The over two-liter Grand Touring 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 1972–1981. This included racing in the great endurance races such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, Nürburgring, Spa and Monza 1000km and the Targa Florio. Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and Ford (by backing Carroll Shelby with the Cobra), all designed very lightweight, successful competition cars to compete in the GT category. In the US, these cars raced in the SCCA and the USRRC.
Today GT cars qualify to race in many great historic events such as the Tour (de France) Auto, Tour of Spain and Targa Florio because they are dual-purpose race and street cars. They also qualify for the Le Mans 24 Hour Classic and in the USA the Monterey Historics and all other race events and tours. Due to their technology, great designs, event eligibility and low production numbers, GT cars have steadily been increasing in value.
Additionally, there was also the popular American series for racing “Sedans”, the Trans-Am Championship, which started in 1966 and for the purposes of this guide goes through 1972. This was exciting racing with all of the big American manufacturers involved.
Today, there is a historic Trans-Am group that is always a crowd pleaser. These cars have also proved their worth and have been increasing in value with buyers paying a premium for team cars with history.
| Make | Model | Level III | Level II | Level I |
| AMC Javelin | ‘68-’71 Trans Am Team | $425,000 | $475,000 | $525,000 |
| ‘69-’71 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
| Aston Martin | DB2 | $70,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
| DB4 GT | $500,000 | $550,000 | $625,000 | |
| DB4 GT Zagato | $2,000,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,700,000 | |
| Austin-Healey | 100 M | $40,000 | $50,000 | $65,000 |
| 100 S | $150,000 | $275,000 | $200,000 | |
| 100-6 MM | $45,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 | |
| 3000 | $45,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 | |
| Bizzarrini | 5300 Strada | $350,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 |
| BMW | 3.0CSL | $50,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 |
| 3.5CSL Competition | $250,000 | $300,000 | $400,000 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | ‘67-’71 Trans Am Team Penske | $400,000 | $500,000 | $550,000 |
| ‘66-’70 Trans Am Independent | $125,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| Chevrolet | ‘56-’62 Corvette | $40,000 | $70,000 | $90,000 |
| ‘63-’67 Corvette | $45,000 | $65,000 | $90,000 | |
| ‘68-’72 Corvette | $30,000 | $40,000 | $65,000 | |
| Cobra | 289 Team Comp | $1,800,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,200,000 |
| 289 Ind. Comp | $500,000 | $550,000 | $650,000 | |
| 289 USRRC | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,500,000 | |
| 289 FIA | $2,000,000 | $2,300,000 | $2,500,000 | |
| 289 Daytona Coupe | $5,000,000 | $5,500,000 | $6,000,000 | |
| 427 S/C | $700,000 | $750,000 | $850,000 | |
| Dodge Challenger | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $325,000 | $375,000 | $425,000 |
| ‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $100,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 | |
| Ferrari | 250 GT TDF | $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 250 GT LWB Alloy CA Spyder | $2,200,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,300,000 | |
| 250 GT SWB Alloy CA Spyder | $2,800,000 | $3,400,000 | $3,800,000 | |
| 250 GT SWB Steel Street | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,600,000 | |
| 250 GT SWB Alloy Comp | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | |
| 250 GTO Series I II | $8,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $12,000,000 | |
| 330 LMB | $7,000,000 | $7,500,000 | $8,000,000 | |
| 250/275 LM | $2,500,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | |
| 275 GTB Comp | $1,000,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | |
| 275 GTB-C Comp | $1,400,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,600,000 | |
| 365 GTB4 Comp | $1,250,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,900,000 | |
| Ford Shelby Mustang | Trans-Am ‘66-’68 Team | $175,000 | $225,000 | $275,000 |
| Trans-Am ‘66-’68 Independent | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
| Ford Mustang Boss 302 | Trans-Am ’69-‘72 Team | $425,000 | $500,000 | $575,000 |
| Trans-Am ’69-‘72 Independent | $125,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | |
