Pre-war Racecars – 2016 Market & Price Guide (Part 2)

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

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 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, men such as Archibald Frazer Nash of AFN and Sir William Lyons of Jaguar.

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.

1935 Lagonda M45R Rapide / Le Mans

Wilbur Gunn of Lagonda first started manufacturing motorcycles in the early 1900s, but in 1907 the company built its first car, called Lagonda. Lagonda cars first took part in serious competition in 1910. This early racing heritage led to the greatest success for this small, English auto manufacturer with an outright victory at the 1935 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Hindmarsh and Fontes won in the 4.5-liter Rapide. This six-cylinder, 4.5-liter Meadows engine, in a special shorter chassis, was capable of up to 100 mph. Surprisingly, from its humble motorcycle beginnings, Lagonda had broken Alfa Romeo’s four-year win streak at Le Mans. As with many auto manufacturers in the 1930s, Lagonda fell on hard times. In 1935, Alan Good bought Lagonda, narrowly outbidding Rolls-Royce. Soon, W.O. Bentley was hired and became Lagonda’s head engineer. Bentley’s masterpiece was the 4.5-liter V12, launched in 1937, which in tuned form produced 200 bhp. These large, sturdy, elegant, powerful pre-war cars are an example of the design genius of these individuals involved in automobile manufacturing and motor racing. In the post-war era, a road-going version of the Rapide was used in the movie and TV films The Twilight Zone, I Spy and Doctor in Distress.

1933 Maserati 8CM Monoposto

Alfieri Maserati was a designer and engineer with a passion for building winning competition cars. One of the most successful designs to come out of his workshop in Pontevecchio, Bologna, Italy, was the Tipo 8CM Monoposto. This magnificent Grand Prix Maserati was powered by a straight-eight, supercharged engine producing 260 bhp. It was light, weighing 750 kilograms. Tazio Nuvolari drove it to its first international victory in July 1933, at the Belgian Grand Prix. The 8CM chassis was developed over the next six years into the 8CTF, 6C34, and 8CL.  Engine output increased to 350 and ultimately 430 hp, which was good enough to take on the might of Alfa Romeo, Auto Union, and Mercedes, as well as score two victories in the Indianapolis 500.

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.