Amazing Couple Donates a 1-of-6 Grand Sport to the National Corvette Museum
A Corvette that inspired a generation of fans finds a new home.
When you’re talking about the C4 Corvette, it’s easy to accept the ZR-1 as the ultimate example of the breed. However, given the C4 Corvette’s long production run (1984-1996), there are other standout models that deserve just as much attention.
1996 was the final year of C4 Corvette production, and the model was sent out with a bang. The more powerful LT4 engine became available for all six-speed models. Not one, but two special editions were created, both powered by the LT4.
One of those special editions, the Grand Sport, would imprint on many Corvette fans young and old as the ultimate C4. It was unmistakable, with Admiral Blue paint, a white racing stripe, and the now-ubiquitous red hash marks over the left front wheel.
Kids Loved It
While this paint job was intended to pay tribute to racing Corvettes of the 1960s, it also happened to be exactly the sort of eye candy that kids loved. As a result, a great many children of the ‘90s grew up loving Corvettes after seeing the Gran Sport. We’re sure that quite a few of them grew up to own new C8s as a result.
Just 1,000 Grand Sports were produced. Longtime National Corvette Museum members Larry and Carol Watkins found theirs for sale in Florida. After they purchased it, they discovered that it was one of only six cars built with that combination of options.
One year, they displayed the car at Carlisle, and a group of young men approached the couple to thank them for displaying the car. They were some of the many youngsters who fell in love with the Grand Sport back in 1996.
That encounter would influence the couple to donate their rare Corvette to the National Corvette Museum. This way, many more Corvette fans young and old will be able to see this beautiful, eye-catching machine up close. With 330 horsepower on tap and a 0-60 time of just under five seconds, it’s going to be much easier than trying to catch one in traffic.
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