(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – One of the main attractions of the upcoming auction season for collector cars in Monterey (in August) is one of the most significant Corvettes ever built. It refers to the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, a specimen with an estimated value of 11 to 13 million US dollars (currently approximately 10.1 to 11.9 million euros).
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An amount that reflects the extraordinary rarity and central role of this Corvette in the history of American motorsport. Built by Chevrolet, it is one of only five produced Grand Sports and the first of only three coupe versions built.
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The Corvette Grand Sport was born from the vision of engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, who is considered the father of the modern Corvette. His goal was to develop a significantly lighter and more competitive car than the standard Sting Ray to break the dominance of the Shelby Cobra in American and international motorsport.
Despite its Corvette appearance, the Grand Sport was actually a true racing prototype – with its own space frame chassis, a lightweight fiberglass body, numerous components made of aluminum and magnesium, and a weight of around 860 kilograms. This made it more than 590 kilos lighter than a conventional Corvette of that time.
The example for sale, designated Chassis 003, competed in some of the most prestigious races of the 1960s. It achieved victories in SCCA competitions, participated in the 1963 Bahamas Speed Week, and finished second in its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964. Drivers included A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Thompson.
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One of the most significant Corvettes of all time
After its racing career, this Grand Sport passed into the hands of only a few collectors and underwent a careful restoration that took more than four years and required investments of nearly 1 million US dollars. The car was restored to the specifications with which it contested the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964. A large part of the original structure and components directly manufactured by Chevrolet remained intact.
In recent years, the vehicle has been seen at internationally renowned events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and the Sonoma Motorsports Festival, and has also received significant awards for historic Corvettes.
The combination of rarity, authenticity, and sporting success makes it one of the most sought-after American automobiles among collectors: With only five built examples, it is even rarer than the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and the Ferrari 250 GTO – a detail that helps explain a valuation of nearly 13 million US dollars.
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