The under 2-liter Grand Touring (GT) 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. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 1000 Kilometers of the Nürburgring, Spa and Monza, and the Targa Florio. Not to mention national races throughout Europe and SCCA races throughout the U.S. Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Porsche and Triumph all designed very lightweight successful competition cars. Abarth, an Italian specialty tuner, modified small-bore GT cars from Fiat and Simca, all with great success. These under-2-liter GT cars filled up the racing grids on both sides of the Atlantic and provided some exciting automobile racing.
Today under-2-liter GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events worldwide from the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to the Tour (de France) Auto because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. Due to their technology, great designs, eligibility and low production numbers, legitimate GT competition cars have steadily been increasing in value.
The value today of an under-2-liter GT car is determined by many factors including, the car still having its unique competition features available on a race version that were not available on a production version, the quality of restoration and a good provenance.
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| Abarth – Fiat | 750/850 Zagato | $150,000 | $200,000 | $225,000 |
| 1000 Bialbero | $40,000 | $70,000 | $100,000 | |
| Abarth-Simca | 1300 GT | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| 2000 GT | $325,000 | $400,000 | $450,000 | |
| AC | Bristol Coupe | $125,000 | $150,000 | $225,000 |
| Bristol Roadster | $225,000 | $300,000 | $425,000 | |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Sprint/ Spider/Veloce | $75,000 | $100,000 | $135,000 |
| Giulietta Sprint/Lightweight | $200,000 | $275,000 | $350,000 | |
| SVZ | $300,000 | $375,000 | $450,000 | |
| SZ1/ SZ2 | $300,000 | $400,000 | $475,000 | |
| GTZ-1 | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | $1,500,000 | |
| GTZ-2 | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | |
| GTA 1600 Corsa | $250,000 | $375,000 | $450,000 | |
| GTA Junior 1300 | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Alpine Renault | A110 | $75,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Arnolt-Bristol | Bolide | $225,000 | $300,000 | $400,000 |
| Austin-Healey | Sprite | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| Devin | Porsche | $40,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 |
| Elva | Courier | $15,000 | $35,000 | $45,000 |
| Frazer Nash | Le Mans | $675,000 | $825,000 | $900,000 |
| Ginetta | G4/G4R | $40,000 | $75,000 | $125,000 |
| Lancia | Appia Zagato | $50,000 | $80,000 | $150,000 |
| B20 GT | $150,000 | $200,000 | $275,000 | |
| Flaminia Sport Zagato | $150,000 | $275,000 | $350,000 | |
| Lotus | Elite | $75,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 |
| Super 7 S.1/S.2 | $25,000 | $35,000 | $45,000 | |
| 26R | $175,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | |
| 47 | $150,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| Maserati | A6G 2000 | $1,600,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,500,000 |
| MG | MGA Twincam | $30,000 | $65,000 | $95,000 |
| MGB | $10,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 | |
| Morgan | Plus 4 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $125,000 |
| OSCA | 1600 GTZ | $300,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 |
| Porsche | 356A Coupe | $50,000 | $75,000 | $125,000 |
| 356A Speedster | $150,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 | |
| 356A/Carrera GT Coupe | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 | |
| 356A/Carrera GT Speedster | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| 356B Carrera GT | $500,000 | $600,000 | $1,100,000 | |
| Abarth Carrera GTL | $3,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 | |
| 356B/C Carrera 2 GT | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
| 356B/C | $40,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | |
| 904GTS | $1,500,000 | $1,800,000 | $2,000,000 | |
| Sunbeam | Alpine | $25,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 |
| Triumph | TR2/TR3 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| TR4A IRS | $30,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 |
1967 Lotus 47
By 1966, Colin Chapman’s Team Lotus had won the Formula One World Championship and the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Meanwhile Lotus Cars was busy building lightweight sports cars and racing cars for its clients. In 1966, the Type 46 or Renault-powered Europa road car was produced. In true Lotus fashion, its competition-bred sibling, the Type 47 was then quickly developed for racing by Lotus Components with a similar design but many competition improvements learned from the success of Team Lotus. It retained the center, back bone chassis but now used the 1.6-liter Lotus twin-cam engine mated to a Hewland FT200 gearbox. The lightweight uprights of the Formula 2 type 59 were used and wishbone suspension with upper and lower trailing arms and rose joints were adapted. The drive shafts now had inboard rubber doughnuts and outboard universal couplings. Girling brake calipers and discs were used on all four corners. Wheels were magnesium alloy center lock 8 X 13 front and 10 X 13 rear. The bodywork was much lighter and had air ducting for cooling and wheel arches to alloy for the wider wheels and tires. Lotus components formed its own racing team and the Type 47’s first success was at the Boxing Day event at Brands Hatch in 1966 where John Miles won overall. Miles went on to win 8 British events in the 1967 season. John Miles, teamed up with Jackie Oliver, went on to win the class against the might of Porsche at the 1967 Brands Hatch round of the World Championship of Makes. About 55 Type 47 were built. They are an example of the design genius of Lotus and how well a lightweight excellent handling sports car can do overall against all competition. Today they have race eligibility in most historic grids worldwide and are still exciting to watch compete.
1959 Porsche 356A Carrera GT Coupe
The type 356 was the 356th design of the Porsche engineering and design group. It was also Porsche’s first foray into building a production car. Never to loose sight of their desire to give their customers a lightweight sports car for competition, Porsche developed a series of Carrera 356 with mechanical components from their famous competition Spyders. They installed a type 692 1600-cc four-cam, four-cylinder Carrera engine producing 140 bhp, with special exhaust and carburetion, a close ratio transmission with limited slip differential, big 60 mm vented Spyder brakes, steel alloy wheels and an 80-liter long distance fuel tank with outside center-hood fill. The interior was lightened, void of sound deadening, with lightweight aluminum seat shells, and a wooden Nardi steering wheel. The body had aluminum, doors, front and rear lids and a bead around the bottom for rigidity. These cars were produced in very small numbers and are highly desirable today. They are an example of Porsche’s unique engineering skills and competitive philosophy.
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 |
