Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2007 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.

1955 Maserati 150S

Maserati was building successful single-seater Grand Prix cars in the 1930s. Even though the Maserati brothers left to form the Osca Car Company, successful designs continued after WWII with the A6GCS and the 150S. The 150S was the first all- enveloping 4-cylinder sports racing car. It had a beautiful Fantuzzi body design, made in aluminum, a tubular frame, with a front-engine, rear-drive configuration. The engine was a 4-cylinder, overhead cam, twin spark, twin ignition, with 1,500-cc displacement, producing around 150 bhp. The 150S had its first win driven by Jean Behra at the Nürburgring 500-km race in 1955. About 25 cars were built. Later, the 150S was followed by the 200S, 250S, 300S, etc. The 150S is a great example of Maserati’s design and engineering excellence and fantastic Italian-build quality. It is always a pleasure to see these great cars racing today in historic events worldwide. They have all the markings of a winning racecar and an appreciating investment.

1965 Elva Mark 8 BMW

Frank Nichols founded the Elva Car Company in Rye, Sussex, England, in the early 1950s. Elva was well respected for building a series of sturdy, competitive, good-handling sports and single-seater racing cars. By 1964, Elva had won their share of races. The last sports racing car built by Elva was the 1965 Mark 8 BMW. It was larger in all respects than the Mark 7. The Mark 8 had a sturdy tube frame, inboard-front-rocker-arm suspension and larger wheels. Frank Nichols had a working relationship with Porsche, which supplied engines for the 19 examples of the Mark 7S Elva-Porsche, but started an engine arrangement with BMW for the 10 Mark 7S Elva BMWs that were built. This relationship with BMW carried over to the Mark 8. The Mark 8 was designed to use the BMW 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine and the larger and stronger Hewland HD5 gearbox. About 10 Mark 8 examples were built and 9 Mark 8S examples. During this same period, Elva was purchased by Trojan/McLaren cars. Elva would eventually become the factory where McLaren customer cars were built, starting with the McLaren–Elva. Today, the Mark 8s are highly sought after because they are front runners in the 1961-1965 sports racing category both in Europe and the USA.

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.