Corvette: Year by Year

1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Last of the C4

Specifications

1994 - 1996
Slideshow

1996 Corvette Grand Sport

As with the C3 generation, the last of the C4 offered something unique. A special run of 1,000 Grand Sport Corvettes (RPO Z16; $3,250 - $2,880 for the convertible) with Admiral Blue paint and a distinctive white stripe (affectionately known as the "skunk strip") were offered. The option included the LT4 engine (right) and a separate serial number sequence. It was a tribute to a series of five 1963 racing Corvettes that were the brainchild of Zora Arkus-Duntov. Zora produced the Grand Sports on the sly but when his bosses learned of their existence, the program was axed since it violated corporate policy.

The livery is distinctive but it more than looks good however - the colors have a basis in motorsports history. For many years the nationality of a racing team could be determined by the car colors. The British featured British Racing Green, the Germans had silver, the Italians were red and so on. American cars had a choice of blue with a white strip or white with a blue stripe. The 1996 Corvette Grand Sport was a nod to that tradition.

Below left: fuel filler door emblem; right: brief red stripes located only above the left front wheel, as seen on one of the original Grand Sport race cars.

Click here for 1994 Thru 1996 Corvette slideshow

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The Grand Sport featured ZR-1 wheels painted black; Corvette lore has it that when ZR-1 production ended, GM found themselves with a surplus of wheels that found a home on the Grand Sports. Above left: Front wheel. Middle: Coupe rear wheel, with fender extension. As with the ZR-1, the rear wheel was 11" wide. Since the Grand Sport did not have the ZR-1's 3" wider rear bodywork, the fender extension was necessary. Right: Due to convertible top intrusion into the trunk area, the convertible Grand Sports were equipped with 9.5" wide rear wheels so the additional flare was not included. 190 of the 1,000 1996 Corvette Grand Sports were convertibles.