An industry-backed factory racing ban almost halted Chevrolet’s Grand Sport program. But private entrants transformed a setback into lasting success.
Developed in secret. Banned before it reached its full potential. The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport remains one of the most significant American sports cars ever built.
Its story begins with Chevrolet engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, who believed success on the racetrack was essential to selling sports cars.
His solution was the Grand Sport: a lightweight, fiberglass-bodied Corvette powered by a fire-breathing 550-bhp V-8.
There was just one problem. In 1957, the Automobile Manufacturers Association imposed a ban on factory-backed racing, and General Motors followed suit with a prohibition.
Undeterred, Arkus-Duntov secretly revived the project. Five Grand Sports were completed before management discovered the program and shut it down. Yet the cars survived—and achieved legendary status—in the hands of private entrants.
Join RM Sotheby's President Gord Duff as he explores the Grand Sport's extraordinary story, explains how it became an American icon, and reveals why this rare example represents a remarkable opportunity for collectors
Learn more, here. Or click here to read the full feature.
