There are few cars that truly define the term "sports car" like Chevrolet's beloved Corvette. For a car to be manufactured consecutively for almost seven decades (that's seventy YEARS!) must mean there is something special about it. One look at any of the breathtaking Corvette iterations, and it's clear why "America's Sports Car" is billed as just that.

The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is a lively example of just what kind of magic can happen when the stars align.

What is it about the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport that makes it so special, anyway?

Not all of Chevy's famed Corvettes are created equal. The 1960s brought with them stunning designs, innovative concepts, and a thirst for victory. Thus, the super rare 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport emerged, like a phoenix from the ashes. The story behind this fiery sports car starts here.

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Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: Born For Racing Rivals

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport On View
via: Flickr

Most car manufacturers have a claim to racing fame, and Chevrolet is definitely not an exception to this rule. Chevrolet is also not an exception to a little friendly (or sometimes, maybe not so friendly) rivalry against its peers. The age-old question "which car company is better, Ford or Chevrolet?" is a conundrum that is almost as old as time (and, in our opinion, a great way to get to know your friends or a potential date). There have been many answers that Chevy has provided to its Ford counterparts: take the Chevrolet El Camino vs. the Ford Ranchero, for example. One of the most epic rivalries, though? Finding out whether the Chevrolet Corvette or the Ford Mustang is the true American icon.

The original intent was to have the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport compete in FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) endurance races, located in France. Zora Arkus-Duntov, Corvette's chief engineer at the time, spearheaded the effort in creating the Corvette Grand Sport in secret. In 1962, Chevrolet was slated to produce 125 models of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport in an attempt to go up against rival racing cars, such as the Shelby Cobra that was in production at the hands of Carroll Shelby. In reality only 5 of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport were ever produced, with rumors of a sixth that has been unconfirmed. Also known as the Lightweight, it shaved one thousand pounds off of Chevrolet’s full production Sting Ray to maximize handling and acceleration for racing.

Once General Motors executives caught wind of the hush hush Corvette Grand Sport project, they immediately halted all production, and thus only five were ever created. Lucky for us automotive enthusiasts, each of the five Corvette Grand Sports survived. The cars were piloted by drivers such as A.J. Foyt, Roger Penske, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand. OnAugust 24th, 1963, Dick Thompson was the first to win a race in the Grand Sport while racing in the 1963 Sports Car Club of America at Watkins Glen in New York state.

Sporting a 377ci engine aluminum engine, this gem of automotive engineering reportedly reached around 550 horsepower, during a time period when the Shelby Cobra was barely reaching 330 to 340 horsepower. How is that for conquering the competition? The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was a light, fast, and attractive car that embodied the style of the early 1960s with an aggressive presence.

The Bold Styling Of The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Black 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
via: Medium

The year? 1963. The events? Chevrolet was beginning to envision what the second generation of Corvettes would entail. The second generation of Corvettes saw small changes, such as a smaller body style than the original generation of this American sports car. The Sting Ray was introduced as a part of the second generation of Chevy Corvettes.

The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport's heavy-duty engine was all-aluminum, with a small block hosting four Weber side-draft carburetors, and a cross-ram intake that ran at 6,400 rpm. The body of this racing beast was made of thin fiberglass, with the inner structure made from aluminum as opposed to the usual steel. The Grand Sport frame was lighter than the production model of the 1963 Corvette by about 94 pounds, but was stiffer.

In terms of styling, the Corvette Grand Sport departed from the Sting Ray in a few key ways. There were different shades of blue and white, and two of the Grand Sports didn't sport a top. While the general look of the Sting Ray could be argued to be more sleek and smooth, the Grand Sport has racing practicality on its mind. The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport has deep cut hood vents, with wider wheels and wider wheel arches to match.

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Where Can You Find A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport?

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Fast 5
Fast & Furious

The pedigree of the Grand Sport was definitely felt, and lives on as one of the most important racing cars in history because of its innovation, lightweight, and powerful performance. Today, the five cars are privately held, and each chassis accounted for.

The five 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports: where are they now?

Chassis #001 is owned by Harry Yeaggy, who purchased the car in 2002 for a reported $4.2 million.

Chassis #002 is being kept in Philadelphia, at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum where it sits completely original, in running condition, and has been unrestored.

1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT REPLICA
via: Mecum

Chassis #003 was purchased in 2004 by private collector Larry Bowman, but the amount that it was purchased for is unknown.

Chassis #004 has been preserved in Naples, Florida by the Revs Institute.

Chassis #005 is owned by former Corvette engineer Bill Tower in a private collection.

Car movie buffs may also recognize the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport from Fast Five, one of the installments in the Fast and Furious franchise. That particular "Cobra Killer" was, in fact, a kit car, that was auctioned off in 2021 to the tune of approximately $100,000.

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The Corvette Grand Sport's Lasting Legacy

Corvette Grand Sport - Front Quarter
TheLingenfelterCollection

Carroll Shelby has been noted as saying that had General Motors not pulled the production of the Grand Sport, they would have been “outgunned.” Ultimately the car's full potential was never realized, and short-lived production of the Corvette Grand Sports saw it move into collectors' hands.

History would be written much differently had the Cobra slayer been allowed to move forward as planned. Its limited use lands this car squarely in the archives of what racing cars could be when engineering, passion, and competition intersect.