A Look Back At All The Prior Corvette Grand Sport Generations
For Corvette enthusiasts, the Corvette Grand Sport (sometimes abbreviated as GS) moniker holds several different meanings. On one hand, it was a track-focused beast never supposed to exist in the first place, on another it was a special edition created to commemorate the end of a generation’s production run, and on yet another, it bridged the gap between two other Corvette variants. With all this in mind, we’re exploring all the Corvettes that sported the Grand Sport badge.
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
Driven by dominating Shelby Cobras, Corvette chief Zora Arkus-Duntov began a program to develop a race car based on the second-gen Corvette C2. Initially referred to as “The Lightweight” and eventually designated the Corvette Grand Sport moniker, this purpose-built track weapon was designed to conquer the GT World Championship and FIA endurance races. While there were plans to produce 125 units of the C2 GS, GM brass eventually caught wind of Duntov’s project and ordered it to be canned.
It’s worth noting that this decision was prompted by the Automobile Manufacturers Association’s (AMA) ban, where automotive manufacturers were prevented from encouraging performance-based marketing, offering assistance for racing needs, and producing race-focused vehicles.
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
Fortunately, five examples of the C2 Grand Sport had already been built by the time the program was canceled. The three coupes and two convertibles were swiftly sold off in order to ensure that they wouldn’t be destroyed, and are currently held in private collections.
In regard to the Vette itself, the Corvette C2 Grand Sport featured extensive weight reduction efforts, including thinner fiberglass in the body panels, seamless steel tubular side members, an aluminum birdcage, a stiffer and lighter frame, and additional lightweight components. This all enabled the C2 GS to boast a curb weight approximately 800 pounds lower than a production-spec Corvette C2 Coupe.
As for the powertrain, there were several engines used throughout the C2 Grand Sport’s lifetime, including a fuel-injected 5.0L V8 and a heavy-duty 7.0L V8. However, the powerplant Duntov envisioned for the Vette from the beginning was a 6.2L V8. Developing an impressive-for-the-time 550 horsepower thanks to four Weber side-draft carburetors and a cross-ram intake, this engine was developed specifically with the C2 Grand Sport in mind.
Corvette C4 Grand Sport
Following a roughly 30-year hiatus, the Grand Sport moniker returned for the Corvette C4 as a means to commemorate the fourth-gen Vette’s end of production. As such, the C4 GS was only offered for the 1996 model year, and featured unique VINs in comparison to the “regular” Corvette C4 models.
It’s worth noting that only 1,000 Corvette C4 Grand Sport examples were built, consisting of 810 coupes and 190 convertibles.
The C4 GS stood out from the rest of the Corvette C4 lineup thanks to its Admiral Blue paint job, which was accompanied by a white strip down the middle. Other distinct goodies include special seat trimming, wider five-spoke black wheels, and a pair of red hash marks on the driver’s side front fender.
Interestingly, coupes were equipped with small rear fender flares to accommodate the wider rear track.
In the performance department, the C4 Grand Sport featured the naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, which was actually the same powerplant other 1996 Corvettes equipped with a six-speed manual utilized. Rated at 330 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque, the LT4 boasted numerous upgrades over the naturally aspirated 5.7L V8 LT1 gasoline engine it was based on, including a more aggressive camshaft, a performance crankshaft, 1.6:1 aluminum roller rocker arms, lighter hollow intake valves and liquid-sodium filled exhaust valves, a higher 10.8:1 compression ratio, larger fuel injectors, and a high-flow intake manifold.
Corvette C6 Grand Sport
After a shorter absence than the pause between the C2 and C4, the Corvette C6 Grand Sport debuted for the 2010 model year to bridge the gap between entry-level Corvette variants and the track-focused Corvette C6 Z06. Also considered a replacement for base Corvettes equipped with the Z51 package, the C6 GS featured forged aluminum wheels, larger anti-sway bars, revised shocks, a stiffer suspension setup, 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 available, consisting of the 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT.
It’s worth noting that Corvette C6 Grand Sport units equipped with a six-speed manual transmission received additional upgrades over their automatic counterparts, such as 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 that pushed out 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque.
Corvette C6 Grand Sport Photos
Corvette C7 Grand Sport
In much the same way the C6 GS was essentially an upgraded base Vette, the Corvette C7 Grand Sport was a C7 Stingray Z51 with additional C7 Z06-derived flair. To that end, the C7 Grand Sport boasted the C7 Z06’s widebody treatment, Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers, stabilizer bars, Magnetic Ride Control, an eLSD, Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires, a dry-sump oil system, and an active exhaust system.
Both coupe and convertible configurations were on offer, along with a seven-speed manual transmission that featured active rev matching or an eight-speed automatic with performance calibration. As for output, the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT1 gasoline engine was slightly uprated to 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque due to the active exhaust system.
Interestingly, the C7 GS was also available with a Z07 option. This high-performance package included ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires. Beyond that, an available Heritage Package included interior brushed aluminum hash marks, as well as floor mats adorned with the Grand Sport logo.
Finally, a C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition was also available for the inaugural 2017 model year. As a cosmetic package, this feature added 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.
Notably, a total of 935 C7 Grand Sport Collector Edition examples were built, including 784 coupes and 151 convertibles.
Corvette C8 Grand Sport (Cancelled)
Corvette C8 Grand Sport Render
While some folks were holding out for a Grand Sport variant for the Corvette C8 generation, GM Authority was first to report that a C8 Grand Sport was not in the cards for America’s Sports Car. In its place, General Motors elected to develop the electrified Corvette C8 E-Ray instead.
Here’s to hoping the Grand Sport will once again return to the Corvette lineup one day.
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Corvette C6 Grand Sport Pho
