The story of the Corvette Grand Sport
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2024
- Lyle at C&S Corvettes tells the story and history of the Corvette Grand Sport.
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Video footage found in this video by "Real Life".
Real Life channel on RUclips - • 1963 International Bah...
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Great story. Now I can speak to the history of the car when I get my Grand Sport.
Lyle, thanks for the background of one of Chevy's greatest might-have-beens. I finally realized my dream of buying a Grand Sport; 2011 in Supesonic Blue. I love my GS. Having worked in my dad's bodyshop and actually working on GS 001; yes, I worked on the very first Grand Sport Corvette in 1979 as we restored the body for the owners at the time. They wanted it in red, as opposed to one of the blues it had been painted previously. The car has now been restored to its 1966 Sebring Sunoco blue and yellow livery. This car has an aluminum 377 in it now but for Sebring, it ran a 427. Yes, they were available in 1966, although as an iron block/iron head motor. The thought was that the iron motor would be more durable than an all aluminum one. I have read the 377s produced anywhere from 450 to 600 hp, believable to me would be around 500 or a little less. My 377 (6.2) has 435 at the wheels and it makes me happy.
From Broward county, I drove west this weekend to Naples to checkout #004 at the Revs Institute. She is a beauty for sure. I sat there and just starred at it for 20 minutes. Very nice Museum. I had no idea this existed. As good as the Petersen Museum in LA. Any automobile fan in Florida needs to visit this museum. Thanks for the recommendation.
Nice 15 minute summary, good research. Only two mistakes on facts 1) The aluminum 337 with cross ram webbers produced at most 450 HP. The L88 427 only came out in '67 with roughly 560 hp. The L88 came too late for the GS campaign for privateers. 2) Bill Tower owns serial # 005, The Most coveted GS as it has the Lightest Body coming in less than 2000 LBS. A video interview of Bill is available on youtube showing off his GS and pointing out details of the build. Final comment: the 3 GS that went to Nassau was Pelham Blue Metallic from Cadillac pallet.
This has been a nice addition to the channel. I'd like to see more history videos like this.
Agreed.
I wonder if Lyle could make a video about the ZR1 and Z06 naming history?
Thanks for the GS orientation. I'm a Grand Sport owner of 3yr. C6/2010.
This Corvette is a new realm of driving and it's "GREAT" 😊
Loved hearing this mini-history lesson. Great job of condensing PAGES of info to one conscise RUclips video! I learned quite a few things.
Thanks for the video I have a 2019 GS now and have had a 1966 427 Coupe I also have a 1978 with a Zora Arkus-Duntov steering wheel. Thanks again nosale 🙏🏾
Always look forward to a Friday evening with Lyle!
Totally enjoyed can say enough.
Thank you for the history lesson, learned a few things I did not know.
Lyle, great story, as mentioned below car #002 is at the Simeone Museum in Philadelphia and is in original, unrestored condition. What is even better is this museum will actually run all of their cars hard in their huge parking lot. I have video of George Wintersteen actually driving this Grand Sport and drifting it around the parking lot!! At one recent events retired GM Engineer, Ed Wilburn was on site to watch the driving and was "just one of the guys" geeking out as we all watched together this piece of Corvette history flying around the lot. Keep up the great videos.
Nice history lesson Lyle
I really like all your videos and information Lyle!! Thank you for all that you contribute to us Corvette freaks!☺️👍
I have a 2012 Grand Sport, Love it !!!
Same! Carlisle blue convertible, love that car!
Thank you. I just bought the C7 Grand Sport Admiral Blue heritage package.
Chassis #002 Wintersteen’s roadster is in the Simeone Museum in Philadelphia,PA.
Great historical video on Corvette history. Many Corvette enthusiasts are unaware of the beginning of the legendary Corvette racing heritage. Thank you for a very informative video.
thank you
Love Grand Sports.
I have a 2019 Grand Sport. Such a solid car!
Interesting story sir.
I'm shocked that GM brass stuck to this ban. I guess they didn't know about win on Sunday and sell on Monday at that time.
More history videos please!
Love this channel!
Thanks!
Real interesting!
Lyle, that was a VERY thorough history lesson on the GS's. I thought I had a handle on the story but learned many things from your video. Well done as always! Keep up the great work as you and everyone involved can be very proud of your content and contributions to the Corvette community 👍
Lyle I love what you do for all Corvettes!
That was outstanding, thanks Lyle ! I learned a ton
Awesome video Mr. Kyle!!!!
