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, and 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 1000km 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 steadily been 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.
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| AMC Javelin | ‘68-’72 Trans Am Team | $500,000 | $650,000 | $800,000 |
‘69-’71 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Aston Martin | DB2 | $125,000 | $150,000 | $175,000 |
| DB4 GT | $700,000 | $800,000 | $900,000 | |
| DB4 GT Zagato | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | |
| Austin-Healey | 100 M | $100,000 | $120,000 | $135,000 |
| 100 S | $275,000 | $300,000 | $325,000 | |
| 100-6 MM | $45,000 | $60,000 | $70,000 | |
| 3000 | $45,000 | $65,000 | $85,000 | |
| Bizzarrini | 5300 Strada | $450,000 | $500,000 | $650,000 |
| BMW | 3.0CSL | $90,000 | $110,000 | $125,000 |
| 3.5CSL Competition | $400,000 | $450,000 | $550,000 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | ‘67-’71 Trans Am Team Penske | $500,000 | $700,000 | $900,000 |
‘66-’70 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| Chevrolet | ‘56-’62 Corvette | $60,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
| ‘63-’67 Corvette | $60,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | |
| ‘68-’72 Corvette | $50,000 | $70,000 | $95,000 | |
| Cobra | 289 Team Comp | $2,000,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,500,000 |
| 289 Ind. Comp | $800,000 | $900,000 | $1,000,000 | |
| 289 USRRC | $2,000,000 | $2,300,000 | $2,500,000 | |
| 289 FIA | $2,800,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,200,000 | |
| 289 Daytona Coupe | $7,000,000 | $7,500,000 | $8,000,000 | |
| 427 S/C | $1,000,000 | $1,100,000 | $1,200,000 | |
| Dodge Challenger | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $400,000 | $500,000 | $650,000 |
‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Ferrari | 250 GT TDF | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 |
| 250 GT LWB Alloy CA Spyder | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | $4,000,000 | |
| 250 GT SWB Alloy CA Spyder | $3,500,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,500,000 | |
| 250 GT SWB Alloy Comp | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | |
| 250 GTO Series I II | $13,000,000 | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | |
| 330 LMB | $7,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | |
| 250/275 LM | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | $4,000,000 | |
| 275 GTB Comp | $1,500,000 | $1,700,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| 275 GTB-C Comp | $2,000,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,500,000 | |
| 365 GTB4 Comp | $2,000,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,500,000 | |
Ford Shelby Mustang Notch Back | Trans-Am ‘66-’68 Team | $200,000 | $300,000 | $350,000 |
| Trans-Am ‘66-’68 Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $175,000 |
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| Ford Mustang Boss 302 | Trans-Am ’69-‘72 Team | $500,000 | $700,000 | $800,000 |
Trans-Am ’69-‘72 Independent | $150,000 | $200,000 | $225,000 | |
| Ford | Capri Group 2 | $300,000 | $350,000 | $375,000 |
| Iso Grifo | A3C Corsa | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Jaguar | XK120 | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 |
| XK120 Alloy | $150,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| XKE Lightweight | $1,600,000 | $1,800,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| Ligier | JS1 | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 |
| Ligier | JS2 | $400,000 | $450,000 | $500,000 |
| Plymouth Barracuda | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $400,000 | $500,000 | $600,000 |
‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Pontiac Firebird | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $300,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 |
‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Porsche | 911 ST | $325,000 | $375,000 | $425,000 |
| 911 RS 2.7 Touring | $175,000 | $225,000 | $250,000 | |
| 911 RS 2.7 Lightweight | $175,000 | $225,000 | $250,000 | |
| 911 RSR 2.8/3.0 | $500,000 | $575,000 | $650,000 | |
| Shelby | GT350 | $275,000 | $325,000 | $350,000 |
| GT350 R | $600,000 | $700,000 | $850,000 | |
| Sunbeam | Tiger 260/289 | $25,000 | $35,000 | $50,000 |
1955 Austin-Healey 100S
In the 1950s, motor sports was a large part of many automobile manufacturers’ marketing strategies. Donald Healey, former Monte Carlo rally winner and an engineer and designer at Triumph, formed the Healey Motor Company in 1945 and developed the Austin-Healey sports car under license from British Motor Corporation. During the 1950s, Healey first developed the BNI Roadster using the 2,660-cc, 4 cylinder 90 bhp BMC engine and a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive and big Girling drum brakes. Next came the BN2 with 4-speed transmission, still with overdrive. The 100M (M for modified) came next and had a 110 bhp engine with cold air box, stiffer suspension, and front hood louvers for cooling. The ultimate Austin Healy Roadster was the 100S of which only 55 were built. It had a full aluminum body, a 132 bhp engine with alloy cylinder head, a 4-speed transmission; four wheel Dunlop disc brakes and no bumpers or convertible top. This lighter, final evolution of the 100/4 BN2 had great race and rally success. It was called the 100 as it was able to maintain 100 mph and the “S” was for Sebring. This was also the first production-based sports car to have four-wheel disc brakes. The 1955 Austin Healey 100S is a prime example of the engineering design skills and ingenuity of Donald Healey.
1964 Sunbeam Tiger
Sunbeam, an English automobile manufacturer with a racing heritage, had built the original Sunbeam Tiger in 1925. This was a V12, 4-liter racing car which was a world land speed record holder and the first automobile to exceed 150 mph. In 1963, having seen the success of the Shelby Cobra and realizing that their Sunbeam Alpine 4-cylinder was a touring car not a true sports car, importer Rootes American Motors Management asked Carroll Shelby to produce a functional prototype of the Alpine with a Ford V8. This was done, as well as a second Sunbeam V8 prototype built by Ken Miles, a Shelby employee, and talented fabricator. Based on the success of these two prototypes, production of the Sunbeam Tiger Mark I started. This automobile had a Ford 260-cu-in V8, and a 4-speed manual transmission. There was a Mark 1A and a Mark 2 version. The Mark 2 had the 289-cu-in V8. Only 536 Mark 2’s were built from a total production of 7,085 automobiles. The Sunbeam Tiger was another example of the big V8 being used in a small production sports car. Some of these cars saw the race tracks of the day and justified the use of the “Tiger” name once again, as in 1925. This is an exciting car with an English heritage and a Shelby Ford connection.
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.
LEVEL | VALUATION CATEGORIES |
|---|---|
I | The best combination of all criteria. |
II | Satisfies mid-range of criteria. |
III | In need of restoration. Meets only a few points of criteria |
