Pre-war Racecars – 2012 Market & Price Guide (Part 1)

From the very beginning of the automobile, man built cars to compete with a passion for speed and technology. These early 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 Le Mans 24 Hours.

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 One of this pre-war market guide will feature some of these exciting cars, their founders and designers: Bentley Motors with W.O. Bentley, and Alfa Romeo with Nicolo Romeo and Vittorio Jano.

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 worldwide—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. In many cases, this attrition can bring the remaining total down to less than ten good surviving examples of a particular model.

Alfa Romeo RLTF

After the end of World War I, where Alfa Romeo had manufactured for the war effort, owner Nicolo Romeo set about building a new touring car. Prior to the Vittorio Jano era, designer Giuseppe Merosi penned the RL. It was built on a ladder frame with a solid rear axle, drum brakes and front-mounted, in-line 6-cylinder 3.0 liter engine. The coachwork was varied including Castagna and Zagato and it was available in touring and competition form. The RLTF or Targa Florio was a successful competition car having won the famed 1923 Targa Florio race outright. It was lighter than the other RL versions, had a seven main bearing engine and double carburetion. In its final form it had a 3.6-liter engine producing 125 bhp. Drivers were Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari and a young Enzo Ferrari. It was Sivocci who won the 1923 Targa Florio in a red car with the green cloverleaf. That symbol would stay with Alfa Romeo to this day. The RLTF deserves credit for the start of a new era of racing success for Alfa Romeo. It was followed by the 6C and 8C series of Jano-designed cars. Today it is a rare sight to see an RLTF and one to enjoy. An example of the design and engineering excellence that Alfa Romeo was to become well known for and a solid automotive investment.

Bentley Speed Six

W. O. Bentley, founder of Bentley Motors Ltd. near London, was an automotive designer with tremendous technical knowledge and high standards. His cars were extremely well-built, reliable and fast. W.O. had a clear vision for his cars and his company and his standards were seen in the cars’ construction and competition success. With the introduction of the new 6-cylinder engine, a new model was to follow, the Speed Six. The Speed Six had a sturdy ladder frame, was powered by an inline, 6.5-liter engine, mated to a 4-speed gearbox, a solid rear axle, running on large wire wheels with drum brakes. They were available with different coachwork and were magnificent in both touring and race trim. They were built from 1926-1930. Bentley, having won the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race from 1926-1928, had a car in the Speed Six capable of winning again in 1929-1930—a stunning achievement. This added up to a total of 5 Le Mans 24 Hours wins for Bentley in the 1920’s and inspired Ettore Bugatti to remark that W.O. Bentley built the most reliable and fastest trucks in the world. Woolf Barnato, the Bentley Chairman, successful businessman and diamond mining heir, headed the team of Bentley Boys in their adventures. One creative challenge was Woolf Barnato saying that the Speed Six could get him from the French Riviera to London before the deluxe “Le Train Bleu” Mediterranean Express train (with blue railroad cars) could get from the Riviera to Calais. Racing through the night, Barnato arrived first in London before the train arrived in Calais and the “Blue Train Special” legend was born. This is a further example of Bentley’s stunning performance and reliability. A point Barnato wished to make. Bentley is a special marque, and the Speed Six is an icon from a golden age of motorsports, making it a must-own car for the collector of prewar cars.

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.