Oh man great video ! Thanks Lyle for the history of this iconic Corvette. Enjoyed it.
The video was great. Very informative. I have been to the Rev's Institute and there are so many iconic and vintage cars. I loved seeing that Grand Sport, was a mean looking machine. I have a 2013 GS and it is so much fun to drive.Thanks for the history lesson Lyle
Great program Lyle----I remember this era well------owned a '59, purchased after leaving the military and was fascinated by the '63 Grand Sport. Had high hopes that it would become a production model, unfortunately Chevrolet was too timid and involved in the likes of the Corvair. Duntov, racing genius that he was, did his best, but to no avail. TD
Great bit of history. Thank you for the research and compiling the information into a well told story. - a subscriber
Very interesting i have a 2012 grand sport ❤
Another fun episode! When I frist saw the wide body C6 Vettes, I really like them. When the Grand Sport hit the market, I thought it was the right mix for me: Wide body, standard engine. But I didn’t care for the fender marks. I learned of the hash mark lore … and still didn’t care for them. Then I saw a Crystal Red C6 GS with silver hash marks, and for some reason, I liked the hash marks from then on. I now have a Blade Silver C7 GS with striking red hash marks, and I really love ‘em. Lyle’s history lesson added a few more details to what I’d learned before. Thanks for the expanded history lesson!
This video and history lesson was well worth the wait. Thank you Lyle.
I truly enjoyed that bit of history
Love my 2017 GS with manual transmission! Thanks for the info and history 👍
Great video!!! Kyle...
I have read numerous articles on these cars along with a few pictures. The video 📹 posted by you gave me great insight to how they were doing these races. The back ground info you were telling about just makes this video stand out for me.
Have loved mid year corvettes sence given a ride in Jerry's 65 roadster... I was about 12 or 13 at that time, so you can imagine how excited I was !!!! At 21 I bought my first 73 and have now at 68 I have managed to possess 5 cars.
In Texas traded 73 for a 79 it had ac and no power, but it was cool to ride in. Traded it for another 73 that was a L-82 ,350/4 spend, this was some time later in 94. Then later on in 2002 my wife let me buy a 66 mid year that I wouldn't quit talking about. Spent several years totally restoring it. Then had to build a garage to put them in.
As time went on I survived a health issue, heart attack and then open heart surgery in 2015.
By now my son Andrew had graduated college. My wife was worried about me and I was too. Well, as always when she was talking to me its about corvettes, and it would sure be nice to have a new one that I, I mean we can drive on vacation somewhere. Soo after doing a lot of searching for just the right ✅ corvette, I came across a 2013 Grand Sport coup in Texas. 1 owner car, still had some warranty on it, because it wasn't licensed till late in 2014.
My 60th birthday present was my wife telling me to call and ask about the car... Well... it is a Night 🌙 Race Blue, 3LT auto/with paddle shift, camle tan interior, LS3 motor... 18000 some miles, I made the call on my birthday and had it shipped to me by carrier in a weeks time.
Now I am a 3 corvette owner. Can't say enough good things about this car. I have 50000 plus miles on it, 27 mpg on the interstates at 80mph.
Well now that I have retired in 2018. My Next health issue arises, I was diagnosed with cancer 😢... treatment and recovery for me were real iffie for a while .... Well as I was in an out of cancer treatment . I was still dreaming of owning a brand new Corvette... at the time wasn't sure what the new C8 was going to look like. Me and my corvette buddies have all ways gone to Carlisle for the Corvette show. My wife decided to go with us guys that year.
Well ,we both loved the C7 body style and up on seeing the C7 long Beach red with crome wheels .... well, my Wife fell in love with it.... Back home I, sorry, I mean we went to see my corvette buddy Rick at the Chevrolet dealership. Rick got on the GM website, turned the computer 🖥 so my wife and I could see it, then went down the list, not leaving any items un checked. We were in suspension for 2 weeks not knowing if GM would pick up the order to build the car, finally got a confirmation from the corvette plat that my dream corvette was going to become a reality for me !!
I am now driving 🚗 my car and a slight tap on the gas pedal....You better be holding on!!!
Through Faith and Prayers to God above I have been able to regain my health and enjoy life awhile longer.
Too much spare time around the house.... wife says that I needed something to do, Well, that being said, I was off looking for another project, and guess what David an I found... was telling him of a car I once knew of several counties away setting in a barn shed during my working career.
