Corvette Blog

This marvelous 1963 Corvette Grand Sport was driven by "Mr. Chevrolet" Dick Guldstrand at Sebring.  A stunning vision of a sports car, this vehicle was available for viewing and photographs at the Bloomington Gold Show last month.

Stunning from all directions, it is no surprise that the Sunoco Blue racer was a big winner for the newly formed Roger Penske Racing Team.  Guldstrand went on to many other victories and accomplishments, including veneration in the National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame.

[ Guldstrand Motorsports ]

All 5 of the original mid-year Grand Sports were 1963 cars. The roadster pictured above is no exception. In 1966 Roger Penske purchased the last 2 remaining GS's (chassis #'s 001 and 002). Penske sold chassis 002 to a friend and raced chassis 001 (the car pictured above). The book "Corvette Grand Sport" by Dave Friedman & Lowell C. Paddock is a great source of information on these legendary Corvettes.

The Corvette Blog stands corrected. Thanks for the clarification. I just reviewed a long chapter in Karl Ludvigsen's Corvette: America's Star-Spangled Sports Car, The Complete History, where he supports your comment. We appreciate your sharp eye, Jason. The year has been corrected in the blog.

Car in picture is a replica. Please note aftermarket gauges,steering wheel, 17" wheels

I own a 1964 Corvette Grand Sport II replica. I have no history on this car; and I am interested in finding out as much about this GS II as I can. The car is titled a 64 vette convertable. From what i can find ; the car was made in 82. Does anyone know who makes these?

Since my last post, I have found a lot more info about my 1964 Grand Sport II. It seems that the original roadster molds were sold to an Ohio Corvette Company that made 12 more roadster molds. The molds were outfitted to twelve brand new 1964 Corvettes. They were numbered 1 thru 12. My car is the #3 of the twelve. Anyone with any info on these cars; please let me know. Email me at rdrdaddy@yahoo.com .

Hi GS fans:

Hey, wouldn't it be great if someone, say from Zora's family, had stolen GS 006 (ask John Mecom if 006 were built, he knows) to keep the order to destroy it from being filled, and after stealing it off the train returning it from Nassau, stored it in North Platte, Neb for, oh, ten or twelve yrs., then returned with two buddies to truck it back to Northern California, where one of those buddies has had it stored in an unused garage since May 74, Unraced, unmodified, repainted twice (non automotive paint brushed onto original white) to disguise only, and only driven the practice laps at Nassau in 63, since it was the spare in case one of the other GSs wrecked. It has L stamped on the aluminum block, and 006 on the cowl plate, and the guy who was responsible for destroying it would have been fired if he told his bosses it had disappeared!

The Zora Duntov family associate who stole the GS is now deceased. His only wish was that his daughter benefit by this amazing piece of preservation he orchestrated. Since GM never claimed a theft, one never occurred, right?

Forward this info to Autoweek. Let's see if we can go public with this cars unveiling. Who Knows What Can Happen?

Sincerely, AntiBob

I am making a cake of this car for my huband's birthday, and these pictures were very helpful!! He is very knowledgable of this car, and he loves it!

Well, I made the Grand Sport cake, and it looks amazing! I was asked to post some of the pictures of the finished product; so, you can see them at my company's cake blog.

The address is http://virginiaacakecompany.blogspot.com. Again, thank you for the information and helpful pictures!

Dear AntiBob: Nice comment on the # 6. As you know, 2 of the GS's were "sold" to a Dallas area man to be raced. These cars came with spares. While it is never really discussed, it is obvious from the Nassau pics, that MANY SPARES whre available for the "racers." Anyway, you and I share a friend that has an original hood and 4 fenders, complete with flares, purchased in '68 from one of the Dallas Dudes mechanics. We were at your pits in Bonneville in '07, when you debuted your Cadillac XLR. I don't like posting peoples names on the net. Anyway, if you're that Bob Johnson, email me and I will send you pics.

