A History of the Corvette Grand Sport
A History of the Corvette Grand Sport
More than a badge or limited edition car, the Corvette Grand Sport has a serious racing history.
Not long after the Corvette got its first V-8 engine, it went racing. Promoted to director of high performance vehicles at Chevrolet, Zora Arkus-Duntov led the development of the Corvette Super Sport (SS). In its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring, it set a lap record before retiring with mechanical problems. Arkus-Duntov set his sights on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it was not to be. Later that year, GM, along with Ford and Chrysler, signed the Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (AMA) ban on racing. Chevrolet halted its factory-supported racing program and shelved the Corvette SS.
While the AMA ban halted Chevrolet’s official racing program, it did not stop the Corvette from racing. In 1960 Briggs Cunningham entered three “stock” Corvettes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Cunningham and his team modified the cars with larger brakes and fuel tanks. But while Cunningham owned the team, the Corvettes had Arkus-Duntov’s fingerprints all over them. Powered by the fuel-injected Chevrolet small block V-8, the Corvettes were more than competitive against European factory teams. The number three car driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman won the large-displacement GT class. It also finished eighth overall in the midst of six Ferraris, two Aston Martins, and a Porsche.
When Chevrolet launched the Corvette Sting Ray in 1963, it included a new chassis with independent rear suspension improved handling and weight distribution. The small-block 283 V-8 increased to 327 cubic inches and the Z06 package debuted. Starting with a 4 speed manual transmission and posi-traction rear end, the Z06 included a heavy duty suspension and brakes. But the real meat of the packages was the 360 hp fuel-injected V-8 and 36 gallon fuel tank. It was Chevrolet’s not-so-subtle way of saying where the AMA could stick their racing ban.
Eyeing another shot at Le Mans, Arkus-Duntov led the development of the Corvette Grand Sport. Starting with the Z06 package, each Grand Sport included lightweight body work and an aluminum V-8 producing 550 hp. Unfortunately GM management stopped production of the Grand Sport after five cars were built. GM pulled the aluminum V-8s, but the cars still found their way into private hands, many with a special race version of the 427 big block. Raced by people like A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Thompson, the Grand Sport Corvettes proved competitive against the Shelby Cobra. In it’s final outing, Roger Penske won the 1964 Nassau Trophy.
In 1996 Chevrolet dusted off the Grand Sport name for a special run of 1,000 Corvettes. Built for the C4’s final year of production, each car was painted Admiral Blue with a wide white center stripe and red hash marks on the fenders. More than an appearance package, all Grand Sports came with a 330 hp version of the LT4 V-8, and flared fenders for blacked out versions of the ZR-1’s wheels.
Chevrolet revived the Grand Sport name again in 2010 as a special package. The C6 Grand Sport replaced the Z51 suspension and brakes with equipment from the Z06. It also came with Z06 body work and a hand built version of the LS3 motor. The package proved to be the right combination for most Corvette buyers and became the most popular model. The Grand Sport package returned again as an option on the 2017 C7, using the same formula. Additionally, a special Collector Edition offered Watkins Glen Gray metallic paint and Tension Blue trim along with a unique build sequence number.
Not just a popular options package, the Grand Sport name has deep roots from the early days of Corvette racing. It was Zora Arkus-Duntov’s vision of the ultimate Corvette race car. Built on the experience his team gained with their “unofficial” racing program. Today’s Grand Sports are still a product of Corvette’s racing heritage. And like Corvettes of all eras, they are more than competitive against their European rivals.
Photos: GM Heritage Center
