Lot 1086

California 2015

1965 Chevrolet Corvette

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$71,500 USD | Sold

United States | Santa Monica, California

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The Grand Sport Corvette was, and is, notorious – it has even been called Chevrolet's “bad seed.” So bad that conservative voices within General Motors tried to kill the project before it really took hold. In 1962, company individualist and highly-respected engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, concerned about the upstart Ford-powered Shelby Cobras, planned to homologate 125 of these lightweight race versions of the new Euro-style, but all-American, Corvette coupe for international GT racing. He even had Le Mans in mind, but managed to finish only five prototype Grand Sports before word came down early in 1963; Chevrolet sternly reminded him that they were not in racing. Duntov backed away, but he made quiet arrangements to have the five survive in private hands.

Only five original Grand Sports were made and each is thought to be worth well into seven-figure territory, such is today's market. These lightweight factory racecars (dubbed the "Cobra Killer") saw some of the greatest drivers from this golden era of sports car racing pilot the originals. During their short life span, the Grand Sports ran at tracks such as Sebring, Watkins Glen, Daytona, Nassau, Road America and Mosport. Some of the notable drivers were Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Dick Thompson, John Cannon, Don Yenko and Delmo Johnson.

This is a highly accurate recreation built in the early 1990s. It features all the proper body modifications with flares and ducts, tube frame, 400-cid, 500-hp small-block V-8 with Inglese Weber carbs, four-speed manual transmission, real pin drive knock-offs, correct seats and seat upholstery, correct steering wheel, correct door panels with pull strap for plexiglass side windows, 200-mph speedometer and four-wheel disc brakes. It's an attention getting replica of a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport that will likely be a thrill to run; it is titled as a 1965 Corvette.