mustang Fastback and created the Shelby GT 350. Of the 562 cars built, 34 were competition models. Street cars had a serial number designation SFM5S001-562 for Shelby Ford Mustang 1965 “S” Street, and the number of the car. Race models were SFM5R, “R” for racing, with chassis numbers 001–002, the two prototypes, and numbers 094–108, 209–213 and 527–540.

These cars were powered by a Ford Hipo K 289 race engine producing 325–350 bhp, and were fitted with an oil cooler, a Borgwarner aluminum T10M 4-speed transmission, a 34-gallon fuel tank with a quick-fill cap, 15 x 7 magnesium wheels, plexiglass side and rear windows, fiberglass front hood and front apron with no bumpers, special seats and a roll bar. This was the first time an American car manufacturer offered a strictly-for-racing competition model, and race it did, winning SCCA B production titles in 1965, ’66 and ’67. Today the GT 350 R model is the ultimate American-built, production-based racecar—it is sought after by collectors and eligible for all historic 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.