RM Auctions to Sell Rare 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Racer at Arizona Sale

[Rob]

RM Auctions to Sell Rare 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Racer at Arizona Sale

Few vintage racing enthusiasts can lay claim to even viewing one of the five 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport race cars ever built, but RM Auctions is giving bidders a chance to own one at its upcoming Arizona sale on January 16.

The Grand Sport was designed as a factory effort by General Motors to combat Ford's all-conquering Shelby Cobra race cars in the early- to mid-1960s. Handbuilt under the direction of the "Father of the Corvette" Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Grand Sport was engineered to win in endurance racing, with an ultimate goal of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Unfortunately, GM shut down its competition division in 1964 after just five prototype versions of the 120 scheduled Grand Sports were completed.

Each of the five cars have survived to this day, three featuring coupe bodywork and two built as roadsters. This car, serial number 002, is one of those roadsters and is coming to the market for the first time ever, having previously been owned by Roger Penske and George Wintersteen. RM describes the car as wearing its original bodywork and never having been restored. Should you want to purchase Grand Sport 002, you'd better come prepared. Speculation puts the Grand Sport's estimated hammer price in the multimillion dollar range.

Should you be looking for something a bit less expensive, RM has you covered there as well. Alongside the very special Grand Sport will 99 other collector automobiles to choose from including a 1937 Bugatti Atalante Type 57C, a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Boattail Skiff, a 1937 Delage D8-120 Aerosport Coupe, and the requisite ex-Steve McQueen offering - a 1950 Hudson Commodore Convertible.

Source: RM Auctions

 

[c5vetter]

Rob,

how does RM state what they say, when this is posted on the Internet about GS 002!cComplete restoration!

http://www.grandsportcorvette.com/gs/gs002.htm

 

[SebringBill]

...and all 5 were originally coupes; nos 1 & 2 were "convertibleized" in the hopes of faster speed.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Rob,

how does RM state what they say, when this is posted on the Internet about GS 002!cComplete restoration!

http://www.grandsportcorvette.com/gs/gs002.htm

It looks like RM should have done some additional research, by someone who would ask more detailed questions.

The confusion probably started here.........

Solution:
The best way to protect #002’s heritage was to build a duplicate body for racing. This approach would also allow the preservation of the original body, interior, engine and associated equipment of the Wintersteen racing years while restoring the car to its original, factory configuration.

SOURCE - (half-way down this page) http://www.grandsportcorvette.com/gs/gs002.htm

 

[Tom Bryant]

So, is the car being sold with the original body mounted and is the duplicate being sold with it?

 

[Vetsvette2002]

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18116&stc=1&d=1224637492[/IMG]
a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Boattail Skiff,

Source: RM Auctions

uh that would be A Royce Rolls and the two Rs on the front of the grill would in red. They change the name to Rolls Royce and the color to black when Mr. Rolls died.