1963 Grand Sport is 2020 C2 Corvette of the Year ‘Track Use’ Winner!

Corvette Forum member ‘Jagamajajaran’ owns a one-of-a-kind replica that every Corvette enthusiast will envy.

The legendary story of the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport is well known among enthusiasts. Zora Arkus-Duntov‘s secret project produced just five examples of the ultimate C2 before being shut down, and only three ultimately survived. Naturally, replica models have sprung up to fill in the gap. And what may be the best among the hallowed group is our featured Corvette.

Corvette Forum selected four categories for 2020 C2 Corvette of the Year. This specific contest focused on track ready models. We’re excited to announce Jeremy Welborn, better known in the FTE forums as “Jagamajajaran” as the “Prepared Primarily for Track Use” winner! Welborn’s 1963 Grand Sport replica received 38 votes, or just over 37% of total votes cast in what was an extremely close contest.

Welborn had this to say about his 1963 Grand Sport replica:

1963 Grand Sport Continuation Series #008 complete with a NOS L88 under the hood
Photograph of myself driving Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager, Kai Spande, around the track at the NCM’s Motosports Park…he was all smiles and even more so when I let him drive it around the track!

Ready for more? This amazing piece of machinery has no equal. Welborn detailed exactly what went into this replica on his post about his purchasing experience:

Here are some of the key specs followed by my ride along video and photos. Enjoy!

– Built to GS #001, 1966 Sebring standards as raced Dr. Dick Guldstrand and Dick Thompson
– Full tubular frame as original with integrated roll bar
– L-88 NOS original 427/560 HP motor
– Muncie M-21 4 speed trans
– DANA 44 Positraction 3:73 ratio
– Special ZR-1 aluminum A-Arm suspension with coil over shocks
– Rack and Pinion Steering
– Aluminum radiator
– PS Engineering Halibrand pin-drive knock-offs, 8” front, 10” rear with GOODYEAR EAGLE GT-2 radials
– Stainless steel gas tank
– Custom fabricated cowl induction hood (as original)
– Original Grand Sport gauges type w/200 mph speedometer
– Custom headers with side-mounted pipes

And the show’s not over. Before he purchased the 1963 Grand Sport, Welborn customized his 2017 C7 GS to look just like the original Roger Penske model. Corvette Forum’s own Derek Shiekhicovered Welborn’s amazing C7 and called it “Part C2, Part C7, But Completely Cool.” We’re confident that anyone reading this post will agree. In addition to his C2 and C7 Grand Sport models, Welborn previously owned at least one of every generation of Corvette. And he’s extensively covered the C8 for Corvette Forum, which has earned him the titles of Correspondent and Tech Contributor. In fact, he’s been a member of the community since 2006, and won C7 of the Year for 2015.

Welborn achieved Master Ambassador status for the National Corvette Museum in 2016. Cross country trips are his forte, with his C7 GS serving as his partner in crime on those adventures.

Welborn exemplifies the best of us. Arkus-Duntov would be proud. We certainly look forward to hearing about his future exploits and have no doubt they’ll be just as thrilling as his past accomplishments.

Photos: Corvette Forum/Jagamajajaran

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