4 Fierce Le Mans-Inspired Classics

Le Mans is this weekend, and we were trying to figure out the best way to get a classic Le Mans experience…from a classic car. Sure, you could buy an ex-Le Mans car, but race cars aren’t very practical for day-to-day use—we’d prefer something for enjoying during the weekend.

Presented with its Le Mans counterpart, here are four classics that carry the spirit of Circuit de la Sarthe with them. 

The car: 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupé 
Price: £120,000
Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Seller’s Info:Click here

Fitted with “Nardi modifications”, this B20 GT is surely faster than most, and represents one of the best GT cars of its era. Stylish, fast, and discreet, this example was the recipient of a recent restoration and mechanical sorting, and looks like a fun way to enjoy your local backroads.

The car: 1975 Ligier JS2
Price: $161 237
Location: Inquire
Seller’s Info:Click here

At a fraction of the cost of its more exotic and German counterparts, the mid-engined, rear-drive Ligier JS2 is a rare and often undervalued sports car that was adapted for racing. With more success in open road races like Tour de France Automobile, the JS2 did still compete at Le Mans, albeit highly modified and fitted with a Cosworth DFV V8 engine.

This road version is fitted with its standard Maserati V6—think of it as a baby DeTomaso Pantera that was designed to shame Porsche 911s and you wouldn’t be far off.

At a fraction of the cost of its more exotic and German counterparts, the mid-engined, rear-drive Ligier JS2 is a rare and often undervalued sports car that was adapted for racing. With more success in open road races like Tour de France Automobile, the JS2 did still compete at Le Mans, albeit highly modified and fitted with a Cosworth DFV V8 engine.

This road version is fitted with its standard Maserati V6—think of it as a baby DeTomaso Pantera that was designed to shame Porsche 911s and you wouldn’t be far off.

Now, one of the actual Le Mans-run Stutz Blackhawk Supercharged cars is in the Simeone Museum, but that’s not to say you can’t have a fully race-prepped example of your own. Stutz is one of the few American carmakers to have bothered with Le Mans, and they very nearly won ahead of the “Flying Bentleys”. That said, in period the cars were fast but fragile; today, we recommend at least trying out a pre-war sports car—it’s one of the few ways to always look like a hero while behind the wheel.

If you know of a great, stylish car for sale and would like us to feature it, please let us know!

Petrolicious makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information contained in the car’s original listing, nor will it be held responsible for any errors in said information. If you’re interested in any of these cars, do your homework and research extensively before you buy.

Image Sources: 24h-lemans.com, extravaganzi.com, velocetoday.com, simeonemuseum.org