Contents
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was originally built to take on Shelby’s Cobras at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Checkout this video:
Corvette Grand Sport
The Corvette Grand Sport was a limited edition production run of only 1,000 made in 1963. The brainchild of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the original plan was to build 125 cars to race in the FIA’s GT class. Duntov and Chevrolet managed to get the FIA to agree to a production run of at least 100 cars, which would make the Grand Sport eligible to race. But after Chevrolet got wind of Ford’s plans to build the GT40, they upped the ante to 1,000 cars.
Corvette Grand Sport History
The Corvette Grand Sport was a special edition built by Chevrolet in 1963. Only five were made, and three of those were used by GM as test cars. The Grand Sports were built to compete with Shelby’s Cobra Daytona Coupes and GT40s at FIA’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Racing regulations stated that at least 100 cars needed to be built in order to qualify for competition, so Zora Arkus-Duntov, the chief engineer for the Corvette, set out to build 125 Grand Sports.
Sadly, GM’s president at the time, Jim Roche, stopped production after only five cars had been built. Of the five prototypes, two have been destroyed (one in a fire and one in a crash), and the remaining three are currently on display in museums.
Corvette Grand Sport Facts
In 1963, Chevrolet General Manager Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen and Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, frustrated with the Blue Oval’s domination of racing, convinced the company to produce a new line of cars specifically built to beat Ford’s GT40 on the world’s racing circuits. The program was known as the Corvette Grand Sport.
Ultimately, just five Grand Sports were built. Three were fitted with big-block V-8s displacing 376 cubic inches, while two were powered by small-block V-8s of 327 cubic inches. All five were significantly lighter than a standard Corvette thanks to special lightweight components and an aluminum frame.
The Corvette Grand Sport made its public debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 1963, where drivers Roger Penske and Augie Pabst qualified fourth and finished 10th overall. That same month, a Grand Sport driven by Jim Hall and Hap Sharp won its class at the Bahamas Speed Week.
The first official race for the Grand Sport was held on June 15, 1963, at Continental Divide Raceway in Colorado. There, Dick Thompson piloted his car to victory in the A Production class.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
This 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is a rare car. Only five were built, and this is the only one with a racing history. It was purchased new by Texas Chevrolet dealer Don Yenko, who then had it raced by Roger Penske. The car is powered by a 427ci V8 engine and has a manual transmission.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Specifications
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was a limited-production version of the Corvette made to compete against Shelby’s Cobras. One hundred and sixty-four Grand Sports were built, as opposed to the 106 Cobras built that year.
The Grand Sport was powered by a high-performance 327-cubic-inch V8 engine that produced 375 hp. The cars were significantly lighter than the standard Corvette, weighing in at just 2,645 pounds. This weight advantage, combined with the extra power from the engine, resulted in a top speed of 165 mph and 0-60 mph times of just 4.2 seconds – making it one of the fastest cars of its day.
The Grand Sport was offered with two transmission options: a four-speed manual or a two-speed automatic. buyers could also choose between two different rear axle ratios: 3.36:1 or 4.11:1.
The exterior of the car featured unique front and rear fascias, as well as special badging and stripes. The interior was similarly appointed, with custom badging and trim.
Due to its racing pedigree, the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport is now one of the most coveted cars on the collector market. In 2012, one of the 164 examples built sold for $4.9 million at auction – making it one of the most expensive Corvettes ever sold.
1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Features
The 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was a limited edition performance model built to homologate the Corvette for FIA GT racing. One hundred Grand Sports were originally built, with fifty coupes and fifty convertibles. The Grand Sport featured a lightened and strengthened fiberglass body, along with a modified suspension. The engine was the same 327 cubic inch V8 used in the regular production Corvettes, but with high-performance heads and an aluminum intake manifold.
The 1965 Grand Sports were raced extensively by private teams, but Chevrolet withdrew from factory backing of motorsports at the end of the year. As a result, the cars were never officially sanctioned by the FIA and only five of them were ever officially registered for racing. Nevertheless, the cars have become some of the most collectible and sought-after Corvettes in history.
Texas
This Chevy Corvette is a real beauty. It’s a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, and it’s located in Texas. The car is in great condition, and it’s a real stunner. Take a look at this Chevy Corvette and see for yourself.
Texas Corvette Grand Sport Clubs
The Grand Sport Corvette Club of Texas is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of the 1963 Grand Sport Corvette.
The Grand Sport Corvette was Chevrolet’s answer to the Shelby Cobra. Only five were built before Chevy pulled the plug on the project, making these cars some of the rarest and most valuable Corvettes ever produced.
The Grand Sport Corvette Club of Texas hosts several events throughout the year, including car shows, driving tours and track days. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in these special cars.
Texas Corvette Grand Sport Shows
The Texas CorvetteGrand Sport shows will be taking place in the spring and fall of 2020. Owners of the 1965 Corvette Grand Sport will be able to show their cars at these events.
