Estoril Classics is already on track and this year you'll be able to see some priceless cars in competition, which will be a unique opportunity. We've put together a top-10 list of the most valuable cars that will be present at the Autódromo do Estoril.
Ferrari 250 LM - 19 million euros
The Ferrari 250 LM had a troubled start as the Maranello marque wanted to homologate it as a GT, to replace the successful and famous 250 GTO, but the FIA didn't want to hear it, as the mandatory 100 units hadn't been built. In the end, the Italian car was forced to compete in the prototype class, where it had much more technologically advanced rivals, including Enzo Ferrari's own cars.
Even so, the machine with the V12 engine placed in the centre rear position was successful in private hands and, of course, its greatest achievement is the victory in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans achieved by Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory, representing the North America Racing Team (NART).
Its flowing lines and its successes on the track mean that today it is one of the Ferrari of greatest interest among collectors, causing its average price to be 19 million euros, with some specimens going for as much as 25 million.
At Estoril Classics Clive Joy will bring his 250 LM, which won the 1964 12 Hours of Reims and came fourth in the 1965 Luanda Grand Prix, and can be seen racing in The Greatest's Trophy races and observed closely in the paddock.
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta - 10 million euros
In 1959 Ferrari was only twelve years old as a car manufacturer, but the small brand from Maranello was beginning to leave an indelible mark on world motor racing, with four Formula 1 world titles and three triumphs in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In addition, the GTs it produced in its factory were the object of desire for actors and royalty, but they were also ferocious weapons on the track in the hands of experienced and talented drivers, collecting triumphs in the most varied motor racing events of the 1950s.
It was against this backdrop that, in 1959, Ferrari presented its latest iteration of its 250 GT series - the 250 GT Passo Corto (SWB - Short Wheel Base).
From the outset, the Maranello marque had a racing version and a road-going version in its catalogue and the Maranello machine quickly showed its potential, winning its class at the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as triumphs at Monza, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps.
Right from the start, the Maranello marque had a racing version and a road-going version in its catalogue and the Maranello machine quickly showed its potential, winning its class at the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as triumphs at Monza, Brands Hatch and Spa-Francorchamps.
Some names have passed through the ranks of the 250 GT SWB, the most notable being Graham Hill and Stirling Moss, the latter of whom said that the Passo Corto was the best GT ever. Nowadays, the average value of one of these cars is around 10 million euros, but it tends to go up and some of them can exceed this value due to their history.
Christian Dumolin will be taking a Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta to Estoril Classics, entered in The Greatest's Trophy race, providing a unique opportunity for fans to get in touch with this extremely rare car.
Ford GT40 – 5.5 million euros
The Ford GT40 is arguably one of the most iconic cars among Le Mans winners, and its status was reaffirmed with the recent film "Ford v Ferrari" (titled "Le Mans '66" in some European countries).
The American machine came into existence after Enzo Ferrari refused to sell his brand and team to the American automotive industry giant, which aimed to defeat the Maranello marque on its own turf - the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The first attempt to break the dominance of the transalpine cars occurred in 1963. After a few setbacks, in 1966, Ford finally won the race at La Sarthe, monopolizing the podium and commencing a run of four consecutive triumphs.
These results were not a matter of chance; in fact, the Ford GT40 was an extraordinarily advanced car for its time, symbolizing post-war technological progress and the prowess of the United States of America.
Today, it's common to witness one of these impressive machines racing in the world's most important classic events, such as the Estoril Classics, with an average price of more than 5 million euros. However, there are examples that exceed 10 million euros, depending on their racing history.
At Estoril Classics, examples of these impressive cars can be seen in the Iberian Historic Endurance and Classic Endurance Racing. Fans can relive the times that were so well-documented in the film starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
Jaguar D Type - 4 million euros
The technical supremacy of the D-Type over its rivals became unmistakable, resulting in Jaguar's consecutive victories in the next three editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1955, 1956, and 1957. This affirmed their dominant presence.
The extraordinary success of the D-Type ultimately elevated it to a coveted status among collectors and enthusiasts. Presently, it commands a market value of approximately 4 million euros, though select models have fetched notably higher prices. For instance, the 1956 Le Mans-winning car achieved an astonishing 22 million euros.
Olivier Mathai will proudly showcase one of these exceptional D-Type cars at Estoril Classics, participating in The Greatest's Trophy.
Alfa Romeo TZ2 – 3.1 million euros
In the 1960s, Alfa Romeo was a luxury brand with a highly distinguished sporting image, having achieved victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the 1930s and securing the first two Formula 1 World Championships.
During the 1960s, the Arese-based marque, under the umbrella of Autodelta, played a substantial role in low-capacity GT races. This involvement began with the SZ, followed by the TZ1, and in 1964, and TZ2 evolution.
The core concept of the car revolved around minimizing weight and optimizing aerodynamic efficiency. It featured a tubular chassis crafted by Zagato (known as the Tubolare Zagato) and was propelled by a 1570cc in-line four-cylinder engine, producing over 170 bhp.
With its remarkably low weight of 620 kg, it proved to be exceptionally competitive, securing victories in its class at renowned races such as the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 1000 Km Nürburgring, and the Targa Florio.
Due to its rarity, with only twelve units ever produced, and its graceful, well-balanced design, the TZ2 stands as one of the most celebrated Alfa Romeos in history. Today, it commands a price tag of 3.1 million euros, with select TZ2s reaching up to 4 million euros.