To our surprise at the end of the lane setting under the barn shed as I was telling him sat a 64 hard top corvette.... only pictures can describe how it looked.... of which I took several. Took me a month to chase the owner down and get the car bought.
While at the Corvette show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Kyle I met your friend and coheart Steve, at C&S corvette out in the swap meet area. Bought several pieces from him for my old 64.
Told him that I was going to pass on the good word about the video you send out. Was telling Steve that me and several of my car buddies all have mid years and enjoy videos of them.
Thanks Much, keep videos coming... will try to get you some pictures when I get it on the road...
Michael Stitt
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Michael, thank you for sharing your story with us! I'm so happy that you have been able to overcome the health issues that have affected you and are still able to enjoy your Corvettes! Let us know how we can help! Lyle :)
Thanks Lyle
What a great episode !
I’m a member of the corvette club of Ontario
And will try to get this played at our next meeting
Cheers
I read about the GS history in Nasau in one of my Vette books 15-20 years ago. If I remember by late 60's racing there had ceased. Vettes and Cobras pounding the track would have been the days! I was born 20 years late, lol.
Hey bud great video is always very informative is it possible for upcoming videos could you break down why they made the 04 commemorative edition ?
Super intresting video! Thnaks Lyle!!
I’m looking for a Grand Sport right now. Found a 2012 Centennial Edge Grand Sport.
I found mine. 3 years ago 2010 GS. It's the greatest thing ever.
Meant Centennial Edition.
@@davidarmitage9041 That one is high and hard to find. I don't do dark cars ,so found a white 60th anniv. car with silver stripe GS.
Thank you!
Great info!!
…. and don’t forget folks, 14:08 14:08 the stripes added to the 2012 commorative edition grand sport production corvettes.
Great video, thanks for all the amazing info. 😊
Amazing. Thank you
Well done, great video
Kool info
The audio editing left some to be desired, but the historical story content was fantastic! Thanks Lyle, keep up the good work!
Indeed. Noone needs the music.
Lyle, your information on the history of the Grand Sport was fascinating, but I fail to see how the red fender stripes on the C4 Grand Sports pay homage to the original cars with their striped noses. I suspect that some hot shot designers said, “Hey, guys, let’s put some stripes on one of the fenders. That’ll really set it off from all the other C4s.”
Geof, the designers of the '96 Grand Sport didn't want to put a red stripe/stripes on one side of the nose of the car because it would have looked odd. By shifting the stripes to the LH fender, it paid homage to the legend without "ruining" the symmetry of the front end. That said, you'll notice that the 2010-2013 Grand Sports had the stripes on BOTH fenders because people crave balance -- no matter how beloved the history. Lyle
With the racing ban I know they all agreed on it in 57 but really GM up to mid 63 seemed to be more in racing than Ford or Chrysler especially in the early 60s NASCAR & super stock ,A/FX drag racing.
You had the Pontiac super duty doing well in NASCAR & with those Swiss cheese a/FX drag cars.
Chevy had the 409 super stocks & the z11 A/FX cars & there Mystery motor in 1963.
Was looking forward to info about the C4 and C7 GS models. Also I don't think homolgamation is a word.
You are correct! I mispronounced "homologation" in the video. I have videos on my production list that include the '96 and '10-'13 Grand Sports...keep an eye out for them in the near future. Lyle
2:40. I get bothered by this a lot: ZDA is the Godfather of the Corvette. The Father of the Corvette is Harley Earl after he visited England and their fantastic but agile MGs. It was Earl who drew up the concept of the Corvette and brought it to life. It was ZDA who saw Earl's Corvette at the New York Autorama and wrote a thesis to GM on how to make the Corvette a better sports car.
Let’s get a story on the C4 ZR-1
Would love to hear your dissertation on the first Z06…
That is a great idea! I'll have to do some research, as my knowledge on that particular car is pretty basic, but I'll see what I can find! Thanks! Lyle
Do you think they will go up in value ?
I don't think that there is a ceiling on the value of these 5 cars--like classic racing Ferraris, they will always be worth millions to the right collector and with inflation the price will always hedge upwards. Plus, they don't change hands often, so if one does become available there will be a bidding war of epic proportions for it. Lyle
Hi Lyle. Considering using a U-Haul car hauler to tow my C5 behind a U-Haul truck about 500 miles to my prospective new home. Do you, or anyone reading this, have a video showing the proper procedure?
