For Sale: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport in Irvine, California

Superformance Corvette Grand Sport CGS0023

During the 1950s and 1960s, the 24 hours of Le Mans was the crucible of competition that manufacturers used to turn wins on the track into sales in the showroom. In late 1962, Chevrolet chief engineer Zora Arkus Duntov decided to build a production run of 125 purpose-built Corvette race cars with the ultimate goal of winning the GT class at Le Mans. Duntov dubbed the project the "Lightweight"; Chevrolet marketing later christened the cars "Grand Sports." After a pilot run of five cars, GM management cancelled the project and ordered the cars destroyed.

Zora hid the first two cars and sent serial numbers 003, 004 and 005 to Texan John Mecom. He sold those race cars to fellow Texans Alan Sevadjian, Delmo Johnson and Jim Hall. In the last International race of his career, Johnson drove Grand Sport #003 at Sebring in 1965; Duntov provided the team the first racing big block engine to leave the factory for that race.

You can own an authentic continuation version of the spectacular Grand Sport race car, authorized and approved by General Motors. Superformance CGS0023 is painted Admiral Blue with the #2 Grand Sport paint scheme. With 15-inch magnesium wheels shod with sticky AVON CR6Z tires, ceramic sidepipes, and bullet mirrors, the exterior detailing and stance is all business but beautifully balanced.

In a great blending of heritage Corvette design with modern powertrain technology, CGS0023 is powered by a GM LT-4 V8 rated at 650 horsepower. It is teamed with a Tremec T-56 6-speed manual transmission. Standard equipment on Superformance Corvette Grand Sports includes fully independent front and rear suspension, 4-wheel vented disc brakes, and rack-and-pinion power steering.

This Grand Sport features the Touring interior, air conditioning, power windows, and Autometer gauges. The car comes with serial number #23 BRM Grand Sport watch.

CGS0023 has CA SB100 registration. With only 500 miles, it is available for $249,950.