Under 2-Liter Sports Racers – 2021 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.

1971 Chevron B19

Derek Bennett’s Chevron cars of Bolton, England had just won the 2.0 Liter European Sports Racing Car Championship in 1970 with the B16 coupe. Lola had been very competitive with the T210 and their T212 was going to be Chevrons main rival in the 2nd season of the 2.0 Liter Championship in 1971. The B19 was a much improved car over the B16. It was lighter, had larger wheels, a lower center of gravity and was a spyder as well. It was the most popular 2.0 Liter car in 1971 with racing grids seeing  5 or 6 examples at a time. It was a tubular space frame with stressed alloy panels across the center section for rigidity. The engine was the 1.8 Liter Cosworth FVC on Fuel Injection mated to a Hewland FT200 or FGA gearbox. The B19 was light and quick with nimble handling. 35 cars were built. Its debut race was at Oulton Park in March of 1971 with John Bridges and it won. The B19 had success in the endurance races and the 2.0 Liter series which was very competitive with large grids of up and coming stars and veterans behind the wheel of B19s such as Niki Lauda, Chris Craft, Brian Redman, Graham Hill, Mike Hailwood, John Bridges, John Hine, Jody Scheckter and Ed Zwart. One could run a B19 in a sprint race and then the 500km or 1000km event. They could often beat the larger displacement cars. At the Nurburgring Redman lapped the circuit in a B19 in under 8 minutes. Today these fantastic cars are very popular as they have eligibility to race in the Classic Endurance Series on circuits such as Spa, Imola, Le Castellet and Le Mans in the Masters Series at Silverstone and other tracks. In the USA the Chevron B19’s compete at the Legends of Motorsports events and the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. A fantastic car for the money and a thrill to drive.

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.

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.