Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2018 Market & Price Guide

Two-liter sports racing 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 1964-1971 and the World Championship of Makes from 1972-1981. There was even a European Championships of Makes for cars up to two liters from 1970-1975. This allowed manufacturers to showcase their design and engineering excellence by producing a limited number of purpose-built racing cars to compete at the world’s greatest racing venues. There was great racing in the under-2.0-liter class. On the right circuit, these nimble cars could often get the best of their larger competitors. A World Champion-ship of Makes with race circuits such as Silverstone, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Monza, Daytona and Sebring resulted in an era of motorsports that may never happen again. Today, these historic cars are highly sought after by collectors, not just for the admiration of their technology, but to also participate in reenactments of these famous racing events.

Make Model Level III Level II Level I
Abarth 1000 SP $150,000.00 $225,000.00 $275,000.00
2000 SP $175,000.00 $200,000.00 $225,000.00
Bobsy SR-3 $40,000.00 $60,000.00 $70,000.00
SR-5 $30,000.00 $40,000.00 $50,000.00
SR-6 $30,000.00 $40,000.00 $50,000.00
Brabham BT5 $80,000.00 $125,000.00 $150,000.00
BT8 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $225,000.00
Chevron B8 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00
B16 $175,000.00 $225,000.00 $275,000.00
B19 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00
B21-23 $125,000.00 $175,000.00 $225,000.00
B31-36 $150,000.00 $225,000.00 $275,000.00
Cooper Bobtail $125,000.00 $150,000.00 $175,000.00
Monaco $175,000.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00
Crusader 1600 $20,000.00 $30,000.00 $40,000.00
Devin MG/VW/Porsche $30,000.00 $50,000.00 $75,000.00
Dolphin America $45,000.00 $55,000.00 $65,000.00
Elva Mk 1 $60,000.00 $80,000.00 $110,000.00
Mk 2, 3, 4 $60,000.00 $80,000.00 $110,000.00
Mk 5 $50,000.00 $75,000.00 $100,000.00
Mk 6 $40,000.00 $60,000.00 $70,000.00
Mk 7 $75,000.00 $100,000.00 $135,000.00
Mk 8 $125,000.00 $175,000.00 $200,000.00
Ferrari 500 TRC $6,000,000.00 $6,500,000.00 $7,000,000.00
GRD-Ford S72 $125,000.00 $150,000.00 $175,000.00
Le Grand Mk 4 $40,000.00 $60,000.00 $75,000.00
Lola Mk 1 $125,000.00 $175,000.00 $200,000.00
T-210/212 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00
T-290 $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $250,000.00
T-292, 294, 296/298 $150,000.00 $225,000.00 $275,000.00
Lotus Mk 9 $90,000.00 $120,000.00 $140,000.00
Mk 11 $75,000.00 $125,000.00 $150,000.00
Mk 15 $275,000.00 $350,000.00 $400,000.00
Mk 17 $90,000.00 $110,000.00 $125,000.00
Mk 19 2.0 Climax $175,000.00 $225,000.00 $275,000.00
23/23B $60,000.00 $100,000.00 $135,000.00
Martin BM8 $100,000.00 $125,000.00 $175,000.00
Maserati 150S $2,000,000.00 $3,000,000.00 $3,500,000.00
200S $2,500,000.00 $3,500,000.00 $4,000,000.00
A6GCS $2,000,000.00 $2,500,000.00 $3,500,000.00
Merlyn Mk 6 $60,000.00 $90,000.00 $115,000.00
OSCA MT4 $1,200,000.00 $1,500,000.00 $1,800,000.00
1500TN $1,300,000.00 $1,700,000.00 $2,000,000.00
2000S $1,400,000.00 $1,800,000.00 $2,200,000.00
Osella PA3 $125,000.00 $175,000.00 $225,000.00
Porsche 550 $2,500,000.00 $3,000,000.00 $4,000,000.00
550 A $2,750,000.00 $3,500,000.00 $4,000,000.00
RSK $3,000,000.00 $5,000,000.00 $6,500,000.00
RS 60/61 $3,000,000.00 $5,500,000.00 $6,500,000.00
Royale RP4 $65,000.00 $80,000.00 $100,000.00
TOJ BMW $150,000.00 $200,000.00 $225,000.00

1957 Ferrari 500 TRC

Photo: Pete Austin
Photo: Pete Austin

The 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC was the next model following the 500 TR. It has a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine and is known as the last 4-cylinder Ferrari sports racer. Pinin Farina designed the body of the 500 TRC to comply with the new C section regulations set out by the FIA. The regulations affected the bodywork of the car and called for a passenger door, a hood and larger windshields set to be 100-cm wide and 15-cm high. The Testa Rosa was named for its red cylinder head. The car was built by Scaglietti and featured a sleeker and lower alloy body compared to the previous 500 TR model. The 500 TRC triumphed in various races and won its class at the 12 hours of Sebring in 1957, 24 hours of Le Mans in 1957, and Targa Floria in 1958. Gino Munaron drove the 500 TRC and also won his class at Mille Miglia in 1957. Only 20 500 TRC models were produced in total. In 1958, less than a year after the initial production, the 500 TRC was replaced by the V12-engined 250 TR. Despite the short production life, the 500 TRC is considered to be one of the most impressive cars of its time. Today, the car is eligible for the Le Mans Classic and the Mille Miglia retrospective. The fine engineering and aesthetic is still admired today by the historic racing community and classic car enthusiasts.

1953 Maserati A6GCS

During the 1930s, the Maserati brothers Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore and Ernesto were known for building some of the best racing cars in the world, which were able to compete against the might of Mercedes, Auto Union and Alfa Romeo. The 8CTF won the 1939 and 1940 Indianapolis 500s, the only Italian car to do so. After the WWII, the team worked on a new series of cars that included the A6GCS 2-liter sports racing car. The A6GCS was designed to compete in the World Sports Car Championship, a championship with entries from all of the other great manufacturers. A superb team of engineers was put together that included talent from Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Ferrari in the names of Colombo, Massimo and Alfieri. The beautiful alloy body was refined by Fantuzzi. The car had a tubular space frame. The engine was a 2.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder with a twin-camshaft, twin-spark cylinder head that produced 170 bhp. The gearbox was a 4-speed. The A6GCS (Corsa and Sports) had considerable success including winning the 1953 Mille Miglia. Only 52 cars were built. It was one of the last projects the Maserati brothers worked on, as they sold the company to the Orsi family and soon left to form the O.S.C.A. company. Today the A6GCS is eligible for the famed Mille Miglia retrospective, the Le Mans Classic and most historic race venues around the world.


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