Sweet ride!

Grand Sport 001 was owned by Jerry Hanna of Midland TX, then sold to Richard Sievers in 1971 then to Bill Buxbaum in 1977 who began its' restoration and completed it in 1979. When Bauxbaum received it, it was missing the engine and speedometer. He located a 1963 cast aluminium 376.5cid with the rare 58mm Webber side-draft carburators and obtained the original speedometer from one of the previous owners and Bob Paterson, who owns GS #003 loaned Bauxbaum his original set of exhaust headers so they could be accurately duplicated. Ted Halibrand, builder of the original wheels for the GS Corvettes, fabricated a complete set of wheels for #001 to complete the restoration. It was finished in bright red with a red interior with a black dash. Don't know if Bauxbaum still owns it, he refused an offer of $110,000 for it in 1980.

Research from an extensive article by John Gibson in Corvette News magazine, Feb/Mar 1980 edition.

The car in the pictures is built by Mongoose Motorsports in Ohio.
I was fortunate enough to see two of the original cars race on a number of occasions in the mid sixties, and I have wanted one ever since.
A couple months ago, I visited Duntov Motors in Dallas to look over their GM-authorized rendition. A weel later I traveled to Ohio to visit Mongoose and look over their cars.
All I can tell you is that the Mongoose facility is much nicer than anything I expected. I was so impressed that I gave them a deposit and they are presently building a coupe to my specifications. It will be powered by a 500HP Chevy LS engine. We will fabricate the headers/sidepipes and do some of the final detail work at my business once it's delivered in a couple months.

To Bob Johnson.

It would be a nice pipe dream if it were true, but there are too many holes in that story.
1) Zora didn't have family in the States, other than his wife.
2) There is no evidence to date that 006 was completed past a chassis and body stage, and certainly no evidence that it went to Nassau with the other cars.
3) Brush painting the car would not disguise it. A wild corvette race car is still recognizable, even under crap paint.
4) Dave Friedman's details Grandsport book does not mention the existence of 006, and I have seen an interview with the guy that had the job of destroying it. He said that if there was any chance he could have saved it he would have, but he was very closely watched as the car was destroyed.

"Richard" Buxbaum eventually sold 001 and has since passed away. The car is now in the original Penske blue and yellow and resides in a private collection. Buxbaum was very thorough in his research and acquisition of parts and the car was amazing in it's red livery. I still remember hand rubbing the slots behind the rear wheels as the GS 001 was restored in my father's shop, Miles Auto Rebuilders in Downers Grove Il. The shop is now a parking lot and my father passed away in 1991 and all that remains are some photos and the memories of helping restore one of the greatest racing treasures on the planet. One of the stipulations in restoring the car, was that Miles was allowed to drive it when it was finished. He said it was the fastest thing he had ever driven and acceleration was limitless. I have the 1980 Corvette News framed. I'd love to see the car again

Russ,
I remember reading all about Grand Sport 001 and Richard Buxbaum in that issue of Corvette News, and was always fascinated by that article. I would love to see those restoration photos.

Scott

To Chuck Raney,
Sadly I am not that Bob Johnson, tho I sure wanted to drive Corvettes, or Cobras, I ain't that Bob Johnson, either! Making a GS out of spares was certainly the dodge that Zora used when pressed, nonchallantly tucking the 006 blueprint away and changing the subject.
One thing one would certainly not find on a spares-built car is a cowl plate sporting the #006!

To RIK Amazingly enough, one Yura Arkus-Duntov and wife Daphne still live in NY.
Last I checked "brother" is a relative, as is any guy married to your daughter. Ask John Mecom if he was sold six.
That interview you speak of "Car Guy" does not describe someone that could tell the difference between a new street Stingray and a real Grand Sport!
I stand firm on the twelve castings of the 377 with L on the block, and the cowl plate numbered 006.
Sincerely,
AntiBob Johnson