At Estoril Classics, two of these exceptional machines will be on display, both competing in The Greatest's Trophy. This fact further enhances the appeal of the event for historic car enthusiasts.
Porsche 910 – 2.5 million euros
In the 1960s, Porsche was still a relatively unknown global brand and primarily focused on low-displacement cars. These were the classes where their prototypes and GT cars competed for victories.
It was in this context that the Porsche 910 entered the world's major endurance races. Under normal circumstances, it couldn't challenge the likes of the Ford GT40 or the Ferrari 330 P4, so it settled for competing for class wins, with the Ferrari Dino 206 as its main rival.
However, the German brand was eager to secure its first overall victory. In the 1967 Nürburgring 1000 Km, they entered six Porsche 908s, banking on their car's dynamic qualities to dominate the demanding German circuit.
The gamble paid off, and despite two retirements due to engine failures, Porsche claimed its first overall victory, sweeping the podium.
The significance of this achievement is reflected in the model, which now holds an estimated value of 2.5 million euros.
Endurance racing enthusiasts and Porsche fans will have the opportunity to see one of these rare machines during Estoril Classics, participating in The Greatest's Trophy.
Maserati MC12 GT1 – 2.5 million euros
At the beginning of the century, Maserati wanted to return to the big stages of GT racing and left nothing to chance.
It took the Ferrari Enzo, the Maranello marque's hypercar at the time, and worked and developed it for competition, creating the Maserati MC12 GT1.
The Modena manufacturer's car was almost a prototype and it was difficult to be accepted as a GT by some of the championships, even being refused by the ACO, which made it impossible for it to ever take part in the 24 Hours Le Mans.
After much negotiation, the MC12 was accepted into the FIA GT, although its aerodynamics and engine were severely restricted, and from then on it completely dominated the championship, winning all the team titles from 2005 to 2009 and the drivers' title from 2006 to 2009. In 2010 it also won the FIA GT1 World Championship, although its performance was even more strangled, proving to be a car that was too advanced for most of its rivals.
The low number of units built and its very rich pedigree led to its market value skyrocketing, and today it is valued at around 2.5 million euros.
One of these impressive Italian machines, prepared by the Vitaphone Racing Team, will be in Estoril Classics.
Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 – 2.2 million euros
Aston Martin has a strong connection to endurance racing, highlighted by its victory in the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans with the DBR1. After a few modest attempts, in 2005, the brand once again introduced a machine that demonstrated long-lasting competitiveness in the GT1 class.
Built upon the road-worthy DB9, equipped with its formidable six-liter V12 engine, the car garnered attention wherever it went. The Gaydon-built machine by Prodrive not only impressed but also proved to be remarkably competitive. It propelled Aston Martin back to the pinnacle of Le Mans in the GT1 category, securing victories in 2007 and 2008.
Furthermore, the DBR9 achieved championship titles in the Le Mans Series and the FIA GT, underscoring its technical excellence. The historical significance for Aston Martin, combined with the prestige of its engine and its sleek yet alluring design, contributed to the rising value of the DBR9, which now stands at 2.2 million euros.
This weekend, three of these iconic cars can be seen at Estoril, competing in the Endurance Racing Legends event.
Maserati T61 Birdcage – 2 million euros
In 1959, the Maserati T61 Birdcage was remarkably advanced for its era, primarily due to its innovative multi-tubular chassis. Constructed from numerous small tubes meticulously welded together to create triangular patterns resembling a birdcage, this distinctive chassis design granted the T61 an exceptional balance between rigidity and weight reduction. Additionally, the car boasted a highly aerodynamic body.
Powered by a three-liter, in-line six-cylinder engine, the T61 demonstrated remarkable competitiveness, reaching extraordinary speeds on the Hunaudières straight at La Sarthe. However, it was plagued by issues related to its reliability.
In the 1960 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of these Maserati cars was leading by more than four minutes ahead of the Ferraris, but it was ultimately hindered by a starter motor problem, thwarting its chances of victory.
Nevertheless, the T61 Birdcage managed to secure victories at the 1000 Km Nürburgring in both 1960 and 1961, underscoring its undeniable performance potential. The key challenge lay in enhancing its reliability to become a consistent contender for triumph in major international endurance races.
With only seventeen units ever produced by Maserati, the T61 stands as a captivating and exotic car. These factors contribute to its status as one of the most coveted models to come out of Modena, propelling its value to 2 million euros, with certain units exceeding three million.
Ferrari 512 BB LM - 2 million euros
In the late 1970s, recognizing the competition potential of the 512 BB, Ferrari developed a racing version of the most high-performance road car in its lineup for its customers. The initial version, closely resembling the production model, failed to meet the expected results. Subsequently, the Maranello marque embarked on an evolution in 1978, collaborating with Pininfarina to refine the aerodynamics.
The outcome was a GT car that, while retaining the same mechanics, including the 5-liter flat-12 cylinder engine, featured a significantly longer and wider body to take full advantage of the regulatory freedoms. This led to a substantial improvement in performance. In 1981, one of these cars achieved a remarkable fifth-place finish overall in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, securing victory in the GTX class and outpacing its fierce rival, the Porsche 935 K3.
Only twenty-five of these rare cars were ever produced, a fact that significantly contributes to their high market value, estimated at around 2 million euros. Their exotic and distinctly characteristic design from the late 1970s and early 1980s further adds to their appeal.
During the Estoril Classics event, one of these exceptionally rare cars will grace the starting grid of Classic Endurance Racing II.
The values provided for the cars are for reference purposes only and may not reflect their true market or actual worth.