Amazing...
Amazing that this thread has gone on this long.
A lot of rumors, misconceptions, and half-truths have been posted here along with only a handful of facts. Lets see if we can sort through them....
Raw -- I congratulate you on your Corvette purchase. Whatever the car is, I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with it. Just don't expect it to be something that it isn't and you'll be a happy camper.
From the VIN 1G1YY22P2S5106613, this is a 1995 (S) regular production Corvette coupe (22) with LT1 (T51) engine. The only real mystery here is your title and registration. If they say 1996, as you say, then you have a problem. You should contact your DMV because this is very suspicious of illegal tampering. Caveat Emptor, dude.
Of course it is NOT a Z16 Grand Sport. Besides the obvious fact that they were only produced in 1996, a *real* GS has T56 in the 11-12th positions of the VIN and the last 5 digits range from 00001 to 01000.
Anyone can install a Grand Sport interior in an RPO Corvette. Heck, I sold a GS black interior and it now resides in a gorgeous GS clone, but clone it still is. For that matter, anyone can install an LT4, as well. You should also understand it is MUCH easier to install an LT4 into an original auto tranny car than to convert an original LT4/6 speed car to auto tranny!
If your RPO label actually says 05U (Dark Purple Metallic) and D82 (Special Paint requres Z16), then that is another mystery that would make me suspect a phony RPO label.
To pin down exactly what you have here, you need to dig a bit deeper than the VIN. First you need to check the engine SUFFIX. This is a number that was hand stamped onto a pad at the rear of the engine, usually on the drivers side, at the assembly plant. For 1995, the suffix would be ZUC for an LT1/Auto and ZUF for an LT1/6 speed. For 1996, the suffix would be ZXA for LT1/Auto and ZXD for LT4/6 speed.
On this same pad, usually below the suffix, is stamped the VIN DERIVATIVE, usually the last 5-6 digits of the VIN of the car the engine was installed into. This will confirm if the motor you have now is the one that originally came with the car.
HEAD numbers can also be viewed by removing the valve covers. 10207643 for 1995 LT1, 10207643 or 12551561 for 1996 LT1, 10239902 for 1996 LT4. Just looking for roller rockers and such is no proof as they could have been installed as aftermarket parts.
The BLOCK number, stamped on a pad just forward of the passenger side cylinder head means nothing... 10125327 was used on all LT1/4 blocks from 1992-1996.
In order to have a "matching numbers" car, which is the only way to prove the car has any more value other than an oddity, then all the above numbers have to match up (make sense). Until you verify this, you're just guessing.
WHY someone would go through all the trouble to end up with the car you now have is beyond me. Then again, why someone would chop the top off a perfectly good 2002 Z06 is beyond the reasoning of a lot of other folks out there, too. Go figger.
As far as the other rumors mentioned here...
Factory 1996 LT4's only came with the 6 speed. Period. That '96 CE LT4/Auto is *not* a factory production car (regardless of what you have read or what the current owner is espousing) and hence has no intrinsic value other than as an oddity. Just because some GM employees put an LT4 in an original LT1/auto after hours off-site doesn't make it any more special than you or I doing it. And no, it was not GM endorsed. They wouldn't risk a huge fine from the EPA doing this, believe me. I've spoken to John Heinricy about this (the father of the 96 GS, if you will) and he agrees. GM built no such cars. End of story.
All ZR-1's came with 6 speed only. Auto trans was never offered as a factory option with the LT5 motor. Trivia: You *could* get an auto with the '69 427-435 HP motor. I just learned that myself recently (and lost a bit doing so).
Again, have fun with your car and don't get all wrapped up about what it is and isn't. Its not original. So what??? If its an LT4 auto and that's what YOU want, then enjoy it the heck out of it! Just don't expect it to be worth megabucks when you decide to sell it, if ever. My only concern would be the title and registration. You might want to get a CarFax report as a start (BTW, the free CarFax check thinks this car is a 1995). Check into that and you're golden.
BTW... if anyone wants definitive info on the 1996 Grand Sport (my passion), feel free to contact me or visit
www.hashmarks.com or
www.grandsportregistry.com. Cheers!
4LT GS Roadster
