Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2006 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 Championship of Makes for cars up to 2-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 including Silverstone, Nürburgring, Le Mans, Monza, Daytona, and Sebring. On the right circuit, these nimble cars could often get the better of their larger competitors. Today, these historic cars are highly sought after by collectors, not just for the admiration of their technology, but also to participate in reenactments of these famous racing events. Most historic groups, both in Europe and the U.S., break the categories down into pre-1960, 1960–1965, 1966–1970, and 1971–1978.

Cooper Monaco

By 1960, the Cooper Car Company of Surrey, England was well-known for building successful single-seater and sports racing cars. This included winning the Grand Prix World Championship in 1959 and 1960 with the T51 and T53 Grand Prix cars. These designs were the basis for the “Monaco” sports racing car. It was essentially a widened single-seater, featuring a sturdy tube frame design powered by 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5-liter Coventry Climax engines mated to a Jack Knight modified Citroen-Ersa 4-speed transaxle. Suspension in front was by double wishbones and coil spring damper units, while the rear had a transverse leaf spring with single lower wishbone, until 1961, when coil springs were mounted. These cars were quite successful, driven by the likes of Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori. Today, in the 1960 and older historic race group, they are a front runner.

Lotus 19

Colin Chapman’s Lotus Cars was famous for building lightweight nimble sports racing and single-seater racing cars. Lotus had success with the front-engine 15 sports racing car in 1959 and the rear engine 18 single-seater in 1960. For 1960, Lotus built the 19 a widened 18 with fully independent suspension and disc brakes. Powered by a 2.0 or 2.5 Liter Coventry Climax engine mated to a Lotus 5-speed gearbox. These cars were quite successful, often beating the Cooper Monaco Sports Racing Car. For a while the 19 was nick-named the “Monte Carlo.” Drivers included Stirling Moss, Cliff Allison, Graham Hill and Dan Gurney. It is a pleasure to see these great cars racing today in historic events.

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.