The Corvette Grand Sport, sometimes abbreviated as Corvette GS, is a performance variant of the Chevrolet Corvette that currently spans four generations, including C2, C4, C6 and C7.
Quick Facts
| C2 GS | C4 GS | C6 GS | C7 GS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Series 0800 | Y-Body | Y-Body | Y-Body | |
| Model Year(s) | 1963 | 1996 | 2010 – 2013 | 2017-2019 | |
| Engines | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 | Atmospheric 5.7L V8 LT4 | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LS3 | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LT1 | |
| Transmissions | 4-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 6-Speed Manual | 7-Speed Manual Or 8-Speed Auto | |
| Production | GM St. Louis Plant, Missouri, USA | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA |
Corvette C2 Grand Sport
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
| Model Year(s) | 1963 |
| Assembly location | GM St. Louis Plant, Missouri, USA |
| Body Style | Coupe, Convertible |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Engine(s) | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 |
| Power (hp) | 550 |
| Transmission(s) | 4-Speed Manual |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Platform | Series 0800 |
Due to concern with Ford and the Shelby Cobra, Corvette chief Zora Arkus-Duntov initiated a program in 1962 to develop a lightweight racecar based on the 1963 Corvette. Designated the Corvette Grand Sport and designed to compete in GT World Championship and FIA endurance races, there were initially plans to produce 125 units of the Corvette C2 Grand Sport. Unfortunately, General Motors executives learned of the project’s existence and ordered it to be terminated due to the Automobile Manufacturers Association’s (AMA) ban. For reference, this ban prohibited automotive manufacturers from encouraging performance-based marketing, offering assistance for racing needs, and producing race-focused vehicles.
However, by the time the program was axed, five examples had already been built, including three coupes and two convertibles. All five C2 Grand Sport models survived and were quickly sold off to prevent them from being destroyed. Currently, they are held in private collections.
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
Several modifications helped transform the Corvette C2 Grand Sport into a capable racer, including thinner fiberglass in the body panels, an aluminum birdcage, seamless steel tubular side members, a stiffer and lighter frame, and additional lightweight components. All of these changes enable the C2 Grand Sport to weigh roughly 800 pounds less than a production-spec Corvette C2 Coupe.
In regard to powertrain, the C2 Grand Sport raced with several different engines, including a fuel-injected 5.0L V8 and a heavy-duty 7.0L V8. The most notable setup was an all-aluminum naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 gasoline engine that churned out an impressive for the time 550 horsepower thanks to four Weber side-draft carburetors and a cross-ram intake. Notably, this 6.2L V8 was the powerplant Duntov intended to power the C2 Grand Sport from the beginning of its development.
Corvette C4 Grand Sport
1996 Corvette Grand Sport
| Model Years | 1996 |
| Assembly Location | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA |
| Body Style | Coupe, Convertible |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Engine(s) | Atmospheric 5.7L V8 LT4 |
| Power (hp) | 330 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 340 |
| Transmission(s) | 6-Speed Manual |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Platform | Y-Body |
Released to commemorate the end of Corvette C4 production, the C4 Grand Sport (GS) was only available during the 1996 model year.
The exterior of all C4 Grand Sport models was painted in the Admiral Blue primary color accompanied by a white strip down the middle. Other distinct goodies features wider five-spoke black wheels, a pair of red hash marks on the driver’s side front fender, and special seat trimming. Interestingly, Corvette C4 Coupes were equipped with small rear fender flares to accommodate the wider rear track.
It’s worth noting that C4 Grand Sport models also boasted unique VINs as compared to “regular” Corvette C4 models.
1996 Corvette Grand Sport
In the performance department, the C4 Grand Sport featured the same powerplant as other 1996 Corvettes equipped with a six-speed manual, namely the naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT4 gasoline engine. As a high-performance variant of the naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT1 gasoline engine, the LT4 featured a more aggressive camshaft, 1.6:1 aluminum roller rocker arms, lighter hollow intake valves and liquid-sodium filled exhaust valves, larger fuel injectors, a performance crankshaft, a higher 10.8:1 compression ratio and a high-flow intake manifold.
Only 1,000 C4 Corvette Grand Sport units were built, consisting of 810 coupes and 190 convertibles.
Corvette C6 Grand Sport
2010 Corvette Grand Sport
| Model Years | 2010 – 2013 |
| Assembly Location | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA |
| Body Style | Coupe, Convertible |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Engine(s) | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LS3 |
| Power (hp) | 430 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 424 |
| Transmission(s) | 6-Speed Manual |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Platform | Y-Body |
Introduced for the 2010 model year as a replacement for base units equipped with the Z51 package, the Corvette C6 Grand Sport bridged the gap between the entry-level Corvette and the track-focused Corvette C6 Z06 model. To that end, the C6 Grand Sport featured forged aluminum wheels, larger anti-sway bars, a stiffer suspension setup, revised shocks, wider front and rear fenders, a Z06-style rear spoiler, a transmission cooler, functional front and rear brake ducts, Z06 brakes and six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers.
There were four trim levels on offer, including the 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT.
2010 Corvette Grand Sport
Interestingly, C6 Grand Sport models optioned with the six-speed manual transmission received additional upgrades over automatic units, including specially-tuned gear ratios, a dry-sump oil system derived from the C6 Z06, launch control, and a hand-built naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LS3 gasoline engine.
Corvette C7 Grand Sport
2017 Corvette Grand Sport
| Model Years | 2017 – 2019 |
| Assembly Location | GM Bowling Green Plant, Kentucky, USA |
| Body Style | Coupe, Convertible |
| Layout | Front-Engined, Longitudinal |
| Engine(s) | Atmospheric 6.2L V8 LT1 |
| Power (hp) | 460 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 465 |
| Transmission(s) | 7-Speed Manual |
| Drive Wheels | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Platform | Y-Body |
In a similar fashion to the C6 Grand Sport, the Corvette C7 Grand Sport was essentially a C7 Stingray Z51 with additional C7 Z06 performance bits tacked on. With that in mind, the C7 Grand Sport featured the C7 Z06’s wider body, Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers, Magnetic Ride Control, stabilizer bars, an eLSD, Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires, a dry-sump oil system, and an active exhaust system.
Available in either coupe or convertible configurations, the seven-speed manual transmission featured active rev matching while the eight-speed automatic boasted performance calibration. Meanwhile, the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT1 was rated at 460 horsepower and 465 thanks to the active exhaust system.
2017 Corvette Grand Sport
Similar to the C7 Z06, the Corvette C7 Grand Sport could also be equipped with a Z07 package. This high-performance option added ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires. In addition, an available Heritage Package included interior brushed aluminum hash marks, as well as floor mats adorned with the Grand Sport logo.
It’s worth noting that a Grand Sport Collector Edition was also offered. Intended as more of a cosmetic package, the Collector Edition included Tension Blue fender hash marks, two-tone Tension Blue leather seating, an embossed Grand Sport logo on the headrest, blue leather stitching, and a numbered dash plaque. 935 C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition examples were built in total, consisting of 784 coupes and 151 convertibles.
Corvette C8 Grand Sport (Cancelled)
Back in 2020, just as the Corvette C8 Stingray was launching, GM Authority was first to report that the C8 Grand Sport will not be coming to market. In place of the GS, the Corvette team decided to develop the Corvette C8 E-Ray.
That said, we’re still not losing hope that a Corvette C8 Grand Sport will show up toward the tail end of the C8 Corvette‘s lifecycle.
Sales
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Discussion
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