Under 2-Liter Sports Racer – 2005 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.

1964 Brabham BT8

Brabham was known primarily for building single-seaters. However, they built very few sport racing cars, though the BT8 was very successful. It was a true giant killer. It had a beautiful fiberglass body over a tubular space frame, powered by a 2-liter Coventry Climax engine mated to a Hewland gearbox. The BT8 was often victorious over racing cars with larger engines because of its excellent handling and power to weight ratio. They were driven by such names as Jack Brabham, Frank Gardner, Denis Hulme and Peter Revson. Victories included the Lavant Cup at Goodwood and the Tourist Trophy. Only 12 examples were built. They are highly sought after today, not just because of its technology and collector appeal but also for it’s user value. A BT8 has race eligibility in most historic venues in the USA and Europe.

1965 Bobsy-Porsche SR3

Jerry Mong of Medina, Ohio, founded the Bobsy Racing Car Company in 1962. He built Super Vee’s and sports racing cars. Chuck Dietrich won a G-modified SCCA championship in a Bobsy sports racer, or SR. The most successful cars—and the most beautiful examples—were the SR3 and SR5 models. They had a space frame with aluminum skins and a beautiful fiberglass body. Two of the nine SR3’s had Porsche power. Other cars ran with twin-cams, and one SR3 even had a Corvair engine. Today it is something special to see an SR3 racing among the Lotus 23’s and Elva Mark 7’s and is a winning combination with a 2-liter Porsche engine and the larger wheel and tire combination it was designed to run.

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.