Pre-war Racecars – 2012 Market & Price Guide (Part 2)

From the very beginning of the automobile, man built cars to compete with his passion for speed and technology.  These innovators are in an elite club, their place in automotive history guaranteed as the creators of true classic sports cars, genuine thoroughbreds.

The development of the racing sports car can be traced to specific manufacturers who at one time in history dominated motor racing, in particular the world’s most challenging road races, such as the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and endurance contests such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The creation of an automobile that could win in international competition was usually the inspiration of one passionate man, an engineer, a genius who put all of his considerable design and engineering skills toward his goals.

Part Two of this pre-war market guide will feature more of these exciting cars, their founders and designers such as W.O. Bentley of Lagonda and Alfieri Maserati of Maserati.

Today these pre-war masterpieces are highly sought after by the sophisticated collector. They and their current owners are often invited to partake in the most prestigious historic racing venues world wide. The Le Mans 24 Hour Classic, Mille Miglia Storica, Monaco Historique Grand Prix and the Targa Florio to name but a few.

Due to the age of these cars and their racing heritage, their value is determined by their originality and provenance. Old cars built up from parts are not the same as true complete survivors, often bringing the remaining total down to less than 10 good surviving examples of a particular model.

1932 Maserati 4CTR/4CS/4CM 1100 & 1500

Alfieri Maserati founded his company in a small workshop in Pontevecchio, Bologna, Italy, in the early 1920s. Although the Maserati Company first manufactured spark plugs, Alfieri, a designer, engineer and racing driver, had a passion for building winning racecars and racing them in the Targa Florio. By the early 1930s the Maserati brothers had created the 8CM Monoposto that won Grands Prix and took two Indy 500 wins. At the same time, Maserati was designing and building cars for the smaller Voiturette class of 4- and 6-cylinder cars that enjoyed success racing as monoposto or two-place cars with 1.1 to 1.5-liter supercharged engines.

The Tipo 4CTR or 4CS and 4CM were produced from 1931 to 1936, the 4CTR referred to cilindi testa riportata, the engine’s detachable cylinder head design. Inline fours with two overhead cams and two valves per cylinder (induction by Roots supercharger via Weber carburetors), they produced 90 to 115 bhp.

These cars were continually developed during their five-year lifespan with cylinder head modification, reduced weight and a longer wheelbase for the 4CS 1500. They were stunning looking with aluminum coachwork from a variety of coachbuilders, and remain fine examples of the Maserati brothers’ genius.

1939 Lagonda V12 Rapide

Wilbur Gunn established the Lagonda company in Staines, England, in the early 1900s to build motorcycles. In 1907 Lagonda built its first car, the 6-cylinder Torpedo that entered and won the Moscow to St. Petersburg trial of 1910.  Though Gunn passed away in 1920, his company continued on under new leadership. In 1935 the Lagonda M45 Rapide with 6-cylinder Meadows engine won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The financial assistance of Alan P. Good then saved Lagonda from receivership. Good lured W.O. Bentley away from Rolls-Royce to be technical director of Lagonda, tasked with creating “The Best Car in the World.” The competition success, along with Good’s changes, were the ingredients for one of the greatest cars of the prewar era, the Lagonda V12 Rapide. W.O. designed a new 4.5-liter V12 engine producing up to 200 bhp in its final form, with enough torque to pull from 7 to 105 mph in top gear.  The bodies were designed to sit lower on the sturdy chassis. The LG6 Rapide benefited from many Bentley competition tweaks, including a torsion bar front suspension and hydraulic brakes.

In 1939 two special bodied and engined V12 Lagondas finished 1st and 2nd in Class, 3rd and 4th overall at Le Mans. This tremendous success was followed by a Lagonda V12 emerging victorious from a 500-mile race at Brooklands, beating the Bentley-entered cars and maintaining speeds over 100 mph. At the time, the Lagonda V12 Rapide was one of the most expensive cars built and one of the greatest performers. Many considered the V12 Rapide W.O.’s masterpiece. Today, these powerful cars are eligible for challenging events such as the Le Mans Classic, rallies and other re-enactments, while the stunning factory coachwork of the Rapide will delight at any concours event. They are an example of the passion and design genius of W.O. Bentley; while the low-production, high-quality build of Lagonda cars represent a glorious era and are a solid investment.

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.