U-haul car carriers tend to be a tough one for Corvettes, as the angle of the ramps isn't conducive to low-clearance cars. At a minimum, you''ll need to carry several pieces of 2X6 to lengthen the run-up and angle of the ramps. I have no videos on how to do this, but if you have any buddies who move cars frequently I would involve them for loading the car and video the process so you can review it before unloading. Lyle
@@cscorvetteify Did run across a couple of informative, one I would never try, RUclips videos on the subject. You're right about the 2x6s to help with the ramps and front wells on the trailer.- ruclips.net/video/TDhfCzvzIGw/видео.html
LOL... NONE of the big-3 actually abided by the AMA anti-racing edict, but Ford was a lot more compliant than GM. Just look at NASCAR or NHRA results from the period 1959-1962. Under Bunkie Knudson, Pontiac shed its "old man's car" image and roared into dominance in stock car and drag racing...with the help of not-to-subtle factory assistance (even Smokey Yunick would have had some trouble making aluminum bumpers in his shop). Chrysler spent less money but garnered good results an the drags with their 413 Plymouths and Dodges. Finally, Henry Ford II got pissed and in 1962 officially annouonced that FoMoCo was going racing for real, no more under-the-table shenanigans. GM certainly could have joined the fray, but there was some timidity on the board, especially when the full scope of the Ford programs becamer apparent - NASCAR, NHRA, USAC (including Indy cars), SCCA sports cars, international rallying, and FIA endurance racing. So, for the first time (really), GM came into almost-full compliance with the racing ban. Just ask anybody who saw the "mystery motor" Chevys that ran at Daytona (this was the big brother of the projected GS engine). Those puppies would outrun the word of god, until something broke. By the end of the season, even Junior Johnson was out begging and pleading for parts!
Who knows what might have been, if Ford and GM had really gone head-to-head, but boy it would have been fun to watch. Imagine a GS and a 427 version of the Daytona coupe going at it on the Daytona banks or down the Mulsanne straight! The closest we ever came to that was the 1963 Nassau Speedweeks, where the Shelby effort consisted of a collection of tired (because they'd been raced all year) 289 Cobras and the development mule for the 427, which was an absolutely wretched thing even Ken Miles couldn't tame. It wasn't an even match, and it wasn't close, either. In 1964 Shelby's effort was a bit better, but the cars were again rather tired and Shel's thoughts were more on the GT40 program he'd been drafted into. And, yes I do know: I worked at Holman & Moody at the time - I was at Nassau both years.
PS - FIA GT class homologation for 1963 required 100 units, not 125, and manufacturers were to be inspected. So, no more bogus homologation specials like the Ferrari GTO, which never even approached the 100 number. John Mecom was a bit older then you say, having been born in 1940, and John Cannon was a good sports car pilot (especially in the wet), but he never raced in GPs.
Lyle, your timeline is a bit confused and incorrect. According to Detroit News June 1957 George Romney head of the AMA and president of American Motors announced the AMA committee ALL agreed to ban FACTORY racing support. This was a PR move to prevent the government stepping in and passing legislation on the OEM's. It appears everyone then was involved in backdoor programs with 3rd party teams that continued to race with plausible deniability support from the OEM's. By 1962 Henry Ford II was president of the AMA and was tired of Ford getting beat on the track & showroom with their lack luster product lineup. Also in 1962 Lee Iacocca, now Ford Div Pres. began work to reinvigorate the product lineup with his "Total Performance" program, and HF-II then announced, since everyone was cheating he was going to drop the facade and go all in on racing.
Zora had been working to make the Corvette more "racy" since the late 1950"s, well before Carroll Shelby's Cobra came along, so the fact that GM corporate had decided they would not officially support racing as you well point out chevy engineers "vacationing" in Nassau just during the Bahama Speed weeks, and Penske getting special assistance shows they were not abiding by the public "no factory racing" position.
The 1st head-to-head Corvette vs Cobra was Riverside 3 hr Invitational Oct 1962, with top Vette drivers Dave MacDonald, Bob Bondurant, Dick Guldstrand, Jerry Grant driving the 1st GS corvettes. interestingly MacDonald, Bondurant and Grant ended up driving for Shelby!
Good history video !
Great Presentation on the Grand Sport. Thanks, Bubba Cote @ TheVetteNet / Coastal Corvettes / Grand Sport Registry / NCM.
Good Production, just looking at that 1963 Grand Sport says SPEED.
Thanks!