The Corvette is known around the world as America's supercar stalking sports car. The Corvette is the longest-running, continually built passenger car in the world. When the first Corvette rolled off the assembly line more than 60 years ago, it became an instant classic. The Chevrolet Corvette is at the top of every auto enthusiast's list of favorite rides, thanks to its distinctive and charming style.

Every now and then, we get the opportunity to appreciate these memorable works of art. So, we’re going to stroll down the history alley and find out more about the Corvette Grand Sport’s heritage.

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Corvette Grand Sport; A Walk Down Memory Lane

68 Corvette Grand Sport side profile
Via: Pinterest

Zora Arkus-Duntov, a well-known figure, was behind the Grand Sport. In 1960, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Corvette's first lead mechanic, along with driver Briggs Cunningham, joined with three nearly stock Corvettes. The cars were equipped with 283 “Fuelie” engines that provided mechanical fuel injection. In the big GT class, the Corvette finished first and eighth overall, surprising the Europeans. Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Porsche joined the Corvette on the podium.

Duntov commissioned and supervised the construction of the original Corvette Grand Sport after its popularity in Europe and similar wins in the United States. Duntov was looking forward to unveiling the prototype at the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans and hoped for success. To meet homologation rules for the GT production class, at least 125 ultra-light, high-powered cars were to be built.

Duntov was not going to let the Grand Sport's engineering and production go to waste. He was successful in obtaining a few Grand Sport prototypes for private racers. The Grand Sport's potential was confirmed by that real-world assessment.

Despite the fact that the Grand Sport name was scrapped in 1963, Duntov continued to pave the way with the development of the C2 Corvette's "big tank" and "big brake" variants. In 1967, he was also in charge of the L88 big block V8's production. Every one of these systems was created from the ground up to offer racers a strategic advantage.

Fast forward nearly two decades, and with the Z51 output handling kit, the Corvette team has pulled a fast one on the market. When installed on the C4 Corvette, it took the car to unimaginable extremes on the road, making it the favorite choice for Corvette buyers. Besides, the kit conquered SCCA competitions to the point that it was banned in 1988, and the Corvette Challenge series was born.

1996 was quite the year. The Corvette Grand Sport special edition debuted long after Duntov had created the concept for such a Corvette. The Grand Sport debuted in the C4 Corvette's final year of production, sporting an Admiral Blue exterior with an Arctic White line and red hash markings on the left-front fender. The Grand Sports' distinctive stance was inspired by the ZR-1's black wheels, which needed extra flare around the fenders. The 330 horsepower LT4 V8 engine was standard on any Grand Sport. There were 1,000 Corvette Grand Sports built in total.

In 1999, the C5.R marks Corvette's return to the world of motorsports. The team won its first of three GTS class victories at Le Mans in 2001, following a spectacular debut. The C5-R was also instrumental in securing four ALMS team and manufacturer titles in a row (2001-04). The C6.R builds on the momentum of the C5.R scheme, winning 39 GT1 races in the ALMS, including 12 consecutive victories from 2005 to 2006 and an impressive 25 consecutive victories from 2007 to 2009.

The Corvette Grand Sport made a comeback in the final years of the C6 Corvette's launch (2010). The Z06's big frame carried over to the Grand Sport, and the C6 Grand Sport's special wheels set it apart from the competition. Despite its late arrival, the C6 Corvette Grand Sport became the most popular model, accounting for half of all C6 Corvette sales.

A new racer was revealed with the introduction of the C7 generation of Corvettes. The C7.R, like its predecessors, has had similar results, claiming the number one spot in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2014).

Three years later, the 2017 C7 Corvette Grand Sport debuts, adding the legendary nameplate to the seventh-generation Corvette. It features track-ready aerodynamics, Z06-inspired body parts, and a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT1 V8 that pays homage to the racing pedigree developed decades ago.

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Six decades later; still standing strong

C7 line Corvette Grand Sport
Via: CorvSport

Countless gallons of ink have been poured, and dozens of trees have been chopped down to share the story of the famous Chevrolet Corvette. Despite the large number of American muscle cars on the market today, there is only one vehicle that is called America's sports car. And it’s yours truly, THE incomparable Corvette. This iconic figure has seen it all. From the overheating race car in the 50s to one of the most accoladed sportscars in history, the Corvette Grand Sport stays true to the core of its foundation; fast and classy.

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