The Restoration of Corvette Grand Sport #002

The most difficult decision in the restoration of a race car is picking what is commonly referred to as the point in time, the configuration that holds the most significance in the history of the car. Grand Sport #002 had three significant configurations: Late 1962/Early 1963 - Originally built as a white coupe that did not appear to be very different from a production Stingray. Initial power was believed to be a modified production L84, fuel-injected 327 engine. Since no public appearances of #002 as a white coupe are known, configuration #1 was removed from consideration as the target point in time rather early on. Late 1963/early 1964 - Converted to a roadster configuration by Chevrolet engineering and painted a silver/blue color. Displayed by Chevrolet at various car shows and races. Powered by a 377 cubic inch small block fed by four 58mm Weber carburetors. The historical significance of configuration #2 is that of the builder. #002 at this stage represents the final evolution of Arkus-Duntov’s Grand Sport vision, as executed by the Chevrolet engineering shop. In this configuration, #002 showcased the zenith of Chevrolet "factory team" racing knowledge at the time and was the last Corvette production-based factory racing effort until over 30 years later. Early 1966 - Sold to Penske by Chevrolet then resold to Wintersteen. Visible modifications included removal of the headrest fairing, fitting of bolt-on American Mag Wheels and splicing-in a "power dome" hood section. #002 was painted white with blue markings. Power was a 427 "Big Block" with a 4-barrel carburetor. Configuration #3 holds the entire racing history of the car. Sadly, the car was past its prime and had only limited success in the 1966 USRRC. It did, however, receive its greatest public exposure during the period. Wintersteen’s "Old #12" is the car many people associate with Grand Sport chassis #002. The Corvette Grand Sports are important automobiles because of their Chevrolet heritage. In particular Grand Sport #002 was the realization of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s vision of the ultimate light-weight, aerodynamic sports racing machine. Decision: Point in time #2. One additional consideration became a pivotal factor in this most unique restoration. Owner Jim Jaeger expressed a desire to eventually campaign the car on the vintage racing circuit. #002, as the least-restored of the 5 Grand Sports, held a wealth of information on Chevrolet sports car art & science of the period. The 30 year old body was also too fragile for the rough-and-tumble world of racing. A significant historical record could, potentially, be lost forever. 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. The following pages document some of the thousand’s of details involved in the restoration of #002 to factory finish while respectfully preserving the entire history of the car. Today, Corvette Grand Sport #002 relives its glory, as an example of what Chevrolet Engineering was capable of and a reminder of what could have been.

Corvette Grand Sport #002. Jim Jaeger Collection.

Click on any part of the Grand Sport picture [above] or the following links for detailed pictures.

Links Chassis Powertrain Front Clip Rear Clip & Rollbar Interior Louvered Hood Aluminum Birdcage Wheels & Spinners Final Re-Assembly

If you are a serious collector and require more information regarding these restorations of vintage race cars you may contact: info@racingicons.com Please understand that the fabrication work and parts shown on this website are done for specific individual race car restorations in our facility. Due to time and material constraints, we normally are not able to supply parts & services to other shops for restoration, or for replica construction. All materials presented, except as noted, are © RC International Software, Cincinnati, OH and may not be reproduced or reused for any purpose without the express, written consent of RC International Software. All rights under international copyright law are reserved.