| Ford | Capri Group 2 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $300,000 |
| Iso Grifo | A3C Corsa | $1,100,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Jaguar | XK120 | $60,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
| XK120 Alloy | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
| XKE Lightweight | $1,400,000 | $1,600,000 | $1,800,000 | |
| Ligier | JS1/JS2 | $50,000 | $65,000 | $80,000 |
| Plymouth Barracuda | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $375,000 | $425,000 | $500,000 |
| ‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $100,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 | |
| Pontiac Firebird | ‘70-’71 Trans Am Team | $275,000 | $350,000 | $425,000 |
| ‘70-’71 Trans Am Independent | $100,000 | $125,000 | $175,000 | |
| Porsche | 911 ST | $275,000 | $325,000 | $375,000 |
| 911 RS 2.7 Touring | $135,000 | $150,000 | $185,000 | |
| 911 RS 2.7 Lightweight | $135,000 | $150,000 | $185,000 | |
| 911 RSR 2.8/3.0 | $400,000 | $475,000 | $550,000 | |
| Shelby | GT350 | $175,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| GT350 R | $400,000 | $500,000 | $550,000 | |
| Sunbeam | Tiger 260/289 | $20,000 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
1971 Ligier JS2
Guy Ligier was French born and was to become known as a sports car and Formula One driver, then car constructor and Formula One team owner, with a motorsports career spanning some 30 years. The Ligier JS2 was a lightweight GT car of which only 150 were built. Versions of the JS2 were used in competition, others strictly as road going sports cars. The sports car was to be a direct competitor to the Ferrari 246 DINO, Porsche 911S, and other successful sports cars of the time. It was first powered by the 2.9-liter, 6-cylinder Maserati engine. However, competition versions were equipped with 3.0-liter Ford V6 and even a 3.0 Ford Cosworth V-8 DFV. This car finished 2nd overall at the 1975 LeMans 24-hours. The road going JS2 was a two-seater, having a unique design with a large glass area and a mid-engine with rear mounted 5-speed gearbox. It had excellent handling and high speed stability. It weighed just under 2,000 lbs and the Maserati engine in SS form produced 220 bhp, giving it a good power to weight ratio.
The Ligier JS2 is one of the last examples of a low production, cleverly designed sports car with a competition brother that was built not by a huge car manufacturer but by an individual race driver, team owner, entrepreneur—Guy Ligier. Today, these cars represent an excellent value in a 1970’s sports car, and with the price of the competition so high, they can only increase in value.
1964 Iso Grifo A3C Corsa
Giotto Bizzarrini was a young engineer who first worked for Alfa Romeo on the Guilletta chassis design. He then moved on to Ferrari to become head engineer, where he was involved with some of Ferrari’s most successful designs, the 250SWB and 250GTO projects. Bizzarrini was part of the Ferrari revolt in which he and eight of Ferrari’s key management, including Cario Chiti and even Phil Hill, left to work elsewhere. Bizzarrini built the 250GT Breadvan with Kamm tail design, was involved with ATS, ASA, and Iso. It was while with Iso that Bizzarrini designed his masterpiece, the Iso-Grifo A3C Corsa, a lightweight, alloy bodied competition car with the latest in technical innovations. The A3C had its alloy body built by Drogo with Bertone badging, with 7000 rivets holding it together. For homologation reasons where 100 cars needed to be built, Bizzarrini wished to have the A3C associated with the Iso Grifo A3L with Bertone body. Only 7 Iso Grifo A3C Corsa competition cars were built, and only 3 exist today. After Bizzarrini’s split with the Iso Rivolta family, ultimately 140 road version Bizzarrini 5300 Strada would be built and solve homolgation requirements.
The Iso Grifo A3C Corsa had its 5-3 liter Chevrolet V-8 engine sitting very low and far back in the chassis for balance and weight distribution. It was sleek and aerodynamic for its day. Stunning to look at with its aggressive stance, the Iso Grifo A3C was raced at the Sebring 12-Hours, LeMans 24-Hours, and even the Goodwood TT. Today, this car represents an example of Bizzarrini’s engineering genius and Italian craftsmanship. It’s also a certain entry and class winner in all of the premier historic racing events worldwide.
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 |
